The Ultimate New Orleans King Cake Guide

While everyone else is beginning to track their New Year’s resolutions and saying goodbye to sweets, New Orleans is preparing to welcome back one of its sweetest and most beloved delicacies: King Cake. Since we adopted the tradition in 1870, the classic king cake has started a revolution in the culinary scene, inspiring everything from twists on the traditional dessert itself to king cake flavored pastries and even drinks – think a very New Orleans-specific version of pumpkin spice. If this is your first time in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and you’re ready to indulge like a native, check out a few of these places listed below to fulfill your king cake curiosities, or  check out these bakeries that ship king cakes both nationally and internationally to get a taste of New Orleans wherever you are.

Classic King Cakes

Household staples among the locals – both old and new

Manny Randazzo's King Cakes — Boasted by locals far and wide as the best king cake in the state, Randazzo’s is a Metairie-based bakery dedicated to king cakes and only king cakes. Once the shop opens in mid-December, patrons can expect lines wrapped around the building and down the block for one of their famous king cake creations. You can choose from flavors such as strawberry cream cheese, pecan praline, lemon, apple, and more, but most will tell you that the traditional king cake from Randazzo’s does the trick. Won’t be in the city for Mardi Gras? No worries. Order one of Randazzo’s specialty king cakes online with their overnight delivery.

Loretta’s Authentic Pralines — It should come as no surprise that the queen of pralines makes her mark on another legendary New Orleans dessert. Though she passed away in February 2022, Ms. Loretta's legacy lives on. Alongside her specialty pralines, beignets, cookies, and pies, there's also praline cream cheese-filled king cakes that locals and visitors alike can’t pass up. 

Swiss Confectionary — This 100+ year old bakery is known for their top-tier wedding cakes, but during Carnival season, you can expect an exceptionally delicious king cake from their Mid-City shop. Swiss makes nine varieties: plain, cheese, apple, strawberry, pineapple, raspberry, cherry, lemon, and the combination supreme.

La Boulangerie and Cochon — These two outposts offer a variety of traditional and creative king cakes. Enjoy traditional cinnamon, strawberry, and chocolate almond in mini form from Cochon. Cochon is also bringing back the "Elvis," which is a soft brioche filled with peanut butter and roasted banana, topped with house-cured bacon, toasted marshmallow, and Mardi Gras sprinkles. In addition to the typical New Orleans king cake, La Boulangerie will be selling a traditional French Galette des Rois: two rounds of puff pastry filled with delicate almond cream.

Brennan's — They say three’s a crowd, but we think “the more, the merrier” better describes the four king cakes from Brennan’s. The parade of the Brennan’s king cakes includes a Traditional King Cake, the Strawberry King Cake, the Almond King Cake, and a Bananas Foster King Cake, made with classic king cake dough complimented by banana liqueur and vanilla extract and filled with a creamy banana-flavored filling. This twist on Brennan’s world-famous dessert is coated in a boozy icing made with brown sugar, condensed milk, and butter rum. Order online or pick these cakes up at Brennan’s or Ralph’s on the Park. We won’t judge you for snatching up all four.

Gracious Bakery — Gracious Bakery releases new takes on king cake each year. Enjoy their Galettes de Rois, a French puff pastry king cake filled with almond cream. They are also known for their nectar cream king cake, a flavor traditionally found in sno-balls. You can also order the Gracious King Cake Kit and try your hand at king cake baking from the comfort of your own kitchen.

Hubig's Pies — Hubig's Pies are a New Orleans classic; individually wrapped, glazed hand pies with fruit or chocolate filling makes for a great snack year-round. But during Carnival season, their traditional pie flavors come to life in the form of a king cake! Enjoy traditional cinnamon, cream cheese, Dutch apple, and Hubig's custard. 

Creative King Cakes

Beyond cinnamon or cream-filled, these cakes are big on unique flavors.

Bywater Bakery — Located in the heart of the Bywater, stop by Bywater Bakery for a selection of unique and freshly baked king cakes this Mardi Gras season. Like many others, Bywater Bakery begins its king cake storm Jan. 6. Their array of cakes includes Chantilly-filled, Azul Dulce blueberry-filled, a vegan option, and even a savory crawfish king cake, plus a boudin option! Shake up your king cake selection this year at Bywater Bakery.

Willa Jean King Cake — This decadent king cake flies off the shelves every Carnival season. Known as the Caramel Crunch King Cake, the name says it all! 

Adrian’s Bakery — Known for treats that offer “a taste of New Orleans,” Adrian’s Bakery offers a selection of their special king cakes year-round. For the indulgent and the indecisive alike, their double-filled or supreme king cakes ensure you’ll never have to choose between flavors again!  Make sure to call three days in advance for orders outside of the Mardi Gras season, so you can enjoy king cake on any given day of the year.

