Happy (almost) Mardi Gras!! With Mardi Gras coming up fast, you better believe we’ll all be working on finding the best king cake around. Since we all have different tastes, why not check out a round-up of all the amazing and popular king cake options here in Baton Rouge, Lafayette (where I’m from), AND New Orleans? For those of you who are new down here, we Louisianians take our King cake pretty seriously. So, whether you live in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, or New Orleans, here’s THE ULTIMATE list of amazing king cakes in each city. I even noted which places ship for all you out-of-towners!

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Locations noted with (***) offer shipping!

Baton Rouge King Cakes

Donut Style:

• *** Thee Heavenly Donut: This local doughnut shop calls itself the home of the fried king cake, filling its doughnut-like version with everything from sweet to savory. Defintiely check them out for some crazy cakes! theeheavenlydonut.com.
• Mary Lee Donuts: Various Locations around Baton Rouge. Mary Lee is my donut shop of choice, and with one right around the corner from our house, it’s easy to see why! They offer a variety of fillings or a more traditional cinnamon/sugar, topped with icing and colored sugar. maryleedonuts.com
• *** District Donuts: The BR location of the popular NOLA doughnut shop offers a king cake doughnut once a week as well as Cuccidati king cakes, with a swirled filling of fig, walnut, date, raisin, orange and spices. districtdonuts.com.

More Traditional Cakes:

• *** Alexander’s Highland Market: This local supermarket is another great option when looking for a delicious traditional cake. With plenty of flavor options, it’s not hard to see why it’s a local favorite! Also has keto + gluten-free friendly options! https://www.alexandersmkt.com/menus/king-cakes
• *** The Ambrosia Bakery: A staple in the capital city, this bakery and deli offers traditional and filled styles, king cake kits, and a Zulu king cake with coconut, cream cheese and chocolate. Side note: their fresh strawberry cake is THE BOMB. ambrosiabakery.com.
• Batch Baking Company: I know of this adorable cottage baking co from their delicious pastries provided to City Roots coffee, but who knew they do king cakes too?! Now you do, and with limited available, it’s best to order early. batchbakingcompany.com/kingcakes
• *** Baum’s: Offering sweet treats since 1934, this bakery has a variety of king cake options ranging from sweet to savory. baumspastries.com
• Blue Rose Cafe and Bakery: Baked fresh every morning and sold at either their physical location near Arline/Sherwood or the Government and Perkins locations of Calandro’s supermarket, you’ll find tons of options including ones that are keto-friendly. thebluerosebr.com
• Calandro’s Supermarket: This local supermarket bakery and deli offers around 50 flavors, from the pretty crazy (and delicious), including a Who Dat (with peanut butter, chocolate and cinnamon) and the Touchdown (Nutella, Bavarian cream and butter pecan), to savory options. calandros.com.

• Counterspace: You make know this little bakery from White Star Market, but they’ve since moved to a bigger location right off Perkins Rd near Juban’s. If their king cakes are as good as any of their other baked goods, you know you’ll be happy! Offeres full-size and mini options. counterspacebr.com/king-cake-orders
• *** Gambino’s Bakery: Gambino’s is one name that always pops up in when you ask where to find a great king cake. The special recipe has cinnamon infused into the dough and can be filled with cream cheese, pecan praline, and lemon, among many other options. And it’s HUGE so call your friends. With locations also in Lafayette and New Orleans, you can’t go wrong with this one! gambinos.com.
• Gourmet Girls: Katia Mangham’s storefront in the Perkins Road overpass area offers exquisite catering options, cakes and pastries. During Mardi Gras, the shop also offers king cake cookies, mini Brioche cinnamon king cakes (or baby cakes), macarons, cupcakes as well as regular or large king cakes with a variety of flavors, fillings and toppings. gourmetgirlsbr.com.
• Les Amis Bake Shoppe: This tiny little bakery offers a traditional cake as well as king cake cheesecake, cake balls, macarons and bread pudding. lesamisbakeshoppe.com.
• La Divina Italian Cafe: This restaurant and gelateria near the intersection of Perkins Rowe and South Acadian Thruway is known for its gelato, sandwiches, soups and quaint, cozy atmosphere. They also offer smaller, personal-sized versions of king cakes with different flavors. facebook.com/ladivinabatonrouge.
• Oak Point Fresh Market: With two locations in Greenwell Springs and Denham Springs and lots of filling options, this local grocery store is a great option! https://www.facebook.com/oakpointfreshmarket/
• Ralph’s Market: This local store is a favorite in Gonzales for any form of baked good – cakes, pastries, breads….but their traditional style king cake is king come carnival season! https://ralphsag.com/bakery
• Rösch Bakehaus: Their specialty king cakes sell out quick. Certain flavors are available weekly for pre-order, and they always have some unique and delicious flavor combinations! facebook.com/rosch.bakehaus.
• *** Strands Cafe: The downtown pastry and coffee shop offers traditional French king cake, or Galette des Rois, as well as more traditional, glazed and sugary Louisiana-style king cake, and seasonal king cake cheesecake and lattes. strandscafe.com.
• Whole Foods: I had their ambrosia king cake recently, and it was oh so good. Definitely check them out if you don’t want to deal with the hassle or pre-ordering a cake! wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/batonrouge.

