Our Favorite King Cakes in Baton Rouge :: Both The Sweet Ones & The Savory Ones
King cake – the sweet, sweet taste of Mardi Gras magic. In Baton Rouge, we take our king cake game seriously, with bakeries and cafes throughout the area offering up their own twist on this tasty tradition, including gluten-free or boudin stuffed king cakes!
The History of the King Cake
The king cake, a sweet, flaky pastry, is a beloved tradition of Mardi Gras celebrations around the world. But have you ever wondered where this tasty treat originated?
The history of the king cake dates back to medieval Europe, where a similar bread was baked to honor the Three Wise Men who visited the baby Jesus on the Epiphany, January 6th. The bread was traditionally made with a small token or bean inside, representing the baby Jesus. Whoever received the piece with the token was said to have good luck for the year.
As French colonists brought their traditions to the Americas, the king cake evolved into the sweet, circular pastry we know today. In New Orleans, the king cake became an integral part of Mardi Gras celebrations, typically served during the Carnival season.
My children, Jack and Jacob, absolutely love eating king cakes! They can’t get enough of the sweet, flaky pastry and the excitement of searching for the baby inside. Every year, we make it a special tradition to buy a king cake and enjoy it together as a family. The boys’ eyes light up with excitement as they take their first bites, and they always argue over who gets to eat it first.
But what’s the significance of the baby inside the king cake? According to tradition, the baby represents the baby Jesus, and whoever receives the piece with the baby is said to have good luck and is often tasked with hosting the next king cake party or buying the next king cake.
Here’s a list of some of the wonderful places to get King Cakes in the Baton Rouge:
–Ambrosia Bakery: Zulu king cake
–Calandro’s Supermarket: Award-winning king cakes
–CounterSpaceBR: King cake add-ons and accessories
–Eloise Market & Cakery: flavors like cookies n’ cream
–Matherne’s Market: premium-filled king cakes
–Sweet Society: Dong Phuong king cakes
–Rouses Markets: Apple Cheesecake king cake
–Batch Baking Company: King cakes
–Baum’s: King cake options
–Blue Rose Cafe and Bakery: Tons of options
–Les Amis Bake Shoppe: Traditional king cake
–Oak Point Fresh Market: Options!!
–Ralph’s Market: Traditional king cake
–Rosch Bakehaus: Specialty king cakes
–Whole Foods: Ambrosia king cake
–Alexander’s Highland Bakery: Traditional and Filled king cakes
–Gambino’s Bakery: Various king cake Flavors
For the adventurous eaters out there, here are some unusual king cake options:
For the adventurous eaters out there, here are some unusual king cake options:–City Pork: Boudin king cake
–Billy’s Boudin and Cracklins: Boudin and Cracklin’ king cake
Here are some king cake-themed sweets you can find in the Baton Rouge area:
–Gourmet Girls: King cake cookies, macarons, cupcakes, mini king cakes, and traditional cakes
–Smallcakes Baton Rouge Cupcakery and Creamery: King cake 2.0
–Mary Lee Donuts: Various options
–District Donuts: King cake donuts
–Nothing Bundt Cakes: King cake bundt cake with cream cheese Frosting
–Strand’s Cafe: French king cake
–Les Amis Bake Shoppe: King cake cheesecake, cake balls, macaroons, and bread pudding
–Brew Ha Ha: King cake Balls
–Cheesecake Bistro: Mardi Gras Cheesecake
–Bistro Byronz: Mardi Gras Bread Pudding
In conclusion, the king cake is a beloved tradition of Mardi Gras celebrations, with a rich history dating back to medieval Europe. The baby inside the king cake represents the baby Jesus and is a fun and exciting part of the tradition. And for my children, Jack and Jacob, eating king cakes is a special treat that they look forward to every year.
