Cupcakes are a preferable alternative to birthday cakes, whose constant accompaniment by off-key singing has depleted the planet’s finite supply of forced smiles. Garner genuine grins with today's Groupon: for $17, you get one-dozen cupcakes at Patty Cakes Bakery in Fernandina Beach (a $39.99 value).

Former New York bakery owners Tom and Patty Verri and their staff at Patty Cakes Bakery craft savory desserts and pastries using centuries-old Italian family recipes, including an array of cupcake flavors baked fresh daily. Set chompers loose on the M&M cupcakes crowned with candy-coated chocolate gems, or bite into a peanut-butter-cup confection as decadent as a life-size replica of the Statue of Liberty made entirely of cannoli cream filling. The Chocolate Craze cupcakes satisfy cocoa cravings with sweet decadence, and the Florida Snowball cupcakes satisfy sweet teeth and combat the inevitable brain freeze from consuming an entire snowman. After making 12 cupcakes disappear, diners can cleanse frosting-infused palates with sips of hot coffee ($1.79–$1.99), milk ($1.79), or seasonal hot cider ($1.79; beverages not included in this Groupon).