Let the good times roll in the Triangle with delicious, locally made king cakes
By FRANCIS DEESE
They say that everywhere outside of New Orleans, Mardi Gras is just a Tuesday—but we say there’s still fun to be had on Mardi Gras in the Triangle. Of course, no Fat Tuesday celebration is complete without a good king cake. And you don’t need to wait for Mardi Gras, which falls on March 4 this year, to enjoy one—you can buy king cakes in the Triangle starting in late February. You should probably pre-order, as these tasty treats sell out fast!
King cake is a dessert with a rich flavor and history. With origins dating back to 12th century France, king cakes were baked as a way for Christians to honor the three wise men’s journey to visit the baby Jesus. The church season of Epiphany traditionally celebrates that journey, and Mardi Gras is the last day of Epiphany, so people traditionally eat king cakes during the Mardi Gras season.
Brought to New Orleans in the late 1800s, the king cake remains a beloved tradition today. This sweet yeast pastry is flavored with cinnamon and sometimes incorporates fillings, like cream cheese. It is typically decorated with white icing and sugars in the three traditional colors of Mardi Gras: purple, green and gold. Purple traditionally represents justice; green represents faith; and gold, power. The cake’s circular shape symbolizes unity.
A plastic baby Jesus (or occasionally a bean) is hidden inside one slice. Tradition says that finding it either signifies good luck or means the person who finds the baby brings a king cake to the next celebration.
Here are some Triangle bakeries that make king cakes worthy of Mardi Gras!
As ex-pats of New Orleans, Mandey Brown, owner of Rougarou Cajun Kitchen (formerly called Imbibe) in downtown Chapel Hill and her mother, Cindy Moran, have sought out ways to bring the rich traditions of the Crescent City here to the Triangle. Moran owns Humble Cake by Cindy, which crafts desserts for Rougarou and for other places as well. Baking is in her blood—she learned from her father and brother, both of whom owned bakeries in New Orleans. This authenticity is reflected in her New Orleans–style king cakes, all of which are made from scratch.
A Raleigh-based, self-described “contemporary patisserie,” Lucettegrace offers elegant upgrades on pastry classics with eye-catching finishes. Owner Daniel Benjamin makes two different varieties of king cake, one of which they roll out for the beginning of Epiphany, in January, and one at the end of Epiphany, around Mardi Gras.
Both of Lucettegrace’s king cakes are based on European traditions rather than New Orleans ones. “The galette des rois is more commonly eaten in northern France, made with puff pastry and almond frangipane,” says Benjamin.
“The other [king cake], more commonly eaten in the south of France and Spain, is made out of a brioche-like bread, more commonly made with olive oil than butter. It features candied fruit and sometimes cream.” Lucettegrace’s offerings easily serve 8–10 people.
Burney’s Sweets & More, a North Carolina bakery franchise, offers a wide variety of cakes and pastries. During the Mardi Gras season, they honor their fellow Southern state at their Raleigh location by baking king cakes. Their king cakes follow the traditional New Orleans style.
With a well-earned legacy for excellence, La Farm Bakery pays homage to European holiday traditions, which include king cake. La Farm offers two types of king cake: their own spin on the New Orleans–style king cake, and the French galette des rois.
The latter features supplies for the “Epiphany Game,” which is similar to the New Orleans version’s tradition of finding the baby. This king cake features a rich brioche dough filled with cinnamon chips. It is covered with decadent icing and candy in the three traditional colors.
Yellow Dog Bread Co. in Raleigh is offering personal-sized king cakes this Mardi Gras. These would make for a fun treat at an at-home party or event. The cakes are a citrus-spiced brioche bun coated in the colors of Mardi Gras, and they’re offered for one day only—Fat Tuesday, March 4—so be certain not to miss out.
Nestled in downtown Durham is Loaf Bakery, known for their artisanal breads and delectable pastries. They partner with local providers for their ingredients to ensure the highest quality and support the local food market. Loaf offers a king cake with cinnamon sugar and candied orange peel in the dough they make—the perfect find for this Carnival season!
For a true taste of New Orleans in the Triangle, head to The Big Easy during Mardi Gras. They bring in king cakes from Gambino’s Bakery in New Orleans—one of the most beloved king cake bakers in the Crescent City. Whoever finds the baby on Mardi Gras at The Big Easy is in for a special surprise!
Check out more stories from around the Triangle at midtownmag.com.
