People in Indianapolis have some great choices for bakeries in the city. For baked goods and pastries downtown it's hard to beat Shapiro's. Everything is baked fresh there on site.

For what many locals consider the best bakery in the city though, you may visit Broad Ripple to Rene's Bakery. Photograph above: Long's Bakery is a family bakery started by Carl Long in 1955. All baked goods are made daily from scratch. Longs has been an Indianapolis bakery institution since the 1950s.

If you are looking for a customized birthday cake or wedding cake, consider these other great local bakeries: Crawfords Bakery & Deli, For The Love of Dogs A Dog Bakery, MCL Restaurant & Bakery and Taylor's Bakery.

Make sure you discuss ingredient alternatives for butter, sugar and other calorie-adding substances. Some of these bakers are very skilled in eidble flowers and cake ingredients that won't add to your waistline!