$=$5-$10; $$=$10-$25; $$$=$25-$50; $$$$=$50+

Ashby's Sterling Ice Cream Parlor 46540 Van Dyke, Shelby Twp.; 586-991-0106: This old-fashioned ice cream parlor serves 60 flavors of premium, hand-dipped ice cream. No shortcuts here: Ashby's starts off with the creamiest 14 percent butterfat ice cream mix and adds your favorite ingredients. In addition to ice cream, choose from shakes, malts, floats and sodas to settle your sweet tooth. Ashby's also carries Alpine Chocolat Haus of Gaylord items, which include caramel corn and brittle.

Astoria Pastry Shop 541 Monroe St., Detroit, 313-963-9603; 320 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-582-9220: This year, Astoria has logged 40 years in its Greektown location. This pastry shop serves the kinds of desserts that make you want to snap a photo of them before they go down the hatch. And it's quite a sight: a glistening array of mouthwatering cakes and pies and cookies and puddings. Then there's the chocolate-peanut butter frozen yogurt, a rich delight made from low-fat frozen yogurt, but chock-full of thick peanut butter, a necessity for low-carbers. They'll happily box them up for a gift or to go.

Benny's Bakery 111 W. Michigan Ave., Saline; 734-429-9120: When you need a specialty cake — and by that we mean a cake shaped like a hat or a purse or an Army helmet or even an armadillo — Benny's is your go-to spot. They also do an array of creative cookies shaped like anything you can imagine: hearts, crosses, bunnies, groundhogs, fire trucks, shamrocks. And their cupcakes are so cute you'll have a sugar overload without even taking a bite, adorned with yellow duckies, baby bibs, sleeping tots, baby booties or kitty faces. See their Flickr site for examples.

Cake Nouveau 206 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-994-4033; 1924 Packard St. Ann Arbor; 734-994-4033: Another specialty cake shop, Cake Nouveau specializes in creative cakes for special events. Their artistic flair and whimsical elements are nothing like the boring white wedding cakes of yesterday, with bright colors and unique shapes. Trained in French pastries, their award-winning resident "artist," Courtney Clark, can tailor a pastry to your taste — in flavor and shape. Open daily.

Calder Brothers Dairy 1020 Southfield Rd., Lincoln Park; 313-381-8858: Having logged 62 years of operation, the Calder Brothers' spot may be the last remaining Downriver dairy. They still make their ice cream fresh and serve it up in cones, malts and shakes in their own ice cream parlor. Whether you're just getting a scoop to go or loading up by the gallon, their 34 flavors, ranging from reliable vanilla to cinnamony horchata, aim to please. The ice cream is reportedly notable enough to draw the occasional out-of-state visitor.

Champagne Chocolates 54 Cherry St., Mt. Clemens; 586-468-1170: Boxed chocolates, toffees, "clusters" — bite-sized chunks of chocolate-coated peanuts, almonds, raising, dried cherries, or coconut — or "barks" — cooled sheets of chocolate mixed with fruit and nuts that are broken into delectable shards. You'll also find a creative assortment of wedding favors — and even sugar-free chocolate. Ask about their "chocolate parties," which give kids and adults alike the opportunity to create your own confections.

Chocolate Bar Café 20737 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods; 313-881-2888: This old-fashioned soda fountain serves classic sundaes, malts, real sodas and some of the best homemade chocolates around. The Chocolate Bar Café still serves the same Alinosi chocolate and ice cream that has been around since 1921. Along with the usual desserts, the Chocolate Bar Café offers special made-to-order cakes, cupcakes and treats. You can even customize a box of truffles or even personalize a chocolate bar with your own logo.

Clark's Ice Cream & Yogurt 3312 12 Mile Rd., Berkley; 248-541-6560: With about 55 different flavors, Clark's is a well-stocked roadside stand with a small lobby inside and benches and picnic tables outside. The stand has been in business for about 30 years, as Clark's for almost 20. They sell Blizzard-like Clark's Chillers, with soft-serve, Oreos and Butterfingers, as well as a host of hand-dipped cones. The most popular flavors of ice cream include "moose tracks" (a vanilla-chocolate mixed with peanut butter cups), amaretto cherry and butter pecan. Cones come in regular, sugar and waffle. A two-scoop cone runs between $3.25 (child's size) and $3.75 (adult size). Open from noon to 9:30 p.m., with expanded hours as summer gets hotter.

Christine's Cakes and Pastries 45883 Hayes Rd., Shelby Twp.; 586-566-5545: As the name suggests, cakes are right up front on Christine's product lines, and they come in more than a half-dozen flavors, with options that include rich butter cream frosting and their "famous" poured-chocolate cakes. The pastry choices include more than a dozen tortes, as well as cannolis, chocolate mousse tarts, cream puffs, éclairs, cordials, brownies, strawberry crepes and a full line of gourmet cookies. Christine's has a reputation for using only the finest ingredients.

Culver's Frozen Custard and Butterburgers 11001 Belleville Rd., Belleville; 734-699-6100; 30820 Little Mack Ave., Roseville; 586-415-8804: 14800 Racho Rd., Taylor; 734-287-3147; 6500 Newburgh Rd., Westland; 734-595-1883: The popular "Turtle" sundae is made with hot fudge, hot caramel and pecans over vanilla custard. Or try the sundae with hot fudge, peanut butter sauce and Reese's Pieces. There are about 100 flavors. Each store arranges its own flavor of the day as it sees fit; some schedule a monthly calendar, others pick a new flavor each morning. They try to select flavors suitable to holidays, like the Red, White and Blueberry on Memorial Day (vanilla ice cream with strawberries and blueberries). The menu includes the burger that made them famous, the ButterBurger (natch).

> Email Metro Times food staff