Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Archives - Baton Rouge Family Fun

Family Friendly Mardi Gras Guide – Baton Rouge and Beyond

January 5, 2022 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

Contrary to popular belief, Mardi Gras can be a Family Friendly event, especially in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas. The festival seems like it was made for children, with creative floats, costumes and masks, bold colors, and joyous music. Not to mention, the beads, doubloons, and other treats thrown to the crowds from the floats are a child’s delight.

Mardi Gras returns in 2022 and we could not be more excited! Below you’ll find a round-up Family Friendly Mardi Gras resources: Schedules, recipes, crafts and more! Check back often as we update this page throughout the Mardi Gras season.

Family Friendly Mardi Gras Parades –
2022 schedule coming soon!

Your guide to King Cakes in Baton Rouge & Beyond

Mardi Gras Activity Book – Free Printable

Top 5 Baton Rouge King Cakes -2022 coming soon!

Mardi Gras Mask Craft

Gluten-Free King Cake Recipe – Baton Rouge Family Fun

Easy Boudin King Cake – Mardi Gras Recipe (Video)

Holly Clegg’s Kid-Friendly Easy Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe

Mardi Gras Activity Book – Free Printable – Baton Rouge Family Fun

January 4, 2022 by Tiany Davis

Our Mardi Gras Activity Book has every element that makes Mardi Gras fun: trumpets, music, drums, jester hats, king cake, confetti, masks, and more! These 16 worksheets will help preschoolers, kindergarteners, and beyond develop early learning skills with ABCs, numbers, shapes, fine motor skills, handwriting, educational games, and more.

Mardi Gras Activity Book

Mardi Gras Activity Book – What’s included:

16 Pages

Flashcards / Memory Game
Mardi Gras, I Spy
Trace the Letters
Trace the Numbers
Mardi Gras King Maze Game
Match the shapes
Count and Trace
Mardi Gras Words
Cutting Practice
Trace the Lines
Trace the shapes
Which is Bigger

Get instant access to our Free Mardi Gras Activity Book Printable – 16 pages of Mardi Gras Fun!

Mardi Gras History & Facts

What Is Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday that’s celebrated the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, the day that begins the Christian season called Lent. During this season, which lasts until Easter Sunday, Christians are supposed to give up bad habits or fast from certain foods. Mardi Gras literally means ‘Fat Tuesday’ in French. It is a day (and night) to live it up and enjoy one last day of fun before the discipline of Lent.

History

Originally celebrated in medieval Europe, particularly Italy and France, Mardi Gras was declared a legal holiday in Louisiana in 1875. The first record of a Mardi Gras celebration in the United States is from the early 1700s. Celebrations took place in New Orleans and were more like fancy balls or dances. The carnival atmosphere did not occur until later in the 1700s. The first parades began in the 1800s, and the parade king became a regular symbol of the festivities.

Symbols & Colors

There are many famous symbols that represent this exciting holiday. Many people enjoy a king cake, a sugary dessert that has a plastic baby baked inside. According to tradition, the person who gets the piece of cake with the baby inside will have good luck and prosperity.

The beads in Mardi Gras necklaces are often made in the official Mardi Gras colors of gold, representing power; purple symbolizes justice; and green, which represents faith. You may see people wearing masks in these colors as well.

Why is Early Learning important?

Simply put, a child’s early years lay the foundation for all that is to come. In recent years, researchers have learned that the human brain develops the vast majority of its neurons and is most receptive to learning between birth and three years of age. In fact, the intake of new information is critical to the formation of active neural pathways (Shonkoff & Phillips, 2000).

Early education can play a critical role during this important developmental period. Research linking early intervention to both cognitive and socio-emotional gains has fueled the proliferation of early childhood programs since the early part of the twentieth century. The last four decades, in particular, have produced many new practices and principles for use with young children.

Source: study.com

Check out our full Mardi Gras Guide for more Mardi Gras Family Fun, King Cake Guides, and more!

2022 King Cake Guide – Baton Rouge and Beyond

January 1, 2022 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

King Cake truly is the demise of many New Year’s resolutions, but how can we resist this buttery danish pastry, sweetened with dusted sugar, icing, and a plethora of flavored fillings? Not us! Here’s a list of numerous places to get King Cakes in Baton Rouge and a plethora of flavors to choose from… traditional, cream cheese, chocolate, praline, strawberry, apple, raspberry to bacon, boudin, and maple! Below we’ve listed over 30 places to get your King Cake fix in Baton Rouge and beyond.

