They’re adorable, individual and oh so tasty. They’re cupcakes! Though chocolates hold court on Valentine’s Day, we think a cupcake in your sweetheart’s favorite flavor is a super-sweet way to show you care. Check out these 14 Pennsylvania bakeries and cupcakeries making sumptuous scratch cupcakes for treating your sweetie (or yourself!) this Valentine’s Day.
Confections of a Cake Lover (Meadville)
Award-winning, local favorite Confections of a Cake Lover in northwestern PA digs into the seasons with divine little cakes, cookies and, of course, cupcakes. Owner Sarah Chapp considers confection an art form, and it shows in the bake shop case, where you’ll find fan favorites and seasonal specialty flavors, like chocolate salted caramel, chocolate raspberry and red velvet cookie dough. Confections of a Cake Lover is open Tuesday through Saturday for take-out treats or DoorDash delivery. 272 Chestnut St., Suite J, Meadville; (814) 336-1338.
Love Made Edible (Pittsburgh)
Take one look at Love Made Edible‘s Facebook or Instagram pages and you’ll want to try the gorgeous cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes and puddings for yourself. Owner Shamara Reed creates inventive, gourmet confections piled sky-high with sweet and salty toppings. The strawberry crunch cupcakes are a sure bet with a moist strawberry cake, creamy frosting and crunchy strawberry crumble. You can’t go wrong with a PA-proud strawberry pretzel, gooey s’mores, salty-sweet salted caramel or classic chocolate chip cookie dough, either. Love Made Edible is open Tuesday through Saturday for pick-up or delivery. 4030 Clairton Blvd., Brentwood; (412) 918-0083.
Kaysi Cakes Cafe & Dessert Company (DuBois)
We think you’ll want to spend some time in Kaysi Cakes Cafe & Dessert Company. This old-fashioned diner repurposed as a brunch and dessert cafe retains the original architecture and retro diner feel with rows of chrome counter stools and booths and glass cases showcasing house made deserts, while the lounge room is perfect for a cozy morning of reading and relaxing. But, the cupcakes! The beauty of these exquisite concoctions is only outdone by their taste. Flavors are posted on Kaysi’s Facebook and Instagram pages and include tantalizing options, like white raspberry, chocolate covered strawberry, toasted marshmallow and crème brulée, that are sure to please. Kaysi Cakes Cafe & Dessert Company is open daily until 3 p.m. 150 W. Dubois Ave., DuBois; (814) 591-9496.
Sweethearts Confectionary (Huntingdon)
The name says it all at Sweethearts Confectionary. This adorable sweet shop makes it easy to treat your loved one to the best, with Valentine’s Day build-a-box specials. Choose a pack of 4, 6 or 12 cupcakes with flavors like chocolate on chocolate, strawberries and pink champagne and raspberry red velvet with a classic Southern buttermilk cake, raspberry preserve filling and raspberry buttercream, all decorated with romantic little finishing touches. With ever-changing weekly cupcake flavors, this is a place to keep on rotation all year long. 723 Washington St, Huntingdon; (814) 643-3785.
Anna Rose Bakery (Harrisburg)
Stop in the Anna Rose Bakery to see what Harrisburgians are raving about. These cupcakes are so pretty, it’s (almost) a sin to eat them, but certainly worth it. Flavors change all the time and range from classics like chocolate, vanilla and red velvet to irresistible combinations, like blueberry pancake, caramel latte and strawberry banana. You can find Anna Rose Bakery on Facebook and Instagram and visit the shop for takeaway treats or a coffee break Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 100 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg; (717) 236-3149.
Rise Bake Shoppe (Mt. Joy)
Rise Bake Shoppe is a local go-to for all sorts of baked confections and sweets, and the cupcakes are no exception. Visit the shop 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (any day but Sunday) and choose from delectable flavors, like Chocolate Perfection, white chocolate latte, Twix and Cloud 9. You won’t be disappointed. Follow its Facebook and Instagram pages for tantalizing pics of these scratch-made goodies. 740 E. Main St., Mount Joy; (717) 492-8440.
Desserts Etc. (Hershey)
From “the sweetest place on Earth,” Desserts Etc. is known for its decadent drink and cupcake flights, which pair specialty coffee and cocoa drinks with gorgeous, house-made cupcakes, including gluten-free and vegan options. The Valentine’s flight offers pairings, like French vanilla latte with a white cupcake with hazelnut icing and Nutella drizzle, and chocolate cold brew with a strawberry cold foam paired with a chocolate cupcake with strawberry icing. Or, just stop in any day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for special Valentine’s Day cupcake singles, like the floral bouquet cupcake, chocolate heart cupcake, white cupcake or gluten-free, vegan strawberry cupcake. Follow Desserts Etc. on Facebook and Instagram for all the new flavor drops. 840 E. Chocolate Ave., Hershey; (717) 999-7996.
