King cake season, which officially opens on Twelfth Night each year (making it once again “legal” to enjoy the tasty Carnival treat), is in full swing this month! A later-in-the-year Mardi Gras Day means plenty of time to try your favorite, as well as some twists on the classic. Be sure to keep an eye out for the baby, bean or piggy, leave the knife in the box and feast on this season’s best as we highlight some of our favorites and where to find them.
♛ NOCCA
Why we love it: New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) Culinary Arts students bake up innovative takes on the classic king cake each year as part of their spring curriculum. According to a recent press release, “Proceeds from NOCCA’s king cake program support the school’s Culinary Arts department and Louisiana’s next generation of chefs.” Eating king cake is a way to give back to the community? Count us in!
Flavors: Gluten-free cinnamon, satsuma-almond, plus a rotating menu of limited-edition flavors, including a Valentine’s Day special
Great for…those that want to indulge and give back, while sampling the creativity of
burgeoning chefs. Win-Win!
Where to find them: Pre-order at noccamarketplace.com and for purchase at the King Cake Hub
♛ Leo’s Bread
Why we love it: We like to think of Leo’s Bread as the little bakery that could… bring big flavor, growing from a small pop-up behind Pagoda Café in 2013 to its current location in the historic Tremé neighborhood, plus a weekly stall at the Crescent City Farmers Market. Leo’s continues to bake up some of the best breads, pastries, and seasonal favorites such as king cakes.
Flavors: Ricotta, chocolate and orange-filled
Great for…farmers market junkies that are the first in line to find out what’s in season and what’s the freshest items to try
Where to find them: 2438 Bell St., and Tuesdays, Thursday, Sundays at the Crescent City Farmers Market, leosbread.com
♛ Nolita
Why we love it: Chef Martha Gilreath’s Nolita Bakery started as a popup in 2021 to huge success. She hasn’t looked back, opening its current brick-and-mortar location on Orleans Avenue a little over a year ago. Perhaps the key to the bakery’s success is Gilreath’s tenacity of spirit and downright delicious baked goods, specifically the king cakes. It’s truly a labor of love that shines through each doughy creation.
Flavors: Traditional cinnamon
Great for…people whose favorite colors are purple, green and gold and love a classic movie, old jazz standards and traditional king cakes.
Where to find them: 3201 Orleans Avenue, nolitanola.com
♛ King Cakes by Brennan’s
Why we love it: For New Orleanians, the name “Brennan” has become synonymous with great good and hospitality, and that continues, of course, during Carnival. The Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group is baking up a variety of traditional and “outside the box” flavors for everyone at the party.
Flavors: Traditional cinnamon, almond, bananas Foster and the “Pink Parade” featuring strawberry cream cheese and white chocolate
Great for…those who love brunch, beads and bananas Foster!
Where to find them: Available for pre-order and pickup at local retail locations, Brennan’s, 417 Royal St., and Ralph’s on the Park, 900 City Park Avenue, kingcakesbybrennans.com
♛ Hubig’s Pie
Why we love it: Hubig’s may be the “new kid on the block” when it comes to king cakes, but this New Orleans mainstay has been a part of local palates for decades. The king cakes recall Hubig’s popular round pies and slices, which were sold until 2005 when Hurricane Katrina impacted the area. We can’t wait to see what Hubig’s has cooked up for us this Carnival.
Flavors: Traditional cinnamon, Hubig’s custard, Dutch apple, and cream cheese
Great for…fans of classic Hubig’s custard pies and for celebrating nostalgic flavors with a new generation
Where to find them: Available at local New Orleans grocers Breaux Mart, Canseco’s, Dorignac’s and Robert’s Fresh Market and on the Northshore at Acquistapace’s, Piggly Wiggly Madisonville and Cash Saver Slidell. hubigs.com
♛ Ayu Bakehouse
Why we love it: The Marigny’s Ayu Bakehouse is a neighborhood (and beyond) favorite for reason: they combine flavor and a love of community in every bite. This year the Bakehouse has two king cake options with a twist on the conventional. The chocolate Babka is a “Nutella and chocolate-swirled fever dream,” while the “Croissant City Classic” has French je ne sais quois flair and is filled with cream cheese and cinnamon. Be on the lookout for special releases throughout the season, as well!
Flavors: Chocolate Babka, Croissant City Classic king cake
Great for…those that love baking flavor-fusions and all things pastries, of course!
Where to find them
Where to find them: 801 Frenchman St., 504-302-7985, ayubakehouse.com
♛ La Boulangerie
Why we love it: Executive Pastry Chef Maggie Scales brings elegance to the king cake game with La Boulangerie’s traditional French Galette des Rois, which features two rounds of puff pastry filled with almond cream, in addition to the New Orleans-style kind cakes that we all love. It has us exclaiming, “oh la la!” all Carnival-long.
Flavors: Classic cinnamon, “Galette des Rois” almond cream puff
Great for…New Orleans Francophiles who love to party in European style.
