Get the royal treatment with King Cake from these 9 local businesses
Reading time: 6 minutes
February is a month of celebrations, including Black History Month and Mardi Gras, which falls on February 16th this year. Celebrating Carnival looks different because of Covid-19, but enjoying King Cake is still the same. Keep reading to see where you can get your King Cake in Birmingham and what other royal treats you can find, too.
Love eating king cakes but don’t know what they are?
Here is a rough breakdown of Carnival. Epiphany or Twelfth Night is on January 6th and celebrates the first manifestation of Jesus Christ.
After giving gifts to children in honor of the three kings, a special cake is eaten for the occasion too (hint: that’s the King Cake). King Cakes are usually a cinnamon Danish pastry decorated with purple, yellow and gold colors that have different meanings depending on who you talk to.
All of this feasting leads up to Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday—the last day to indulge before fasting for Lent. Bakeries include a little plastic baby that represents baby Jesus, and tradition says whoever finds the baby must buy the King Cake next year.
If you found the baby last year, here’s where to get your King Cake this year.
1. Edgar’s Bakery
You can not talk about Edgar’s Bakery without talking about their strawberry cake. They make strawberry King Cakes as well, combining two wonderful sweets. Edgar’s Bakery bakes traditional, pecan praline, cream cheese and strawberry King Cake.
- Locations: Find your closest location
- Price: $30
- Contact: Website | Facebook | Instagram
2. Bengtsson’s Baking
Bengtsson’s Baking’s King Cakes comes from a traditional New Orleans recipe that you can enjoy here in Alabama. They make traditional brown sugar and cinnamon King Cakes as well as a wide variety of filled ones. Nothing sounds sweeter than a Mississippi mud chocolate King Cake.
- Hours: Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM | Saturday 10AM-3PM
- Location: 2033 Hidden Forest Ln, Montevallo, AL 35115
- Price: Traditional King Cake medium $28, large $45 | Filled King Cake medium $28, large $45
- Contact: Website | Facebook | Call
3. Savage’s Bakery
Savage’s Bakery first opened in Birmingham in 1939 and continues to serve delicious treats in downtown Homewood. Savage’s Bakery is another spot baking fresh King Cake in Birmingham. They offer cinnamon and cream cheese filled King Cakes.
- Hours: Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM | Saturday 9AM-5PM
- Location: 2916 18th St S, Homewood, AL 35209
- Price: Small King Cake $16 | Large King Cake $21
- Contact: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Call
4. Homewood Gourmet
Homewood Gourmet already changed their Facebook profile to match the Mardi Gras mood. They make mouth-watering scones (the hazelnut one is heaven), but they are a seasonal spot for King Cakes in Birmingham too. Get a traditional King Cake or a cream cheese filled one.
- Hours: Monday-Friday 10:30AM-7PM | Saturday 10:30-5PM
- Location: 1919 28th Ave S, Ste 113, Homewood, AL 35209
- Price: Traditional King Cake $25 | Cream cheese King Cake $30
- Contact: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Call
5. Hero Doughnuts & Buns
Look at that glaze. Photo via Hero Doughnuts & Buns Is it a doughnut or a mini King Cake? Photo via Hero Doughnuts & Buns
Hero Doughnuts & Buns serves all the sweet and savory things you need in your life. During Carnival, they make King Cakes. You can order one of their King Cakes with a 48-hour notice. However, you can get their king rings everyday you crave. Trussville will be getting a location soon too!
- Hours: Homewood: Monday-Sunday 7AM-5PM | Railroad Park: Monday-Sunday 7AM-4:30PM
- Locations: Homewood: 3027 Central Ave, Homewood, AL 35209 |Railroad Park: 1701 1st Ave S Suite 135, Birmingham, AL 35233
- Price: King Cake $33 | King rings $2.85 per doughnut
- Contact: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Call Homewood | Call Railroad Park
6. Cajun Boys & Our Poboys
Aside from their food, the best part about Cajun Boys & Our Poboys is their three convenient locations. Their locations in Chelsea, Pelham and Birmingham make getting your King Cake much easier. Satisfy your Cajun craving with their delicious food and get a King Cake to go.
- Locations: Find your closest location
- Price: Traditional King Cake $22.99 | Cream cheese King Cake $26.99
- Contact: Website | Facebook | Instagram
7. Heritage Coffee
This coffee shop is serving King Cake in a coffee mug. Heritage Coffee crafts a tasty King Cake latte. Nothing looks more festive than this cup. Keep yourself warm and celebrate with this latte. You can get find this latte inside of the Cotton’s in Ensley, a community space hosting Heritage Coffee and Treś’ Fine Clothing.
- Hours: Monday-Friday 7AM–2PM
- Location: 400 19th St. Birmingham, AL 35218
- Price: $4
- Contact: Website | Facebook | Instagram
8. The Rougaroux
Is this baby old enough to drink? Photo via Rougaroux’s Instagram Pairs well with the King Cake slush. Photo via Rougaroux’s Facebook
Instead of traditional King Cake, Rougaroux is making mini King Cakes and slushies. Chef Amanda filled her most recent King Cake cupcakes with lemon curd. Their slush is a nice mix of King Cake soda and rum with a slight citrus bite.
- Hours: Monday-Thursday 11AM-3PM, 5-9PM | Friday 11AM-3PM, 5PM-10PM | Saturday 12-9PM | Sunday 11AM-3PM
- Location: 817 39th St S, Birmingham, AL 35222
- Price: Cupcakes $5 | Slushy 20 oz. for $10 or 24 oz. for $15
- Contact: Facebook | Instagram | Call
9. Ruby Sunshine
Cinnamon-orange cheesecake filling glistening from the side. Photo via Ruby Sunshine Like a Mardi Gras parade on a table. Photo via Ruby Sunshine
Starting tomorrow, Ruby Sunshine’s King Cake-inspired French toast is back. This seasonal special Brioche French toast is stuffed with a cinnamon-orange cheesecake and Crofter’s strawberry preserves. It’s topped with green, purple and gold sanding sugar. If you’re not feeling a full meal, their King Cake beignets pair well with coffee.
- Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30AM-2PM | Saturday-Sunday 7:30AM-3PM
- Location: 1017 Oxmoor Rd, Birmingham, AL 35209
- Price: Stuffed French toast $13 | King Cake beignets $7
- Contact: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Call