Carnival season is in full swing, and if you're contemplating indulging in a king cake this year, this guide is for you.

What is king cake?

For many Christians, Jan. 6 is known as Kings Day, Epiphany or Twelfth Night (since it falls 12 days after Christmas). As the story is told, it is on this day that three wise men – or magi – followed a star to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus. In New Orleans, this feast day marks not only the end of the Christmas season but also the beginning of Carnival, which lasts through Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).

One of the elements born of Epiphany is the king cake, a sweet, circular pastry, cake, or bread that is baked in the shape of a king’s crown. It’s an annual tradition observed in Latin and European countries around the world, and – in many places – there is also a special prize or gift inside the cake. Whoever finds the trinket in their slice of cake is considered “king” for the day, and it is said that good luck will follow them throughout the year. Incidentally, the “king” is also responsible for providing the king cake for the following year.

In France and Belgium, the galette des rois ("cake of kings") takes the form of a pastry that’s typically filled with a frangipane almond cream. In Spain and Latin America, the rosca de reyes is comprised of a ring-shaped sweet dough that’s topped with icing and dried fruit.

In America, Louisiana-style king cakes are a more popular style. They are constructed from a buttery brioche-style dough that’s twisted into an oval shape and decorated with icing and colored sugars. Most sport stripes of green, gold and purple – the traditional colors of Mardi Gras, which signify the blessings of faith, power and justice. Most cakes are flavored with cinnamon, and some are filled with fruit or cream fillings. The cakes also traditionally included a plastic or porcelain baby baked inside  (these days, some bakeries choose to include them alongside the cake to avoid any potential choking hazard).

In New Orleans, the cakes are sold widely, and favorite cakes can be procured from bakeries like Joe Gambino's and Haydel's Bakery. In Milwaukee, however, they’re a bit more difficult to find – but not impossible. In fact, an increasing number of bakeries in the area offer their own Wisconsin twists on the Big Easy staple.

We've done the research for you and assembled this list of places where you can find (and pre-order) the cakes.

Looking to add a few paczki to the mix? Here's your guide to finding those scrumptious treats as well.

1. Aggie’s Bakery

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7328 W. Greenfield Ave., (414) 482-1288
aggiesbakery.com
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King cakes at Aggie’s are made with a tender sweet dough with a choice of three fillings: cinnamon, cream cheese or a combination of both. They are priced $18.95 to $59.95, depending on size, with the smallest cakes feeding 5-8 and the largest accommodating up to 50. The cakes are currently available for pre-order online (48 hours notice requested), with pick-up in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday (March 4).

2. Blue's Egg

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317 N. 76th St., (414) 299-3180
bluesegg.com
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This year, Black Shoe Bakery will be whipping up 9-inch cinnamon-sugar flavored king cakes decorated with royal icing, jimmies, colored sugar, sugar pearls, beads and coins. Pre-orders will be accepted online starting Monday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. with pickup at Blue's Egg & Bakery Feb. 19 through March 4 between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. 

3. Hooch MKE

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Pre-orders only, Bay View
hoochmke.com
Hooch's (vegan) laminated brioche-style dough lands somewhere between a cinnamon roll and a Danish and their king cakes fit snugly in a 10x10 box. Babies are included; feel free to request a pink, tan or brown baby (or be surprised).

Fillings are available in a wide variety of options from traditional cinnamon sugar and vanilla glaze or to cream cheese, fruit and nut fillings.

All cakes are made to order, so please allow 24-48hrs for pick up. Menu prices range from $23-33, depending on filling. King Cakes are available to order throughout Carnival season, using Hooch’s main menu or check out their Fat Tuesday menu, which includes Pączki, Swedish Semla and other celebratory treats. 

4. Kurt Schulz Deli

8752 N. Deerwood Dr., Brown Deer
(414) 354-1004
kurtschulzdeli.com
Kurt Schulz Deli will be offering housemade king cakes for purchase just in time for Fat Tuesday. Their cakes are made from a yeasted dough rolled with cinnamon sugar, pecans and butter, topped with glaze and decorated with purple, gold and green sugars, edible purple pearls. Each king cake is 12” and comes with the traditional baby, along with Mardi Gras beads for $25. Preorders for the cakes can be made online or by calling the bakery. The preorder deadline is Saturday, March 2 with pick up on March 4.

