9 New Orleans king cakes that set the bar - NOLA.com

I am reticent to name a single, favorite king cake for two reasons: One, I can be fickle. Today, I’m in the mood for a light-as-a-feather brioche with just a sprinkle of sugar on top. Tomorrow? I may crave a praline topped cake with a generous dose of cinnamon.

I have a hunch that I’m not the only one who is inconstant in my loyalty. (OK, not you, you near-fanatical Manny Randazzo lovers out there, we know you’re devoted.)

Dining writer Todd A. Price and I decided to do a survey of sorts. We tasted or re-tasted king cakes until we came up with nine that we consider standard bearers for the iconic New Orleans confection.

These cakes put to rest the notion that king cakes are really just “giant cinnamon rolls,” as so many folks like to say. (Read: What makes a king cake a New Orleans king cake here.) They are consistently made with quality ingredients and each scratches a common king cake itch.

We are comfortable saying that these are among our favorite king cakes in the greater New Orleans area, with caveats: We’re still tasting and a new king cake is born every day – or so it seems.

Here are the nine king cakes, listed in alphabetical order, that we can recommend without reservation.

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