Lynn Sandy’s Bakery (Scranton)
The cupcake-lined display cases inside the warm and cheery Lynn Sandy’s Bakery boast dozens of delightful flavors, including a flavor of the month (lemon raspberry for February) and customer favorites, like peanut butter cup, Boston cream, red velvet, carrot, funfetti, salted caramel and strawberry shortcake. Perhaps it’s best to just order a whole bunch. Keep up with monthly flavors and other happenings via Lynn Sandy’s Bakery Facebook and Instagram pages. 619 Pittston Ave., Scranton; (570) 346-2440.
Let Them Eat Cake (Nazareth)
For scrumptious cupcakes in the Lehigh Valley, head to the whimsical, French-inspired Let Them Eat Cake cafe. The flavor of the week for Valentine’s Day is Love Bug, or you can go with vanilla bean, red velvet, pink champagne, chocolate strawberry or chocolate truffle. Let Them Eat Cake’s Afternoon Tea experiences allow you to enjoy sandwiches, mini cupcakes and other sweets and endless tea with advance booking. You can follow the cafe Facebook and Instagram and head there Wednesday through Sunday. 112 S. Main St., Nazareth; (610) 216-9516.
Lancaster Cupcake (Lancaster & Lebanon)
Central Pennsylvanians, you’ve got three locations and over 15 flavors to choose from with Lancaster Cupcake, with shops in downtown, just north of the city and in Lebanon. For Valentine’s Day, Lancaster Cupcake’s menu includes strawberry champagne, “red lips” red velvet, “dark chocolate therapy,” and three gluten-free and vegan choices, including chocolate-covered strawberry. If you can’t decide, preorder a V-Day-themed dozen. And, while you’re at it, grab a pup biscuit treat for your special four-legged somebody. 24 W. Orange St., Lancaster; (717) 435-3084; 260 Granite Run Dr., Lancaster; (717) 553-5287; and 111 Springwood Dr. Suite 200, Lebanon; (717) 419-7981.
Papa’s Cupcakes (Perkasie)
Papa’s Cupcakes takes twists on classic treats, like peach cobbler and rocky road, that are nearly impossible to resist. The chocolate bomb will satiate any chocoholic’s cravings with a chocolate ganache filled chocolate cake and and chocolate buttercream, chocolate drizzled topping and other options, like triple vanilla, key lime and salted caramel, are right on point. Follow Papa’s on Facebook and Instagram to see what delights are coming down the pipeline. Head in Wednesday through Sunday to pick some out. 101 N. 5th St., Perkasie; (215) 872-9087.
Kia’s Cakes (Lansdowne)
Head to Kia’s Cakes for luscious little cupcakes in flavors like carrot cake, red velvet, vanilla bean, triple chocolate, sweet potato and the irresistible cheesecake cupcake. You’ll also find fantastic, indistinguishable gluten-free and vegan options in the mix, and mini packs of cupcakes for sampling. Follow Kia’s Cakes on Facebook and Instagram to learn of new flavors and specials. The bakery shop is open Wednesday through Saturday, with evening hours each day. 16 S. Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne; (484) 461-3793.
Dia Doce (West Chester)
Ever since splashing on the scene as the Food Network Cupcake Wars winner and everyone’s favorite pea-green food truck, Dia Doce has treated Chester County to divine little treats in perpetual flavor rotation for nearly 15 years. There can be lines out the door of the snug cafe just outside the center of downtown West Chester, where college kids and older patrons, alike, revel in the thoughtfully constructed and absolutely delicious confections and coffee drinks. Tune in to Dia Doce’s Facebook and Instagram pages to find out the weekly flavors, like peanut butter blackout and red velvet chocolate chip or pre-order a Valentine’s Day mini box set, and treat your honey to their new favorite cupcake. 100 S. High St., West Chester; (610) 476-5684.
The Sweet Life Bakeshop (Philadelphia)
Philly’s beloved The Sweet Life Bakeshop delights cupcake connoisseurs with scratch made treats and signature flavors like strawberries and cream, sweet potato, dark and lovely chocolate on chocolate and red velvet. You can visit the South Street shop to pick up cupcake singles, half or full dozen packs or a mini cupcake sampler, or have them delivered via DoorDash, Wednesday through Sunday. 740 South St., Philadelphia; (215) 717-7770.
- Feature photo: Dia Doce
- All other photos: courtesy of the respective businesses
