Bites Nearby: cup.cake

cup.cake, 3202 Crooks Rd., Royal Oak, 248-850-7207

Walking into I was greeted by owner and self-proclaimed frosting maker Eva Watt. Her passion for yummy baked goods is evident. She lights up talking about cupcakes, macaroons, cookies, muffins and even awesome, locally roasted Chazzano coffee.

But you're not going to cup.cake for coffee. You want unadulterated sweetness. Cupcakes. Macaroons. Cookies.

Let's start with the namesake. Of the five cupcakes sampled, the blueberry lemon stood out. Sweet, plump blueberries set in a delicate lemon cupcake. Tart and sweet balance each other well. Sometimes cupcakes suffer from being too sweet – this was not a problem with the lemon blueberry.

Other notable winners: Orange and carrot cake, cup.cake's most popular flavor, according to Watt. The carrot cake is moist and generously flavored with lots of carrot.

Macaroons are the next big treat. Two small meringue-like cookies are layered with buttercream frosting. Macaroons have a delicate crunch followed by a satisfying chewiness. Though the sweetness is intense, macaroons are a dainty dessert with subtle flavors.  

And don't forget about the Chazzano coffee. Even though you're trying to satiate your sweet tooth, a little balance isn't a bad thing.

Recommended: Earl Grey macaroons, carrot cake cupcakes, lavender brownies.

Prices: Cupcakes are $2.75 a piece and $27 a dozen. Mini cupcakes are $1 a piece and $12 a dozen. Macaroons are $1.25 a piece. Other baked goods are available from day to day.

Credit cards: All major

Hours: Sunday-Monday closed. Tuesday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.