If you’re looking to celebrate the Mardi Gras holiday, you’re probably on the hunt for a delicious and traditional king cake. King cake is best described as a French pastry and a coffee cake in one. It’s sometimes filled with cream, cream cheese, or a fruit jelly topped with icing and colored sugar or icing decorated in purple, green, and gold.
King cake dates back to the late 1800’s when the French migrated to New Orleans. kicking off Carnival and Mardi Gras season — also known as “Three King’s Day” or the Christian feast day of Epiphany in France. The storied cake represents the three wise men who delivered gifts to baby Jesus on this day, so you’ll typically find a small plastic baby emerged and hidden inside the king cake. Tradition says whoever receives the baby within their slice of cake gets to be “king” for the day—and must bring the cake to the next party.
New Orleans may be a long 8-hour drive from Austin, but you’ll find several bakeries, cafes, and markets offering their version of king cake from now through Fat Tuesday. So indulge in the sugar-filled taste of some of Austin’s best king cakes with our guide to the best spots in the city!
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Walton’s Fancy and Staple
609 W 6th St | (Pictured above) Walton’s Fancy & Staple will have traditional king cake available February 14-26, and king cakes can be preordered now by calling 512-542-3380 or emailing catering@
Easy Tiger
Easy Tiger’s king cake is made with their housemade pain au lait dough and filled with grass-fed butter, organic sugar, and cinnamon, topped with the three colors of Mardi Gras and hiding a toy tiger surprise. Visit their website to select your store for curbside or delivery between February 8-16.
épicerie café
2307 Hancock Dr | Austin’s favorite Louisianan-French cafe and grocery shop is offering a Galette des rois, which is a delicious French-style king cake, filled with a sweet strawberry and almond filling.
Tiny Pies
Three locations in Austin | Tiny Pies will be offering their tiny king cakes, featuring Cinnamon spiced brioche, sweet icing, Mardi Gras colored sugar(natural) and a king cake baby on the side. The cakes are available for pre-order starting February 15th, for pick up on the 26th -March 1st.
Lola’s Donuts
2406 Manor Rd Suite B | Lola’s will be offering their popular brioche king cake donuts, with their special cinnamon glaze, sprinkles, and the traditional baby on top. Donuts are available for pre-order.
Cypress Grill
4404 W William Cannon Dr. | Cypress Grill is offering king cakes shipped fresh from the renowned Gambino’s Bakery in New Orleans. They’re offering a traditional king cake made with cinnamon and frosting for $23.99, with the cream cheese filling for $28.99. Cakes are available now, through Fat Tuesday. Cake by the slice is also available on Fat Tuesday while dining in.
Julie Myrtille Bakery
1023 Springdale Rd Building 1D | One of Austin’s favorite French bakeries celebrates a belated Epiphany holiday with a French king cake, otherwise known as Galette des Rois, a delicate pastry filled with a frangipane cream. The cake is available to order now through Fat Tuesday.
Stuffed Cajun Market
Stuffed offers more than just delicious Cajun-style meats. You can now pick up authentic New Orleans king cakes filled with cream cheese, cherry, lemon, or bavarian cream, as well as traditional cakes with cinnamon. A 72-hour preorder is required on all cakes.
Sawyer & Co.
4827 E Cesar Chavez St | Austin’s classic Louisiana diner is selling their traditional New Orleans-style cream cheese King Cakes that are available now through Fat Tuesday via pre-order.
Central Market
Central Market will offer their popular cream cheese-filled and traditional king cakes at only $11.99 each.
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods always makes some of the most delicious King Cakes you can purchase in a grocery store.