Thanksgiving has been over for more than two months and Christmas has come and gone. But there’s one holiday in the Deep South that, for many, is just as important: Mardi Gras.
“What’s a king cake,” you ask? Usually, king cakes are Danish pastry dough, braided with cinnamon and baked within the shape of a circle. Think of it almost as a giant donut-shaped cinnamon roll. They’re usually iced and often filled with cream cheese or fruit. And oh yeah — there’s usually a plastic baby inside the cake somewhere. Customarily, whomever finds the baby in his or her slice has to buy next year’s cake.
Traditionally, King Cakes are enjoyed during Carnival season, which runs from Jan. 6, or Epiphany, until Mardi Gras, which, in 2019, falls on March 5.
Here are the top places to get your king cake fix along the Gulf Coast, from Pensacola to New Orleans:
Pensacola
Le Dough
https://www.facebook.com/LedoughPensacola/photos/a.1924044211209986/2299286453685758/?type=3&theater
A self-described bakery on wheels, Le Dough specializes in hand made donuts and tartes. Every Tuesday and Thursday through February. they’ll be taking orders and making deliveries of their King Cakes. And yes, the baby is included!
Le Dough
(850) 380-3606
http://www.helloledough.com/
Bluejay’s Bakery
https://www.facebook.com/bluejaysbakery/photos/a.1716331838610903/2277940645783350/?type=3&theater
One of Pensacola’s hottest new bakeries, Bluejay’s is located in the newly restored One Palafox Place development in the Blount Building on Garden and Palafox streets. Along with taking orders for full King Cakes, they’re serving slices of King Cake at the bakery daily through Fat Tuesday. Their King Cakes come in traditional cinnamon sugar with raisins flavor.
Bluejay’s Bakery
11 Palafox Place Suite E
Pensacola, Florida
(850) 982-9731
https://www.bluejaysbakery.com
Oh Snap!
https://www.facebook.com/ohsnapcupcakes/posts/2638291282849521
Most people know Oh Snap! for their cupcakes — but they’re one of Pensacola’s top spots for king cakes. The Cervantes Street bakery makes their king cakes in a variety of flavors, including traditional with brown sugar, cream cheese with brown sugar, strawberry, almond, and other fruit and chocolate flavors. “Whatever anyone wants, we can put in,” said owner Lee Newkirk.
New this year are Gluten Free and Vegan options, starting at $6 for a small to $28 for a large king cake. For non-vegans, choose from chocolate, nuts, or cream cheese. They’re available in-store each day until supplies run out, but the shop recommends calling ahead to pre-order.
Oh Snap! Cupcakes
707 E Cervantes St, Ste. A
Pensacola, FL 32501
(850) 466-3363
http://www.ohsnapcupcakes.com/
J’s Bakery and Cafe
https://www.facebook.com/Jsbakeryandcafe/photos/a.10150202056803800/10156535900478800/?type=3&theater
Located on 12th Avenue in East Hill and operating since 1946, J’s Bakery is celebrating Mardi Gras with a variety of King Cake flavors, to include cinnamon and sugar, prailine, raspberry, apple, cream cheese, and fruit and cream cheese. Please call to reserve your custom order
J’s Bakery and Cafe
2014 N 12th Ave
Pensacola, FL
(850) 439-6546
https://jsbakeryandcafe.com/
Frios Gourmet Pops
https://www.facebook.com/friospensacola/photos/a.504570636597093/966024340451718/?type=3&theater
OK, this one’s cheating — but if you’re in the mood for king cake without, you know, the cake, Frio’s king cake pops are your new treat. Order before January 15th to receive special pricing
Frios Gourmet Pops
9 Palafox Place
Pensacola, Florida
404-971-1047
New Orleans
Haydel’s
Haydel’s or Gambino’s — New Orleanians have been debating whose king cakes are better for as long as anyone can remember.
The legendary Haydel’s makes king cakes in a variety of flavors, and ships them around the world all year round.
In 2010, Haydel’s set a Guiness World Record by baking the world’s largest king cake — a 5,300-foot-long, 8,600-pound behemoth created to help raise money for cancer research.
Haydel’s Bakery
4037 Jefferson Highway
New Orleans, LA 70121
1-800-442-1342
https://www.haydelbakery.com
Gambino’s
This Metairie favorite bills itself as the “King of King Cakes,” and for good reason — Gambino’s sells as many as 100,000 king cakes each year.
Gambino’s cakes aren’t just filled, they’re stuffed — with everything from lemon or strawberry up to chocolate chip cookie dough.
Like Haydel’s, Gambino’s sells king cakes year round and ships them around the world.
Gambino’s Bakery
4821 Veterans Memorial Blvd.
Metairie, LA 70006
1-800-GAMBINO (426-2466)
http://www.gambinos.com/
Sucre
The new kid on the block, Sucre is perhaps better known for its incredible macarons and to-die-for gelato. But if you’ve been to their Magazine Street storefront, you’ve probably seen their case of couture pastry creations and thought about how they look almost too pretty to eat.
Sucre’s king cakes are no different. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill grocery store king cakes. These are productions — buttery danish pastry dough sweetened with cinnamon and raw sugar before being folded with just the right amount of cream cheese, then iced with an edible glitter that produces a gorgeous luster. One size, one flavor only. Shipping available.
Sucre
Three locations in New Orleans
(504) 708-4366
http://www.shopsucre.com/
Coastal Mississippi
Paul’s
Paul’s Pastry Shop — located in tiny Picayune, Miss., about 45 minutes from New Orleans — bills itself as the first bakery to fill king cakes with cream cheese and fruit. Like the other stores we’ve mentioned so far, Paul’s ships its cakes year-round, so you don’t have to wait for carnival season to get a taste.
Paul’s king cakes are also available at markets and specialty shops throughout Mississippi and as far east as Gulf Shores, Ala.
Paul’s Pastry Shop
1 Sycamore Road, Ste. A
Picayune, MS 39466
(800) 669-5180
http://paulspastry.com/
Coastal Alabama
Pollman’s Bake Shop
Mobile is where Mardi Gras started on the Gulf Coast — and Pollman’s Bake Shop is the undisputed place to get a king cake in Mobile. The longtime Mobile favorite has been turning out king cakes since the 1950s, selling more than 10,000 cakes each season.
Pollman’s Bake Shop
750 S Broad St and 4464 Old Shell Rd
Mobile, AL 36603/36608
(251) 438-1511/(251) 342-8546
Warehouse Bakery & Donuts
Recipe testing today #kingcakedonutcake
A video posted by @warehousebakeryanddonuts on
Fairhope’s Warehouse Bakery & Donuts does it a little differently, with donut-style king cakes. Braided dough is fried like a donut, glazed, and sprinkled. The cakes can also be made with a variety of fillings. Customers should call ahead for these, though — they’re not on the regular menu.
Warehouse Bakery & Donuts
759 Nichols Ave
Fairhope, AL 36532
(251) 928-7223
http://warehousebakeryanddonuts.com/
Gulf Coast
Rouse’s
Last — but certainly not least — is Rouse’s, the Louisiana-based grocery chain with stores as far east as Mobile, Spanish Fort, and Gulf Shores, Ala.
Rouse’s king cakes may not be the fanciest cakes you’ll find — but they’re delicious, come in a variety of flavors, and they’re among the most affordable on this list.
Rouse’s
Locations across the Gulf Coast
985-447-5998
https://shop.rouses.com/
