Memphis, TNKing Cake

This Poplar Avenue bakery makes its king cake with risen dough and scratch-made cream cheese and cinnamon filling. The cake is a special-order bake sized for a small gathering. Its king cake is part of the Twelfth Night to Fat Tuesday tradition.

La Baguette has made king cakes for decades at its Poplar Avenue French bakery. The cake uses Danish dough, with classic cinnamon, strawberry and cinnamon cream cheese versions described in the local guide. Order the classic cinnamon cake if you want the bakery’s long-running version, or choose one of the filled cakes. The published ordering advice asks customers to allow time for a special order.

A volunteer baking crew at this Summer Avenue church makes king cakes for its Mardi Gras fundraiser. Nutella, salted caramel, cherry and almond fillings were offered, with pickup at the church rather than a bakery counter. Order through the parish when its Carnival sale opens.

This gluten-free bakery builds its king cake on brioche layered with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar. Two fillings were offered: cream cheese and praline cream cheese. Order one of those versions for a Mardi Gras cake made without gluten.

Memphis Whistle makes miniature king cakes at its Cooper-Young bar. The local guide describes a cinnamon-roll recipe finished with cream cheese icing flavored by house-infused cinnamon rum, with small cakes intended for one or two people. Ask about the seasonal bake during Mardi Gras; the guide also described larger cakes by special order.