5. La Tarte

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6742 W. Wells St., Wauwatosa, (414) 456-0995
latarte.com
At La Tarte you'll find both small and large-sized king cakes made with a sweet yeast dough that's enriched with butter and cinnamon. Each cake is iced and coated with purple, gold and green sugars. And yes, there's a baby baked inside. Pricing for the cakes is $8.95 or $14.95. Preorders can be placed through Saturday, March 1 for pick up on March .  A limited number of cakes will also be available in the bakery on Fat Tuesday.

6. Maxie's

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6732 W. Fairview Ave., (414) 292-3969
maxies.com/milwaukee
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Starting on Feb. 17, you can pre-order your 9-inch king cakes  online for $30 each.  Orders must be placed on or before Feb. 25 for pick-up Feb. 28 through March 4 from 4 to 9 p.m.  The cinnamon-sugar-flavored king cakes are decorated with royal icing, jimmies, colored sugar, sugar pearls, beads and coins. Note: If you are planning a Mardi Gras celebration, Jambalaya party boxes and hurricane cocktail kits are also available to order.

7. National Bakery

3200 S. 16th St., (414) 672-1620
13820 W. Greenfield Ave., Brookfield (262) 827-4097
5637 Broad St., Greendale (414) 423-4620
nationalbakery.com
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In addition to slinging paczki & king cakes for Fat Tuesday, the National Bakery will also kick off its 100th anniversary on March 4, 2025. There will be live polka music in the morning and commemorative 100-year Anniversary Paczki Day t-shirts available to purchase.  In addition, all three bakery locations will be giving away a variety of prizes on Fat Tuesday, including "golden tickets", t-shirts and gift cards.

As for the king cakes, they are made with a traditional Danish laminated dough infused with cinnamon, are iced and decorated with green, gold and purple sanding sugars. Each cake is $22.50 and comes complete with a little plastic baby. Pre-orders are accepted online and highly encouraged.

8. O&H Danish Bakery

9540 S. 27th St., Oak Creek, (414) 856-1141
717 S. Sylvania Ave., Sturtevant, (262) 898-1950
4006 Durand Ave., Racine, (262) 554-1311
4917 Douglas Ave., Racine, (262) 637-8895
5910 Washington Ave., Racine, (262) 504-7000
ohdanishbakery.com
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If you’re looking for a king cake with Wisconsin flair, look no further than O&H Danish Bakery. Their king cake is a cream cheese kringle decorated in green, purple and gold and sold with three strands of beads, a plastic baby and a copy of the king cake story.  The cakes can be purchased at one of the O&H stores (available Feb. 26-March 5) or ordered online (available now through March 5). Pricing for the kringles is $13.75 in-store or $28.99 (plus shipping) when ordered online.

9. Simma’s Bakery

817 N. 68th St., Wauwatosa, (414) 257-0998
simmasbakery.com
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Simma’s bakery will be offering king cake in two flavors (chocolate chip cheese and raspberry cheese) for Fat Tuesday. The cakes come with traditional frosting and sprinkles, plus a draping of Mardi Gras beads and a plastic baby. The cakes must be pre-ordered by phone on or before March 1 for pick-up on March 4. A very limited number of cakes will also be available in the bakery for purchase. Cost is $16.95 each.

10. Stephen's Artisanal Breads

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2018 S. 1st St., Suite 330, (414) 436-1828
stephensbreadsmke.com
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Stephen's Breads will be offering small house-made king cakes made with brioche dough and cinnamon, sugar and pecan filling for Mardi Gras.  The price is $15 each (feeds two). A baby is baked into each cake.

Preorders can be placed through Feb. 28 for pick-up on March 2 at Torzala Brewery (2018 S. 1st St. Suite 207) or on March 4 at the bakery (until 4 p.m.) or at New Barons' Brewing Cooperative (2018 S. 1st St., Suite 170) until 8 p.m. 

To pre-order, go online and choose the date of your choice, then scroll down to Mardi Gras pre-order.  A very limited supply of cakes will be available at the bakery on Fat Tuesday.