7 Dallas bakeries selling king cakes for Mardi Gras season - The Dallas Morning News

There is no better way to celebrate Mardi Gras than with a traditional New Orleans-style king cake, and chef Tida Pichakron, owner of Haute Sweets Patisserie, has brought New Orleans to Dallas in the form of pastries topped with gold, green and purple icing and sprinkles.

Pichakron’s sophisticated king cake palate was shaped in the west bank of New Orleans in Gretna, the city where she grew up. King cakes were a staple at home and school throughout the Mardi Gras season.

“Every time I even open up one of the king cake containers, that smell just brings me back to my childhood,” Pichakron said. “I would always get McKenzie’s or Gambino’s king cakes growing up.”

Pichakron didn’t always know that she wanted to open a pastry shop. She moved to Texas in 1998 to attend Texas A&M University, then moved to Dallas to work in the corporate world shortly after graduation. In her free time, she would take cooking classes, and after a change of heart in her career path, she went on to train as a pastry chef at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley. In 2009, she began working at the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Las Vegas, where she perfected her baking skills. But Pichakron’s heart was always with Dallas. She returned to Texas in 2013 with her executive chef, Gianni Santin, to open Haute Sweets, which specialized in French macarons at the time.

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A king cake decorated with Mardi Gras beads and coins pictured at Haute Sweets Patisserie in Dallas(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

Chef Tida Pichakron decorates Mardi Gras King Cakes at Haute Sweets Patisserie in Dallas, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Pichakron began selling king cakes three or four years ago after her close friend shared her 100-year-old family recipe.

“I’m from New Orleans, so I know what a good cake is supposed to taste like,” Pichakron said. “I’m going to tell you right now, our king cakes are not dry.”

King cakes signify the beginning of the Mardi Gras carnival season, which began this year on Jan. 6 and ends on Fat Tuesday (Feb. 21). The pastries are decorated in Mardi Gras fashion, and traditionally include a small plastic baby hidden inside. As the legend goes, the lucky person who finds the baby in their slice of cake is said to be prosperous in the coming year — and also responsible for providing the next king cake.

To Pichakron, the Mardi Gras season signifies her New Orleans community coming together.

“King cake signifies the start of the Mardi Gras, the parade season, festivities, and of course, community,” Pichakron said. “Everyone comes out into the community, and it’s a fun time.”

Haute Sweets Patisserie sells about 300 full-sized king cakes during the Mardi Gras season and about 500 of their minis. With Fat Tuesday approaching, the bakery is no longer taking orders for king cake, but they are selling full-sized and minis on a first-come-first-serve basis. They will resume filling orders throughout the rest of the year after the season ends.

King cakes are available in traditional cinnamon flavor, $35 for a 10-inch cake, or $5 for a mini. Haute Sweets also has King Cake Bread Pudding, hot chocolate balls, and beignets on Saturdays. 10230 E. NW Highway, Dallas and 6959 Arapaho Road, Suite 106, Dallas. hautesweetspatisserie.com.

Owner Tida Pichakron ices king cakes at Haute Sweets Patisserie in Dallas.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

Where to buy king cakes around Dallas

Bread Winners: King cakes available for preorder or walk-ins until Feb. 17. Multiple locations. breadwinnerscafe.com.

Casa Linda Bakery: Traditional cinnamon-filled king cakes come with bead decorations and a baby figurine. Preorder available online or by calling 214-321-0551. 10819 Garland Road. casalindasbakery.com.

Central Market: King Cakes with cream cheese filling are available for in-store purchases. Multiple locations. centralmarket.com.

Le Bon Temps: Preorder full-size and mini king cakes throughout February. 2932 Main Street, Suite 103, Dallas. lebontempsbeignets.com.

Reverie Bakeshop: Reverie king cakes are available in six flavors — cinnamon, cream cheese, strawberry, vanilla cream, chocolate cream, and strawberry cream cheese. Preorder for online until Feb. 21. $55 full size, and $5 for mini size. 980 N. Coit Road, #2850, Richardson. reveriebakeshop.com/order-online.

Steins Bakery: King cakes with cinnamon or cream cheese fillings for $16 are sold in store. 12829 Preston Road, #417, Dallas. steinsbakery.net.

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