Butter Lane

Ah, Butter Lane, why didn't I find this cupcakery before? The moist, not-too-sweet chocolate, vanilla, or banana cakelets with their lovely dollops of buttercream have sent me over the moon. What other bakery gives you a choice between French or American chocolate toppings, as well as French or American vanilla? Out of all of the different cupcakes I sampled, from chocolate cake topped with strawberry icing and half a strawberry, sea salt caramel icing over a chocolate base, buttery cinnamon honey on a vanilla cake and many more, my favorite has to be the French vanilla over chocolate. This particular buttercream is shot through with vanilla bean, and it is creamier, lighter and not as sweet as some of the other toppings. Its subtlety lets the slight hint of coffee in the chocolate cake radiate through. I wasn't able to try the French Callebaut chocolate meringue icing, as it was sold out, but I plan to try the special seasonal frostings: key lime, lemon, and grapefruit ginger.

Butter Lane: 240 Seventh Ave., Brooklyn, (212) 677-2880. There is also a location in the East Village.