Crazy Cakes:

• Brew Ha Ha: (King Cake Balls)
• City Pork: (Boudin King Cake)
• Cheesecake Bistro: (Mardi Gras Cheese Cake)
• Bistro Byronz: (Mardi Gras Bread Pudding)

Lafayette King Cakes

Donut Style Cakes:

• *** Ricky Meche’s Donut King: When talking about King cakes, Meche’s is a popular choice. And with a large variety of fillings, it’s easy to see why! rickeymechesdonuts.com, mecheskingcakes.com.
• *** Cajun Market Donut Company: Another popular option for donut-style cake lovers. This donut shop offers both sweet and savory options! cajunmarketdonutco.com.

Traditional Cakes:

• *** Crystal Weddings: While they mainly do wedding cakes throughout the year, things crank up during Mardi Gras season with their king cakes! With a variety of fillings to choose from, you can’t go wrong!  crystalweddings.net
• Keller’s: A long-time Lafayette favorite, including my dad’s! Their delicious + traditional cakes are sure to please, and they also offer a variety of fillings!  kellersbakerydowntown.com.
• *** Poupart’s: Offers both a traditional french king cake and mardi gras cake, and ships! poupartsbakery.com.
• Southside Bakery:From burgers to cakes, this bakery offers a little of everything. Obviously their king cakes wouldn’t be any different! With a variety of fillings to choose from, you’ll definitely find something to please everyone! southsidebakery.com.
• *** Twins: With sweet and savory options and the option to ship, this bakery caters to everyone! Plus they have a ton of delicious sweet treat and lunch specials.  twinsburgersandsweets.com.

New Orleans King Cakes

Traditional Cakes:

• *** Bittersweet Confections: 5 words. Chocolate. Cream. Cheese. Stuffed. Cake. Yes please!  http://www.bittersweetconfections.com/
• Bywater Bakery: Offers a variety of traditional and non-traditional options, and even sells their cakes by the (giant) slice!  https://www.bywaterbakery.com/
• *** Caluda’s: Has a pretty-darn-amazing traditional cake, but their weekly special flavors are what draws a crowd! Cookie dough king cake? Yes please!  https://www.kingcakeshop.com/
• Dong Phuong Oriental Bakery: This little bakery on the east side of NOLA offers a huge variety of sweet treats, including their ever-popular king cakes. Definitely worth the short drive out of the city to pick one up!  dpbakeshop.com/
• *** Haydel’s: Holds the world record for largest king cake – at 8,000 lbs and using over 2,000 gallons of icing, it was definitely a doozie! But their cakes aren’t just huge, they’re delicious too!  haydelbakery.com
• La Boulangerie: With all sorts of fun and cooky stuffing options, it’s easy to see why this bakery is a NOLA favorite! https://laboulangerienola.com/
• La Petite Sophie: Serves up some beautiful sandwich-style stuffed cakes, as well as traditional braided ones. Definitely worth the short drive out of town!  http://www.lapetitesophie.com/
• *** Manny Randazzo: Open only during Mardi Gras season since 1965, this crazy-popular bakery will frequently have lines wrapped around the building.  randazzokingcake.com/
• Maurice French Pastries: Offers a traditional glazed brioche cake as well as some other non-traditional (but still delicious) ones!  mauricefrenchpastries.com/
• Maple St. Patisserie: Offering fillings from sweet to savory and even gluten-free + vegan options, everyone will find something at this little bakery.  https://www.facebook.com/maplestpatisserie/
• Willa Jean: Arguably the prettiest king cakes in NOLA, but definitely some of the tastiest! http://www.willajean.com/