When Mardi Gras season comes around, there’s one sweet treat that every Louisianian craves, king cake.

The “cake” title can be misleading as traditional king cake is more of a bready texture that’s braided with cinnamon and arranged into an oval. However, it’s just as common to find a donut king cake with a delicious sugary glaze to match. King cakes are usually topped by colorful icing and sprinkles often in purple, green, and yellow Mardi Gras colors. They can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Flavors of St. Landry Parish

You can enjoy king cakes plain, but there is an art to choosing the perfect filling. Most places will have chocolate, lemon, strawberry, cream cheese, and Bavarian cream. But there are plenty of local places with more diverse flavors. Those places are willing and able to customize a king cake to your specifications.

One of the more famous donut king cakes is Mikey’s Donut King in Opelousas. Located just across the way from Le Vieux Village’s historic buildings and museums, Mikey’s is a frequent stop for early birds who want sweet donuts or savory kolaches for their morning commute. During Mardi Gras season, king cakes fly off the shelves. Mikey’s has all the classic king cake flavors at a reasonable price. Perfect for if you need a last-minute cake for a party or get together.

Champagne's Marche King Cake, Leonville, Louisiana

Champagne’s Marché King Cake, Leonville, Louisiana

Champagne’s Marché, a family-owned grocery store in Leonville located right on the Bayou Teche, was established in 1926. In addition to their boudin, cracklins, and plate lunches, Champagne’s king cakes put them on the foodie map. Alongside their regular flavors, you can choose from Amaretto pecan, blueberry cream cheese, pecan praline, and many more. Their iconic king cake is covered in white icing with thin stripes of purple, green, and yellow crisscrossing streaks.

Boudin King Cake, Washington, Louisiana

Boudin King Cake, Washington, Louisiana

King cakes that deviate from tradition have increased in popularity in recent years. One such departure has been savory king cakes. This is an award-winning, boudin king cake topped with pepper jelly and candied bacon. You won’t find this exact one in any bakery. It was made by local culinary students at the Town of Washington’s Career & Technical Center. However, it speaks to modern food trends of taking tried and true recipes and elevating them. Plus, it tasted pretty good too.

Lou's Chantilly King Cake, Washington, Louisiana

Lou’s Chantilly King Cake, Washington, Louisiana

One local bakery that is unafraid to experiment and create stunning new types of king cake is Lou’s in Washington. Their Chantilly king cake is covered in fresh fruit and boasts two layers of goodness. It’s as delicious as it is beautiful and mirrors their Chantilly snowball which you should try during warmer months. Try their pecan praline king cake with Steens Syrup as well as Oreo, wedding cake, and turtle flavored cakes, or design one custom. Get your orders in early, as they get busy real quick.

Another trend during Mardi Gras season is king cake-adjacent products. Try out Benny’s white chocolate king cake bread pudding or SugarCoated’s king cake cheesecake.

However, if you’re sick of all the choices and just want a king cake that sticks to tradition, try B Sweet Bakery in Grand Coteau. This area is already known for their Sweet Dough Pie festival and gateau na-na– another French-inspired treat that’s made its home here. While you’re there, check out their ooey gooey bars, pralines, cookies, cupcakes, and cake slices.

Sweet, Sweet History

So, we know what king cakes are, and what forms they can take, but why is it called a “king cake”? Why is there a tiny plastic baby hidden inside?

The tradition of king cakes come from the Christian holiday “Feast of Epiphany” also known as “Three Kings Day” or “Theophany.” The holiday usually occurs on January 6. It refers to the manifestation of Jesus into the world and celebrates the meeting of the Three Wisemen with the infant Jesus.

While Epiphany is celebrated in Christian cultures around the world- mainly in Catholic and Orthodox traditions- king cakes are most common in Louisiana. However, Mobile, Alabama has claims to the origins of Mardi Gras in the continental U.S. and therefore the origins of our modern-day king cake.

According to this article, “Deep South traditions at Epiphany included baking a local version of the French Galette de Rois, or King Cake. At first, it was only served over a 12-day period in tribute to the Biblical story of the three kings who journeyed to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

King Cake season expanded here [Mobile, Alabama] over time and it became standard fare at the parties and society balls that ran from the Epiphany until Mardi Gras. Whoever got the slice with the hidden trinket (the plastic baby became ubiquitous starting in the 1940s) would host the next party.”

Regardless of where it started, king cakes became a part of the celebration to symbolize the three kings finding baby Jesus. And so, a “king” cake with a baby hidden inside. The season lasts from Epiphany to Mardi Gras Day.

Local Bakeries & Groceries

These days, finding the baby in your slice of cake could mean hosting the next party or just buying the next king cake. If you found the baby and need a place to buy a king cake, here’s where you can get them in St. Landry Parish:

Are you located in St. Landry Parish and carry king cakes but aren’t listed here? Let me know! Email hawkins@cajuntravel.com to be listed.