The metro-Detroit chain Just Baked is not alone in closing its corporate-owned cupcake shops. Crumbs Bake Shop, based in New York City, shut the doors on all 48 of its stores in July. (They’ve since reopened a store in Manhattan.)

And while you might have heard some folks say cupcakes are passé, we in the Free Press Test Kitchen disagree. Since the cupcake craze started more than 10 years ago, the little cakes have come a long way from the standard-variety school birthday treat we remember from childhood.

Here are five reasons we will always love cupcakes (plus some of our favorite cupcake recipes, too):

1. What’s on top: We love the creativity fostered by frosting — from gussied-up buttercreams in wild colors and flavors, to light and airy meringues and decadent chocolate ganache. And then there’s the endless array of decorations available. Of course there are the simple sprinkles, chocolate curls and candy. But so many went further with toppings, including candied bacon, pretzels, potato chips, mini-action figures and dolls.

2. What’s inside: Cupcakes jumped from using a plain boxed cake mix to doctored-up mixes with the addition of puddings, spices or nuts or having a theme. There are red velvet, rocky road brownie, peanut butter-infused and even cheesecake cupcakes. Injecting a baked cupcake with jams, cream fillings and frosting is the norm.

3. The pretty presentation: Those fluted paper or foil liners have come a long way. Tons of colors, designs and sizes are sold at grocery stores, craft stores and big box retailers. There are even holders for the cupcakes already in liners. Cupcakes have become the centerpiece of many dessert tables, whether they are displayed on tiers, turned into tasty towers or frosted together to form cakes for any special occasion.

4. Kid-friendly: Cupcakes have always been — and continue to be — a favorite among the younger set. They are the perfect size for smaller hands (unless you splurge for the gargantuan size), and decorating them can be fun for all ages (just watch for the little finger-lickers).

5. Travel well: These tasty treats can travel in style (not the foil-lined shirt boxes you might remember from decades past). Now, there are a variety of handy cupcake carriers, in many shapes and sizes, for easy transport so there’s less mess and fewer frosting mishaps from cupcakes slipping and sliding along the way.