Pastries in South Florida

Few things inspire a greater reaction in Broward / Palm Beach sugar fiends than a lit-up "HOT NOW" sign glowing outside a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Founded in 1937 when Vernon Rudolph purchased a top-secret yeast-raised donut recipe from a New Orleans chef, the donut company set its sites on world domination in the 1990s and embarked upon a mass expansion. The company now boasts more than 700 locations in 21 countries including Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. It's best known for the "Original Glazed" donut, an ethereally light creation that seems to dissolve into sticky sweet thin air on the tongue. Most locations offer a drive-thru, making it all too easy to roll through for a hot dozen and then make a quick getaway. Krispy Kreme is easy to find on Voice Places.

You can watch the wizards at work here: Former hotel pastry chef Nick Williamson is right behind the glass window, making the treats that come from this cute bakery. Cupcakes are the focus -- flavors are traditional but include new favorites: Red Velvet, Boston Cream, Lemon Dream, Key Lime, Carrot Cake, and a specialty creation called Seventh Heaven -- a mix of dark chocolate fudgy cake with chocolate chunks, a pillow of white chocolate mousse on top with more chocolate sprinkles, dipped in chocolate ganache. Note: They also have a kiosk outside of Macy's in the Galleria Mall in Fort Lauderdale. It's open mall hours.