7 places to get authentic New Orleans-style King Cakes for Mardi Gras in Louisville
Mardi Gras is fast approaching and if you celebrate, you may be looking for a King Cake, traditionally eaten between the Christian feast of Epiphany and Fat Tuesday, which falls on March 4 this year.
Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, reflecting the practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before the Lenten season begins, which starts with Ash Wednesday on March 5.
A King Cake is a baked ring of sweet brioche dough filled with cream cheese, cinnamon and traditionally topped with purple, green and gold sprinkles and decorations. Buried inside is a tiny, plastic baby figurine. If your slice has the baby, it is supposed to bring you good luck.
Here's a list of seven local bakeries where you can order King Cakes ahead of Lent in Louisville:
WHAT: This bakery and cafe, is known for its custom cakes. It will be baking up traditional King Cakes ahead of Mardi Gras and customers can look for a sweet brioche filled with cream cheese and topped with traditional purple, green and gold decorations. King Cakes should be pre-ordered at least 48 hours in advance.
WHERE: 129 W. Court Ave., Jeffersonville; 5801 US Highway 150, Floyds Knobs, both in Indiana
COST: varies by size
MORE INFORMATION: cakestoday.com; info@cakestoday.com
WHAT: The team at the Bakery at Sullivan believes that every bite tells a story. Its King Cakes are made of sweet dough and topped with purple, green and gold sugar with a cinnamon flavor. The bakery will start taking orders for King Cake Feb. 16 and should be ordered 24 to 48 hours before pick-up. Some may be available for walk-ins on Fat Tuesday.
WHERE: 3100 Bardstown Road (across the street from the main campus)
COST: varies by size
MORE INFORMATION: 502-452-1210; thebakeryatsullivan.com
WHAT: Heitzman Bakery, which has operated in Louisville for more than 130 years, offers pre-order King Cakes year round, which are made of a flaky Danish dough filled with cream cheese and cinnamon and topped with icing, decorative sugars, beads and favors. You can add cherry, strawberry, blueberry or apple filling for an additional fee. Cakes come in a quarter-sheet that serves 10-15, a half-sheet that serves 25-30, and a whole sheet, which serves 40-50.
WHERE: Eastland Shopping Center, 4759 Bardstown Road
COST: varies by size
MORE INFORMATION: 502-452-1891, heitzmanbakery.org
WHAT: The King Cake at Heitzman Traditional Bakery & Deli, which has operated in Louisville since 1891, features a hand-braided sweet dough that is topped with the traditional Mardi Gras colors, purple, green and gold sugar and beads. Three sizes are available: quarter-sheet, which feeds 15-20 people, half-sheet, which feeds 30-40 people and full sheet, which feeds 60-80 people. It also can come in a variety of flavors, including apple, cherry, chocolate, cinnamon cream cheese, lemon, praline pecan, strawberry cheese and more. The bakery also has Mardi Gras-themed ice cookies, jambalaya and more. Orders are needed 24 to 48 hours before pick-up.
WHERE: 9426 Shelbyville Road
COST: varies by size
MORE INFORMATION: 502-426-7736; heitzmanbakery.com
WHAT: The King Cakes at Nord's Bakery are made of sweet dough with cheese filling iced and covered with purple, green and yellow sugar. Each is topped with beads and coins. The baby is placed in the box so the customer can place it under the King Cake before serving. Nord's will begin taking orders for King Cake the third week of February (Feb. 17). Orders should be ordered at least 48-hour in advance, a limited number of King Cakes available for walk-in customers on Fat Tuesday.
WHERE: 2118 S. Preston St.
COST: varies by size
MORE INFORMATION: 502-634-0931; nordsbakery.biz
WHAT: This bakery, which has been serving Louisville since 1924, offers a wide variety of Mardi Gras items, from King Cakes to cookies, thumbprints, cupcakes and the popular cookie monsters. The King Cakes are available in cinnamon or cheese flavor. Pick-up orders should be made 48 hours in advance, there will be a limited number of King Cakes available for walk-in customers.
WHERE: 3940 Shelbyville Road
COST: varies by item and size
MORE INFORMATION: 502-896-4438; plehns.com
WHAT: The New Albany bakery's King Cake has two flavors, cream cheese and cinnamon, and is topped with a frosted glaze and gold, green, and purple sugars. It comes in two sizes, a small feeds 12 to 15 and a large feeds 15 to 20 people.
WHERE: 323 E. Spring St., New Albany
COST: varies by size
MORE INFORMATION: 812-948-2507; sweetstuffbakery.com
Reach news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Where to order King Cakes for Mardi Gras in Louisville
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