4 Ways to Enjoy King Cake

1. Classic King Cakes

1. Haydel’s Bakery, New Orleans: Not only does Haydel's have a traditional king cake complete with icing, but it also sells a sugar-only version. Both are topped with purple, green and gold sugar crystals.
2. Manny Randazzo vs. Nonna Randazzo, New Orleans: The debate over which institution is better is years-long, and locals have passionate preferences. Try them both and judge for yourself.
3. Delicious Donuts & Bakery, Lake Charles: All of its king cakes are made in-house using the bakery's own special recipe.

2. Creative King Cakes

1. Dong Phuong, New Orleans: This James Beard Award-winning Vietnamese bakery in New Orleans East sees lines around the block for its king cakes. Try flavors such as coconut, pecan, strawberry and cream cheese.
2. Lilah’s, Shreveport: Lilah’s cakes may look like classic, but the fillings are diverse — and they offer gluten-free king cakes!
3. Brew Ha Ha, Baton Rouge: It's king cake in portable form! Grab a king-cake cake ball, and wash it down with a king cake latte.
4. Recipe: Cream Cheese King Cake Ice Cream, at home: We’ve pushed our test kitchen to the limits and perfected a recipe you can easily make from the comfort of your home.

3. Savory King Cakes

1. Cajun Market Donut Company, Lafayette: Sure, you can get just about any sweet treat here, but it’s their boudin-stuffed king cake that's a must-try.
2. Quebedeaux’s Boudin & Cracklins, Alexandria: Quebedeaux’s claims to be the home of the original boudin king cake, and who are we to argue? We'll let you be the judge.
3. Magic Grill, Monroe-West Monroe: A king-cake burger? Try this variation —a burger patty sandwiched between a wedge of king cake — at a North Louisiana staple.

4. King Cake in Liquid Form

1. CC’s Coffee King Cake Latte, statewide: Get your caffeine fix and your king cake all in one with flavors of caramel and brown-sugar cinnamon in latte form.
2. Community Coffee Mardi Gras King Cake, nationwide: Enjoy a taste of Mardi Gras in the morning with this Community Coffee blend, sold ground by the bag or in individual K-Cup pods.
3. Abita King Cake Soda, Abita Springs and grocery stores statewide: All the goodness of king cake in a caffeine-free soda, made with Louisiana cane sugar. Have it on ice or in a float!

Want more Mardi Gras?

• Celebrate Mardi Gras New Orleans-style.
• Learn how Louisiana at large does Mardi Gras.
• Read our list of 10 things you might not know about Mardi Gras.