Saba  — New Orleans culture meets this traditional Jewish dessert with Saba's babka king cake. Dripping in pomegranate caramel, enjoy this king cake in-restaurant only this Mardi Gras season.

Ayu Bakehouse — It’s a duo of king cakes this Mardi Gras season at Ayu Bakehouse. Croissant City Classic is a cinnamon-y, cream cheese-y dreamboat made with local raw cane sugar; Chocolate Babka is exactly what it sounds like—a gooey, chocolate-y, buttery babka in full king cake form.

Lagniappe Bakehouse — At Lagniappe Bakehouse, king cake season starts with a spiced citrus galette des rois, and ends with a sourdough brioche king cake. Each one is a work of art.

Sippable King Cakes

Have your king cake and sip it, too

King Cake Latte at CC’s — Come Carnival season, you’ll find Mardi Gras-inspired drinks taking over CC’s Coffee House. Try the King Cake Latte for a hot sip or the King Cake Mochasippi® for a frozen treat. Other seasonal offerings include King Cake Cold Foam Cold Brew, King Cake Espresso No. 22®, and bakery items.

Mardi Gras King Cake Coffee — This blend from Community Coffee is a balance of cinnamon and vanilla with a full-bodied, light-roast taste. Find it at local grocery stores or order online here.

King Cake Latte at Coast Roast — Enjoy a festive latte at all three local CR locations. Order that with a slice of Nonna Randazzo's king cake and you've got yourself a breakfast of champions.

King Cake Velvet Ice at PJ’s Coffee — PJ’s signature Velvet Ice gets the king cake treatment. Other offerings include the King Cake Latte and King Cake Cold Brew Shaken Espresso.

King Cake Brews from Abita — Pure, Louisiana cane sugar (lots of it) and artesian spring water are the basis of Abita’s King Cake Soda. The taste is reminiscent of frosting and cinnamon dough. Pick up a six-pack at any local grocery store. Or, if you prefer something a little stronger, wait until you get a taste of their Mardi Gras Bock. Find this malty, full-bodied German lager in grocery stores or online here.

Bacchus Blonde Ale from Port Orleans Brewing Co. — Inspired by the Superkrewe Bacchus, this beer is for the all-day parade-goer – the one who likes to party nonstop. Bacchus Blonde is a light-bodied ale that gives off a mild malt character. Seasonally, it can be purchased online or at local grocery stores.

504King Cake Spiced Rum from Happy Raptor — Every Happy Raptor Distilling product is handcrafted, bottled, and labeled at their New Orleans distillery. Get into the Mardi Gras spirit with this bold and spicy citrus-infused rum, perfect for crafting cocktails. A portion of every 504King Cake bottle supports Sprout NOLA farm. Purchase here and pick up in store. 

"Other" King Cakes

Ice cream, chocolate, cheesecake, and more

Jack Rose - Indulge in an ice cream king cake at Jack Rose. Their traditional dessert, the Mile High Pie, transforms into Mardi Gras magic with a trio of flavors in a slice big enough for you to share.

Copeland's of New Orleans — You can count on Copeland’s for king cake-inspired takes on cheesecake this Mardi Gras season. 

The Batterina — Indulge in king cake cheesecake slices from the Batterina. Also available this season: cookie butter king cake cheesecake slices!

New Orleans Ice Cream's King Cake Ice Cream — Need some ice cream to go with your king cake? Well, how about a pint of king cake ice cream from this local creamery. It's rich cinnamon ice cream with a creole cream cheese flavored swirl, packed full of king cake pieces — drool-worthy if you ask us.

Flour Moon Bagels — The Krewe Bagel is meant for sharing, preferably along the parade route. Serving 10-12 people, this oversized bagel features cream cheese, ACME smoked salmon, cucumber, capers, and red onion. This king cake requires 48 hours notice.

District Donuts.Sliders.Brew — The only thing better than a king cake might be a king cake donut like the ones they serve up around this time of year at District. It even comes topped with a baby!

Piety & Desire's King Cake Bon Bons — Almost too pretty to eat, these bon bons from local chocolatier Piety & Desire are just one of several Carnival-themed confections. It's milk chocolate king cake ganache with notes of cinnamon and lemon in a dark chocolate shell - yum!

The Big Book of King Cake — Now, this is something you can enjoy even once king cake season ends. The Big Book of King Cake features all your favorite king cakes in all their glory. It'll surely give you ideas for what to try next. Also available this year is the Little Book of King Cake, a children’s book about a young girl who brings a king cake to her class at school. 

Get Your King Cakes Here

One stop shops for multiple king cakes

King Cake Hub — Returning for another year, King Cake Hub features over a dozen bakery partners with king cakes in a variety of flavors, plus king cake ice cream, Mardi Gras apparel, and king cake books. The hub is located at Zony Mash Beer Project  and opens on January 6.