St. Louis, MOGooey Butter Cake

Park Avenue Coffee had counted 73 gooey butter cake flavors, including a seasonal Peppermint Patty. Owner Dale Schotte's cakes drew national attention and won Food Network's Food Feuds contest against another local bakery. Order a slice with coffee at the Lafayette Square cafe, which opened in August 2006.

A vintage neon sign at Gravois and Mathilda in Affton shows a baker in a floppy chef's hat holding a birthday cake. Behind it, Federhofer's makes gooey butter cake, Swedish crumb loaf, danishes, stollens and doughnuts. Order the gooey butter cake and take home a Swedish crumb loaf.

Debbie Stieferman started Gooey Louie in 2006, and the square golden mascot now appears on every package. The Creve Coeur shop on Olive Boulevard houses the baking kitchen, while the Clayton store has none of its own. Stieferman aims to offer eight to 10 flavors in individual sizes and about six full cakes, rotating seasonal flavors. Her second-best seller, Turtle Park, has a chocolate crust, caramel drizzle, Missouri pecans and chocolate on top.

Russell Ping and his mother, Kate, opened a Fenton cafe with a small pastry case and a handful of cakes. The Southampton location now serves cakes, pastries and brunch. Pastries remain Ping's particular interest, including the gooey butter cake.

On The Hill, Mimi Lordo carries on a family baking business dating to 1924. Order a gooey butter cake from the Edwards Street case, then chocolate drops, round chocolate-covered pastries shaped like flat doughnuts.