The season ends with Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, on Feb. 13, when Catholics gather to party their asses off before getting ashes brushed on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday. They also vow to abstain from certain pleasures as a form of penance leading up to Easter Sunday.
And while giving up social media or alcohol would certainly be a form of penance for many, I've never figured out how eating a fried shrimp po’boy for lunch on a Friday instead of a hamburger was remotely a “sacrifice." In Louisiana, king cakes and Mardi Gras go hand-in-hand like butter and sugar, which we’re certain Catholics are allowed to indulge without the risk of burning in hell, even if they’ve sacrificed sweets for the Lenten season. There is typically a plastic baby hidden inside of king cakes, and tradition dictates that whoever gets the plastic baby in their slice must provide the next king cake.
So, it becomes a merry-go-round of king cakes. Louisiana is prominent on Texas’ NextDoor app, so we’re fortunate enough to have several places in North Texas that have king cakes shipped from the homeland. And many local bakers have learned the techniques to make them from scratch. Here is our roundup of some great places to partake.
Bayou Cat Seafood
2505 E. Arkansas Lane, ArlingtonManny Randazzo is a bakery just outside New Orleans that draws a crowd every Mardi Gras season for its from-scratch king cakes. But instead of paying exorbitant shipping costs, you can get your fill of these treats at Bayou Cat Seafood in Arlington. A traditional king cake is $44.99, and a filled king cake is $48.99. Blue Bonnet Bakery
4705 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort WorthBlue Bonnet Bakery will be serving 8-inch mini king cakes in a variety of flavors, including cinnamon, cream cheese, cinnamon/cream cheese, strawberry/cream cheese and raspberry/cream cheese for $11.99 each. Call 817-731-4233 to place your order.Bon Temps Bakeshop
2613 Marble Creek Drive, The ColonyBon Temps Bakeshop is a pop-up offering seasonal and custom baked goods. The bakery's 11-inch king cakes include classic cinnamon ($30), strawberry cream cheese ($34), Nutella coffee crunch ($34), bananas foster ($34) and Ube coconut ($38). Mini king cakes are available for $9–$10. Pick-ups will be primarily in The Colony, but there will be pop-ups in Frisco, Carrollton and Plano. Follow Bon Temps on Instagram for updates.Bread Winners
Uptown, Inwood Village, Northpark Center and PlanoIt’s time to get jazzed up about the Mardi Gras treats at Bread Winners. Full-size king cakes are offered in either traditional, praline or berries and cream for $28; mini king cakes go for $6. Also here: cake balls, cupcakes and rice krispy treats adorned in Mardi Gras colors. Call 214-484-6904 to grab your sweet treats! Casa Linda Bakery
10819 Garland Rd. After a jog around White Rock Lake stop into Casa Linda Bakery and grab one of their cinnamon and cream cheese king cakes for $29.Central Market
Lovers Lane, Plano, Preston/Royal, Midway, Southlake and Fort WorthAll Central Market locations will have traditional king cakes with cream cheese filling starting in February. They already have the galette de rois, the French version of king cake made with flaky, buttery puff pastry and filled with almond cream for $19.99 each.Cinnaholic
Richardson, Addison, McKinney, Frisco, Mesquite, Las Colinas, Grand Prairie, Arlington and MansfieldCinnaholic has a king cake that serves 8 to 12 people. You get your choice of frosting, Mardi Gras sprinkles and a plastic baby on top for $35. You can also opt for individual king cake cinnamon rolls for $6.75.Cookie Society
Frisco and AddisonCookie Society is the best society of all societies. Just do everyone a favor and try one of their cookies at either the Frisco or the Addison store. You can also order a box and have it shipped to you. Then you'll get it. The king cake cookie will return in February and be available all month. (But if you ever see the Pop-Tart cookies on the menu, buy as many as you can.)