Dallas–Fort Worth, TXKing Cake

This Lake Highlands pastry shop regularly brings New Orleans baking into its dessert case, including beignets on weekend specials. Its king cake comes as a full cinnamon sugar or cream cheese cake, with smaller options by the slice or as an individual cake. Try the cinnamon sugar version if you want the full cake. The Northwest Highway shop is the first of the two Dallas locations named for these cakes.

The Lakewood bakery takes king cake in the direction of a braided coffee cake. Its large oval twist runs with ribbons of cinnamon and sugar through the dough and a lighter hand with frosting. Order that braided king cake for a take on the Carnival pastry that puts the cake itself forward. The bakery offers preorders, with walk-in availability less certain during the season.

The king cakes at this Flower Mound bakery are substantial: a large, heavy cake with generous frosting and cinnamon sugar filling. A cherry and cream cheese version joined the range alongside the cinnamon cake. Order the cinnamon sugar cake for the bakery's generous take on the Carnival staple. The Parker Square shop also makes the custom cakes and desserts that fill its regular counter.

This Preston Road bakery has been baking since the 1940s and keeps a broad pastry selection. Its seasonal king cake takes the shape of a large oval cream cheese Danish. Order that cream cheese version when the Carnival cakes return to the case. The pastry shape is a distinctive part of this bakery's take on king cake.

The Bishop Arts sandwich shop also bakes a traditional cinnamon king cake each Carnival season. Quantities are limited, and preordering is the way to secure one. Order the classic cinnamon cake here; the offering is a straightforward version of the seasonal pastry from a kitchen that also makes sandwiches. The Seventh Street location is the shop named for this cake.