King Cake Reigns Supreme This Mardi Gras Season

by Taylor Trahan Henry

Everyone’s favorite seasonal treat is back and in Southwest Louisiana, there are plenty of ways to enjoy that familiar flavor we know and love. Whether you’re grabbing one for yourself or looking for the ultimate dessert to bring to the king cake exchange or party, this guide has you covered because no one does king cake quite like this corner of the boot!

Great Harvest Bread Co.

4112 Lake St. #100, Lake Charles, LA 70605
With that iconic twisted look and those traditional purple, green, and gold sprinkles, these have quickly become a favorite. They have a wide array of flavors including classics like cream cheese, cinnamon apple, turtle, and blueberry cream cheese.

Misse’s Grocery

106 E. Lincoln St., Sulphur, LA 70663
This community staple has made a name for itself after decades of baking decadent king cakes. With unique flavors like Zulu, The Queen Cake, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Pecan Praline alongside the traditional flavors, this is sure to be your one-stop-shop during the carnival season.

Nelson’s Donuts

813 E McNeese St., Lake Charles, LA 70607
This long-standing business has been baking king cakes for 25 years and there’s a reason they continue to be popular year-after-year. These combine the perfect donut flavor with classic fillings like apple, blueberry, raspeberry, cream cheese, chocolate, strawberry, and more.

Pronia’s Deli and Bakery

3021 Kirkman St., Lake Charles, LA 70601
Everything Pronia’s makes is delicious and their king cakes are no exception! Their classic cake with a generous filling and icing overlay is sure to have all your guests’ mouths watering.

Delicious Donuts & Bakery

2283 Country Club Rd., Lake Charles, LA 70605
Not only do they offer unique flavors like boudin and blend of the bayou alongside traditional flavor, but they’ll ship them for you. This is a great option for treating out-of-town family and friends to that Louisiana flavor.

Market Basket

Locations in Lake Charles, Sulphur, Iowa, Westlake, Moss Bluff, and Vinton
With locations throughout Southwest Louisiana, this is the perfect king cake to fall in love with – you’ll never have to travel far to get it! They are always stocked with an array of flavors.

Twanie’s Terrific Treats

206 W. 11th St., Lake Charles, LA 70601
Twanie’s has taken the Lake Area by storm with the delicious treats. This Mardi Gras season will be no different! The popular bakery will be adding king cakes to the mix this year. Don’t miss out!

Parish Seafood Company

726 E. Russell St., Welsh, LA 70591
This eatery’s in-house dessert chef will be bringing her delicious brand of king cakes to be sold this year. Sarah Broussard is a local whose french bread style king cakes filled to the brim with cinnamon and a hefty heaping of filling will have you coming back again and again.

Of course, the baked goods are what come to mind first. But after centuries of Mardi Gras celebrations, we Louisianians have figured out a way to put a little twist on just about anything. There’s an additional round up of seasonally flavored eats and drinks.

Indulge in a sweet treat from Lulu’s when you swing through the drive-thru and grab a king cake shake. All the delicious flavor you expect in an ice cold, creamy drink! King cake flavored coffees are available at The Village Coffeehouse, Coffee:30, Stellar Beans, Java Joltz, and Great Harvest Bread Co. What’s Mardi Gras without a little booze? Stay tuned to local menus for that spiked spice flavor. Koozie’s will bring back their king cake daquiri for sure.

The downtown dive, Botsky’s, offers their delicious king cake fries for a savory and sweet combination. Coffee:30 offers king cake beignets and at 1910, you can grab a decadent slice of king cake bread pudding.

There’s truly something for everyone to enjoy this Mardi Gras season and this list will only grow. In true Southwest Lousiana style, local establishments will continue to come up with both innovative and intoxicating dishes and drinks!