King Cakes in Baton Rouge and Beyond:

Alexander’s – 18111 Highland Market Drive – Phone: 615-7800

Ambrosia Bakery – 8546 Siegen Lane – Phone: 763-6489

Another Piece of Cake Bakery – 1001 Blanchard St Brusly, LA 70719

Baums – Florida Blvd Location 8046 Florida Blvd. Phone: 927-0760 – Perkins Road Location 10550 Perkins Rd. Phone: 767-4838

Brew Ha Ha – 711 Jefferson Hwy Suite 2-A – Phone: 923-1923

Cake Jewels – King Cake Balls – Phone: 337-0253

Calandro’s – Government Street: 383-7815 • Perkins Road: 767-6659

Claudus King Cake – Harahan, LA (504) 521-6683

Corritomata

Dawn’s Sweet Tooth – 13623 Hooper Rd Ste A Central, Louisiana (225) 261-0090

District Donuts – 7415 Corporate Blvd #900, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Dong Phuong — These king cakes were so popular last year, you were lucky if you got your hands on one. 14207 Chef Menteur Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70129 504-254-1568

Eat Fit King Cake — Those looking to stick to their healthy new year’s resolutions will appreciate the Eat Fit King Cake, a mini 11-oz bundt-style king cake that’s gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, low-carb, and even Keto-approved. They can be found at Alexander’s Highland Market

Gambino’s– 8646 Goodwood Blvd – Phone: 928-7000

Gourmet Girls– 3025 Perkins Rd – Phone: 252-0999

Harvest – 12513 Highway 73 (3.55 mi) Geismar, Louisiana 70734 (225) 673-6504

Haydel’s Bakery – 4037 Jefferson Hwy New Orleans, LA 70121 (504) 837-0190

Hi Nabor Supermarket – Available at all three locations

Les Amis Bake Shoppe – 11826 Coursey Blvd – Phone: 293-8115

Maru Bread Company

Maxwell’s Market – Three Locations – (225) 766-9150

Navarre’s Famous King Cakes – 31545 Highway 22 Springfield, Louisiana (225) 294-3438

Oak Point Fresh Market – Watson and Central locations

The Poboy House

Ralphs– 15013 Hwy 44 Gonzales – 622-4044 – 6431 Hwy 44 (Pelican Point) Gonzales – 473-1004

Randazzos– You can get your Baton Rouge Randazzo’s at Carnival Mart off Florida BLVD and at Capital City Crawfish!

Rouses – Many locations (225) 448-0050

Shannon’s Sugah Shack – Visit Shannon’s Facebook page to order your King Cake!

Strands Cafe– 226 LAUREL ST.- Phone: 344-5346

Sweetime Bakery – 13711 Coursey Blvd, Ste A Baton Rouge, LA 70817 – (225) 615-8005

Thee Heavenly Donut– 17732 Highland Rd – 753.7711 5830 – S. Sherwood Forest Blvd. – 368.0090

Tredici Bakery – 5078 Capital Heights Ave Baton Rouge, LA 70806 – (225) 448-5216

Whole Foods Market – 7529 Corporate Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 – (225) 218-0452

These are not the only places to find King Cake in the Baton Rouge area but this is a great start! If we have missed one of your favorites, please let us know.

Top 5 Baton Rouge King Cakes

January 15, 2020 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

King Cake truly is the demise of many New Year’s resolutions, but how can we resist this buttery danish pastry, sweetened with dusted sugar, icing and a plethora of flavored fillings? Not us! Here are the top 5 King Cakes in Baton Rouge according to YOU, Baton Rouge moms! Enjoy this trail of delicious King Cakes, try them all to decide the best for yourself.

Thee Heavenly Donut – Home of the BOUDIN king cake and Pecan Praline, Banana Foster, Turtle, LA Cajun Mud, Strawberry, and famous Fried King Cakes! Owned by a fellow Baton Rouge mom, THEE HEAVENLY Donut’s mission is to offer the freshest (made daily), handmade donuts, kolaches, king cakes, cupcakes, and specialty cakes– all year round. Owners Kara and Shane Castille have a passion for great customer service and treating their customers like family. Their products are like no other in the greater Baton Rouge area!

Oak Point Fresh Market – You can stop by both Watson and Central to grab a specialty King Cake!! Baked fresh daily. Flavors include Chantilly, Black Forest, Caramel Apple Heath, Turtle King Cake, and more!

Rouses – Rouses king cakes are made with their exclusive gourmet cinnamon dough, iced, and sprinkled with decorative sugars in the carnival colors of purple (for justice), green (for faith), and gold (for power).