Where to find them: Order at least 48-hours in advance, 4600 Magazine St., 504-269-3777, laboulangerienola.com
♛ Cochon
Why we love it: And now for something (almost) completely different, enter the “Elvis.” Cochon’s cheeky take on the classic king cake (and, yes, you can get those too) has become an annual favorite for those looking for over-the-top flavor. The cake is filled with peanut butter and banana and topped with house-cured bacon, marshmallow fluff and Mardi Gras sprinkles. As always, Cochon king cakes come with a signature pink pig in place of the Carnival baby. But don’t let your cake sit too long unattended. The king has left the building indeed.
Flavors: the Elvis peanut butter and banana, classic mini New Orleans cinnamon
Great for…those that believe in bacon as a garnish on everything and have a “hunka, hunka burning love” for Carnival
Where to find them: Order at least 48-hours in advance, 930 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-588-7675, cochonbutcher.com
♛ Dong Phuong Bakery
Why we love it: The James Beard Foundation awarded this staple Vietnamese bakery in 2018 for its contributions to culinary excellence. While the bakery is known for its bread, Banh mi, Mooncakes and more, this time of year all we have on our minds are their amazing king cakes. These sweet confections sell out at every location, so be sure to be the first in line when you can.
Flavors: Traditional cinnamon, cream cheese, pecan, strawberry, coconut, almond, and durian
Great for…variety, the spice of life and king cakes!
Where to find them: Zuppardo’s, Hong Kong Food Market, Junior’s on Harrison, Urban South Brewery and more. Check kingcake.dpbakery.com for a complete map of complete resellers.
♛ Gracious Bakery + Café
Why we love it: Executive Chef Megan Forman and her team have been baking up some of the city’s finest pastries, bread and Carnival treats since 2012. Their delicate touch with the seasonal treat has us coming back for seconds and thirds throughout Carnival. Purchase their take-home “king cake kit” to make your own version at home any time.
Flavors: Almond Queen Cake, Nectar Cream King Cake
Great for…like a classic Queen cake and those first in line when their favorite sno-ball stand opens up.
Where to find them: 4930 Prytania St., 2854 St. Charles Avenue, Whole Foods Grocery Store (Queen cake only), shipping via Goldbelly.com, graciousbakery.com
Caked Up
Where to find the freshest cakes in town
King Cake Hub
The King Cake Hub is open once again this year at Zony Mash Brewery in Broadmoor. The location features more than 70 varieties of king cakes, desserts, treats and more from bakeries and makers across the area. 1464 S. Broad St., kingcakehub.com
King Cake Drive-Thru
Whether it’s drive-up ashes on Ash Wednesday or drive-through daiquiris any other time of the year, New Orleanians truly appreciate (and perfect) convenience. The King Cake Drive-Thru combines Carnival convenience with flavor and flair. Located at Duckworth Tires, the drive-thru will highlight some of the area’s favorite top bakeries plus some you may not have tried before. 1009 Metairie Road, kingcakedrive-thru.com
The Shop at the Collection
Located in the heart of the French Quarter, the Historic New Orleans Collection’s Shop offers a variety of king cakes as well as treats, Carnival-themed items and much more. 520 Royal St., 504-523-4662, hnoc.org
Gris-Gris to Go Go
One of the Lower Garden District’s favorite gourmet to-go spots, Gris-Gris to Go Go, will have a selection of king cakes for pickup along with their regular menu of Carnival-ready finger sandwiches, wings, gumbo and more. Featured king cakes include Haydel’s and HiDo, with more to come. 1804 Magazine St., 504-354-1520, ggtogogo.com
Crescent City Farmer’s Market
The Crescent City Farmer’s Market is known for featuring some of the best, fresh produce and products in the area, and for king cakes that is definitely fact. Three days a week, shoppers can find small batch bakery cakes in a wide range of flavors, from classic cinnamon to strawberry matcha, satsuma, almond and more. Be sure to get there early before they sell out. Uptown on Tuesdays, Mid-City on Thursdays and City Park on Sundays. crescentcityfarmersmarket.org
King cake community fan favorites
You can never go wrong with the classics!
- Manny Randazzo’s Randazzokingcake.com
- Haydel’s Bakery Haydelsbakery.com
- Antoine’s Famous Cakes Antoinesfamouscakes.com
- Caluda’s King Cakes Kingcakeshop.com
- Swiss Confectionary Swisscakes.net
- Nonna Randazzo’s Nonnaskingcakes.com
- Laurel Street Bakery Laurelstreetbakery.com
- Maurice’s French Bakery Mauricefrenchpastries.com
- Hi-Do Bakery Facebook.com/hidobakery
Thinking Outside the (king cake) Box
Savor these stand-out stars for extraordinary tastes
Jamboree Jams
Cardamom with candied citrus and labneh glaze
@jamboreejams
Coffee Science
Strawberry matcha
@coffeesciencenola
Bywater Bakery
Bourbon cinnamon
@bywaterbakerynola
The Station
Coffee and cream with espresso glaze
@thestation4400
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Spiced citrus Galette des Rois
@lagniappebakehouse
Dough Nguyener’s
Pandan crème
@doughnguyeners
Norma’s Sweets Bakery
Guava cream cheese
@normasweetsbakery
