King Cake in Houston: Where Y’at?

I’ll admit it…I never had King Cake until my East Coast native, Tulane attending, New Orleans loving husband introduced me to it. And now there is no turning back. As soon as January rolls in, I start looking forward to the sweet smells and taste of King Cake that is upon us.

What is King Cake?

If you’re wondering what this “King Cake” nonsense is all about, allow me to explain. King Cakes are made in celebration of Mardi Gras. The brioche cinnamon dough is braided or twisted into a ring shape {usually an oval}. The traditional cake is just the cinnamon dough, baked and covered with white icing and purple, green, and gold sugar. A plastic “baby” is typically hidden in the cake. The tradition dictates that whoever receives the baby {or cuts a piece that exposes any part of the baby} must host the next King Cake party. This is just a fancy way of saying you are on the hook for buying the next King Cake.

Several decades ago, the King Cake evolved a bit. It can now be “stuffed” with cream cheese, any number of fruits, pecan praline, Bavarian cream, etc. There are also some bakeries that sell donut-style King Cakes.

Where Can You Buy King Cake in Houston?

There are tons of places in Houston to find King Cake. Where you go and what your get is simply a matter of taste preference and location.

Greater Houston Area

H-E-B: Texas’ greatest grocery store chain makes pretty yummy King Cakes at an affordable price {under $10}. They are not quite traditional, but the cream cheese King Cake at H-E-B is my daughter’s absolute favorite. Other flavors include cinnamon, apple, strawberry, and pineapple.

Whole Foods: If you’re looking for an all-natural, preservative-free King Cake, Whole Foods is the place!

Kroger: Kroger has several sizes and options available {most under $10}. Some Houston-area stores also sell Gambino’s King Cakes fresh from New Orleans.

Buc-ee’s: Buc-ee’s is selling Caluda’s Mini King Cakes in store for $4.99.

Kolache Shoppe: While it’s not a traditional King Cake, the Kolache Shoppe offers a King Cake kolache during the month of February. The specialty kolache is filled with cinnamon cream cheese and pecans. It is topped with an almond vanilla glaze and the traditional purple, green and yellow sugar.

Central Houston

Moeller’s Bakery: Having been around since 1930, Moeller’s Bakery is a Houston staple and favorite that serves King Cake.

French Gourmet Bakery: The French Gourmet Bakery has 3 King Cake options. The first is a traditional 10 inch round New Orleans King Cake. The second is a 5 inch King Cake roll (for those wants a single serving). Lastly, they offer a Galette des Rois – a French style King Cake.

3 Brother’s Bakery: With 4 locations around the Houston area, this bakery can easily be accessed. If you do not want a whole cake, 3 Brothers offers King Cake by the slice. Not to mention their King Cake is a house favorite of ours!

Rustika Café and Bakery: If you are someone who plans ahead, check out Rustika for your King Cake. They request that you place your order ahead of time.

West Houston

The King Cake Lady: Based in Katy, The King Cake Lady makes delicious, authentic King Cakes. While they are not currently taking orders, you can buy a King Cake at the Fulshear Farmers Market on Saturdays from 9-1:00. Each cake is $40 and come in a variety of flavors such as cinnamon, cream cheese, almond, apple cinnamon cream cheese, strawberry cream cheese, cherry cream cheese, raspberry cream cheese, lemon cream cheese, and Nutella.

Proud Pie: OK, so this isn’t exactly King Cake, but IT IS King Cake Pie. It is not a regular menu item, so you have to catch it when it is the “Pie of the Week.” According to Proud Pie, “Our Raspberry Cream Cheese King Cake Pie is a creamy layer of cheesecake batter with fresh raspberry sauce swirled in and baked in our all butter crust, topped with a wheel of cobbler dough. We glaze it with sticky icing and finish it with Mardi Gras sugar.” A slice of King Cake pie will cost you $6.45.

Plum Krazy Creations: Those who live near Rosenberg are in luck. Plum Krazy is making a variety of King Cakes starting at $40. They require 24 hours notice to make a fresh cake for you. *Special delivery and pick up options will be offered on Feb. 18th and 19th.

North Houston

Rao’s Bakery: This Spring area bakery makes some pretty authentic King Cakes! You can order ahead on their website and either have it shipped to you or pick it up in-store. King Cake flavors include cinnamon, strawberry cream cheese, blueberry cream cheese, raspberry cream cheese, and Voodoo {a chocolate variety}. The King Cakes range in price from $20.95 to $28.95.

South Houston

PJ’s Coffee: At the Pearland location of the New Orleans-based coffeehouse, you can get a slice {or a whole cake} of Caluda’s King Cake direct from Harahan, La. Nothing goes better with King Cake than coffee, and PJ’s Coffee also has limited-time King Cake-inspired specialty coffee menu items.

**Updated: PJ’s Coffee now has a Katy location with similar offerings above!

Do you celebrate Mardi Gras with King Cake? What is your favorite place in Houston to get one? 

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