Calandro’s – With over 50 flavors to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect King Cake at Calandro’s! The new flavor for 2019 is an exciting one. In 2018, Calandro’s started making their own Italian cookies, so of course, they had to infuse a King Cake with Italian Cookie goodness. So the brand new “Little Italy” Gourmet flavor now has Italian cookie crumbles inside and crumbled on top along with a Fig & Bavarian Creme fill combo that is to die for!

Randazzo’s – Your source for the original Randazzo family mardi gras king cake. You can get your Baton Rouge Randazzo’s at Carnival Mart off Florida BLVD and at Capital City Crawfish! Every cake is “hand-braided” and baked fresh daily. Their traditional King Cake is cinnamon flavored, colored with Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold, iced with our just made icing, and festively decorated with candy non-pariels. Each cake contains a baby. King Cakes are complemented by Cream Cheese, Strawberry Cream Cheese, and Pecan Praline. They pump the filling into the braids of the cake before it is baked.

Carnival Mart
8696 Florline Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70815
225-248-9720

Honorable Mention

Ambrosia – There are many options when it comes to The Ambrosia King Cake! The Traditional King Cake (shown here for an “In-Store Pickup”) has cinnamon and sugar inside of our family secret King Cake dough. Purchase a “Mardi Gras King Cake Kit” and take your King Cake home for the kids to decorate and have a Mardi Gras Party!

Ralph’s Market -A locally owned business, Ralph’s Market wants the best for our families and yours. That’s why we always offer a large selection of freshhigh-qualityty products that includes many grown right here in Louisiana! We‘d love to serve you at any of our three convenient and friendly locations in Gonzales, at Pelican Point, and on Jones’ Creek in Baton Rouge.

Ralph's Supermarkey King Cake Baton Rouge

Gambino’s – In New Orleans and around the world, Gambino’s Bakery is a household tradition that offers over sixty-five years of experience with delicious baked goods.

Alexander’s Highland Market – Gluten-sensitive? Cutting back on carbs? Trying to follow a keto diet? Along with their regular king cakes, Alexander’s is catering to you this Mardi Gras season! Alexander’s Highland Market is partnering with Eat Fit BR to provide 100 percent all natural, gluten-friendly, low-carb, keto-friendly king cakes for those whose dietary restrictions prevent them in indulging in the traditional Mardi Gras desserts. The cakes are also soy-free, preservative-free, and have no added sugar.

Be sure to check out Baton Rouge Family Fun’s 2021 King Cake Guide here!

Best Baton Rouge King Cake 2018 – voted by YOU!

January 26, 2018 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

It’s good to be a Louisianan! We took our third annual king cake poll to find out what YOU choose as this year’s BEST King Cake and the results are in! King Cake may be the demise of many New Year’s resolutions, but how can we resist this buttery danish pastry, sweetened with dusted sugar, icing and a plethora of flavored fillings? We can’t! Here are the best Baton Rouge king cakes according to YOU, Baton Rouge moms! Enjoy this trail of delicious king cakes, try them all to decide the best for yourself.

Best Baton Rouge King Cake – 2018

Thee Heavenly Donut – For the SECOND year in a row, Thee Heavenly Donut takes the prize of BEST King Cake according to Baton Rouge moms!! Home of the BOUDIN kingcake and Pecan praline, Banana Foster, Turtle, LA Cajun Mud, Strawberry and famous Fried King Cakes! Thee Heavenly Donut’s mission is to offer the Best, Freshest (made daily), Handmade Donuts, Kolaches, King Cakes, Cupcakes and Specialty Cakes– all year round. Owners Kara and Shane Castille have a passion for Great Customer Service and treating their customers like family. Their products are like no other in the greater Baton Rouge area and truly believe in the quality and deliciousness of these products.
BONUS: Thee Heavenly Donut also has King Cake donuts!!
Oak Point Fresh Market –Home of the Chantilly king cake and the Oreo Cream king cake, Oak Point Fresh Market is a family owned and operated full-service supermarket. They offer a wide variety of King Cakes baked fresh daily! Flavors include banana, Bavarian cream, Orange Dreamsicle, Pecan Praline and many more!
Ralph’s Market -A locally owned business, Ralph’s Market offers a large selection of fresh, high-quality products that includes many grown right here in Louisiana! Also voted Best King Cake in Ascension with over 50 flavors of king cakes!!
Calandro’s King Cake– With over 50 flavors, you’re sure to find the perfect King Cake at Calandro’s, learn more in the video below! