If there’s anyone who knows how to celebrate, it’s chef Sara Brook and her sweet staff at Dessert Gallery. For Mardi Gras, the bakery is going all in with several king cake options. Traditionalists with a taste for adventure can opt for the praline crunch king cake ($27) or the cinnamon king cake ($25), both made with flaky Danish dough and topped with royal icing and sprinkles.

Chef Philippe Verpiand offers Houstonians a taste of how Mardi Gras is celebrated in France with his galette des rois. Unlike the more familiar king cake, this version features layers of puff pastry filled with almond cream and skips the colorful sugar topping altogether. Whole cakes, available for preorder for $44, feed about six to eight people and require 24-hour notice by calling 832-668-5808. Dine in to indulge in slices of galette des rois with Tahitian vanilla ice cream ($12).

Founded in 1973 by Mary and Patrice Ramain, this River Oaks bakery has become a destination for French confections in Houston, including New Orleans–style king cake ($45), with fillings like almond, cinnamon, and cream cheese. Looking for something smaller? The cinnamon king cake roll ($6) is an easy grab. Galette des rois ($60) are also available with orders placed 24 to 48 hours in advance. 

Midtown Gulf Coast restaurant Josephine’s is one of the few spots where you can enjoy king cake in-house—meaning you can enjoy a slice of cake out with friends without having to worry about the rest of it languishing in your fridge. Featured on its menu, Josephine’s whole king cake ($28) feeds four and includes a hidden baby and a strawberry jam and cream cheese filling. Prefer to take one home? Preorders require 48-hour notice via phone (713-527-8988) or email ([email protected]).

Rejoice, Houston kolache fans. Kolache Shoppe returns for another Mardi Gras season, delivering a Texas-Louisiana mash-up that fans look forward to every year. The bakery's fluffy yeast dough is filled with cinnamon cream cheese and pecans and finished with almond-vanilla glaze and a dusting of colored sugar. The $3 special kolaches are available Thursday through Saturday at the Greenway location, and Friday through Sunday at the Heights, Memorial, and Pearland locations. 

Located right off the Katy Freeway, Memorial Bakery has something for every holiday—literally. The neighborhood bakery isn’t cutting any corners for Mardi Gras, either. Choose a 9-inch round cake ($30) or 12-inch oval cake ($38), both available with raspberry or strawberry filling. Prefer it plain? Get it without filling for $10 less. 

Rich history and good food go hand in hand, and that’s exactly what you’ll get at Three Brothers Bakery, whose original location opened in 1949. The bakery has a robust menu of king cake offerings. Go for its classic Louisiana-style filled king cake ($30), which comes coated in purple, green, and yellow sanding sugar and customizable fillings, like cream cheese, strawberry with cream cheese, raspberry with cream cheese, or pecan praline. Cinnamon king cakes are also available for $20. Both styles can be purchased by the slice in-store.