One of the sweetest parts of Mardi Gras season in south Louisiana is the tradition of the king cake. This year, I’ve sampled (more than) my fair share of king cakes. Most of the king cakes I’ve been able to try this year are from the Northshore, but king cakes from New Orleans and the surrounding areas are fair game. There are many more king cakes out there to try, and these rankings are simply based on the ones I’ve personally been able to try this year. Next year, I hope to branch out even more! Here are my 2022 favorites broken down into categories.
Best Overall – Hi-Do Bakery King Cake
When I think of king cake, my vision is this: light, fluffy, buttery brioche, perhaps a light filling, and most importantly, generous sprinkles of super-fine granulated sugar in purple, green, and gold. Hi-Do provides exactly that. It is the pinnacle of what a traditional New Orleans king cake is to me. Perfect on its own or dipped in a cup of café au lait, this king cake is a must-try. I tried the bavarian cream-filled king cake this year, and it was perfectly light and sweet. My favorite part of the Hi-Do cake is that they don’t pile on any icing. The only topping is the colored sugar – which is incredibly fine and piled high in the traditional colors, giving that signature crystal crunch as you bite into the brioche.
Best Filled – Mandeville Bake Shop
This king cake is very nostalgic to me, and very similar to Hi-Do in many ways, including the brioche and colored sugar. This reminds me of the classic McKenzie’s recipe so it brings back childhood memories. I enjoy the cream cheese and fruit filling. My favorite combination is cream cheese and cherry, but the plain cream cheese or Bavarian cream is also delicious. This is a moist and sweet cake, with lots of colored sugar and a glaze of icing underneath. I love this with a cup of coffee on the side, which makes for a perfect breakfast!
King Cakes are available at Mandeville Bake Shop in a variety of fillings and flavors daily through Mardi Gras season.
Mandeville Bake Shop • 2203 Florida St, Mandeville, LA 70448 • (985) 626-1952
Best Galette Des Rois – Tournesol Bakery
For a uniquely French treat, the galette des rois is a parfait take on the king cake. This puff pastry tarte is buttery and crisp, filled with frangipane (almond) filling. It’s an entirely different concept than the typical New Orleans king cake, but definitely worth celebrating with each season. Following the French tradition, a galette des rois comes with a fève, which serves the same purpose as the “baby” in other king cakes. Tournesol Bakery, located in downtown Covington, makes a wonderful French galette, perfectly crisp and not too sweet.
Tournesol Café & Bakery • 100 S Tyler St #10B, Covington, LA 70433 • (985) 900-2132
Best Flavored King Cake – Zoe’s Bakery Tiramisu King Cake
If you want to mix it up and try something a little different, Zoe’s Bakery makes a lovely tiramisu king cake. It is very similar to a traditional king cake, with braided brioche and a light glaze with colored sugar, but the tiramisu has hints of cinnamon and coffee that are delightful. It wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing cake, but made up for it in taste!
Call ahead to order your king cake – a variety of flavors, including a gluten-free option, are available.
Zoe’s Bakery • 118 W 32nd Ave, Covington, LA 70433 • (985) 892-5570
Best “Creative” King Cake – Sugar Daddy NOLA Chantilly
I’ll call this category “creative” – meaning it’s not a traditional king cake, but takes the base of a king cake and adds other flavors and features. Sugar Daddy NOLA, located in Covington, makes a delicious chantilly king cake – a cinnamon roll-like dough topped with heaps of fresh cream and juicy strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Eating this one for breakfast feels slightly healthier (but I’d say all king cakes are acceptable breakfast food during Mardi Gras season).
King Cakes are available during Mardi Gras season, but you’ll need to call ahead to order. Prices and varieties are listed on the Sugar Daddy NOLA website and social media.
New to me this year was the king cake from Sugar Love Bakery in Slidell. This king cake featured a traditional brioche but had a lovely light almond flavor. Sometimes almond can be overpowering, but this was the perfect hint. The brioche was also light and airy, with a light topping of glaze and colored sugar. I would definitely try this one again!
Sugar Love has a variety of king cakes and king cake treats (with such unique creations as king cake on a stick, king cake “charcuterie”, king cake by the slice, and more!) available, and a great website where you can order for pickup or shipping.
Sugar Love • 1329 Englewood Dr, Slidell, LA 70458 • (985) 265-4146
Honorable Mention – Cream Cheese & Guava King Cake
I already mentioned Tournesol Bakery for their fabulous galette des rois, but their regular king cake deserves a mention. While they offer plain and cinnamon, the cream cheese and guava was very special. I had never tasted this combination in a king cake and it worked so well! It’s certainly one of my new favorites. You can pick one up at Tournesol Café and Bakery through Mardi Gras season.
What’s your favorite king cake and what makes it special? Please share in the comments, and I’ll be able to compile suggestions for the next time king cake season comes around (Friday, January 6, 2023).
Be beautiful enough to feast the eyes
Long living the peace