1 Chocolate on Chocolate

Brown Betty Dessert Boutique, 1030 N. Second St., 215-629-0999

Of course there's apple brown betty, but wedding cakes are this elegant new shop's specialty. Fortunately, you don't have to get hitched to that loser boyfriend to enjoy the sophisticated tastes: Three cupcake versions of their signature cake combos are offered daily.

2 Reese's Peanut Butter Cupcake

Soho Cupcake Company/Crema Lita, 401-A Chestnut St., 215-829-9510 and 129 S. 16th St., 215-829-9511

Low-fat ice cream chain Crema Lita's stores became joint Soho cupcake shops last winter, thus giving true dessert lovers their first reason to visit. The top-selling Reese's features candy-chip-adorned peanut butter frosting on PB-créme-filled dark chocolate cake.

3 Carrot with Cream Cheese Frosting

Homemade Goodies by Roz, 510 S. Fifth St., 215-592-9616

Only a few steps from the South Street teen scene is a bakery right out of Main Street, complete with '40s-era tables, a cutesy baker-bear logo and cupcakes like mom used to make. The moist, rich carrot is decorated with walnuts and visibly flavored with its namesake veggie.

4 Tastykake Chocolate Lovers Cream Filled Chocolate Cupcake Acme, ShopRite, Super Fresh, Wawa and wherever else fine snack cakes are sold

Tastykake's best-selling plain-Jane chocolate cupcake has been shot up with chocolate créme to just the right level of chocolatey-sweet indulgence. Like Philly (if you believe National Geographic Traveler), its favorite chocolate cupcake is now better than ever.

5 Carrot with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pink Rose Pastry Shop, 630 S. Fourth St., 215-592-0565

This ribbon-and-lace pastry palace's lone cupcake is dry, delicately spiced and monster-sized. In other words, different but equal to Roz's.