Savoring the flavors of king cake — without the cake
Most Houstonians who celebrate carnival season before the start of Lent are well familiar with the traditional king cake. And most have their favorite local purveyor for the ring-shaped cake enjoyed through Mardi Gras.
But king cake flavors are available in forms beyond actual cake. Locally, restaurants and bars are whipping up king cake-flavored cocktails, coffee drinks and various desserts invested with the traditional cinnamon flavors and garnished with the familiar colored sugars.
If you’re looking to get an atypical king cake fix, here are some places to indulge through Mardi Gras, Feb. 21, and beyond.
Eunice
King cake milk punch, made with Screwball Peanut Butter Bourbon, cream, orgeat, vanilla and cinnamon syrup (and topped with colored sugars) is available through Fat Tuesday at this posh Greenway Plaza restaurant. 3737 Buffalo Speedway; eunicerestaurant.com
The Waffle Bus
Both locations are featuring king cake waffles, made with sweet cream, cinnamon sugar, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, frosting and colored sugars. Each order ($9.99) comes with Mardi Gras beads. 1835 N. Shepherd and 1540 W. Alabama; thewafflebus.com
Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House
Chef Joe Cervantez drew on his years at Brennan’s of Houston to create King Cake Bread Pudding, a mashup of two New Orleans classics ($9.99). 113 6th, San Leon; pier6seafood.com
Rainbow Lodge
Mardi Gras Milk Punch, a classic bourbon milk punch invested with king cake spices and Mardi Gras colored sugars ($10), is available through Feb. 21. Rainbow Lodge, set in a romantic log cabin near the Heights, also offers the cocktail as a kit, serving four, for $40. 2011 Ella; rainbow-lodge.com
Kolache Shoppe
All three locations will offer king cake kolaches in February. The pastries are filled with cinnamon cream cheese and pecans and finished with an almond vanilla glaze and colored sugars ($2.75 each); available on weekends through Feb. 21. Houston and Kingwood; kolacheshoppe.com
Lagniappe Kitchen & Bar
The Heights restaurant and coffee shop knows its Mardi Gras traditions. In addition to king cakes, it is offering a king cake latte made with caramel and vanilla syrups; iced or hot all through carnival season. 550 Heights Blvd.; lagniappeheights.com
PJ’s Coffee
The New Orleans-born coffee house is offering several Mardi Gras-flavored drinks through Feb. 28, including king cake latte (garnished with whipped cream and purple sugar), king cake cold brew and king cake velvet ice made with king cake cold brew coffee. 2222 West Loop S. inside Royal Sonesta Houston and 12640 Broadway in Pearland; pjscoffee.com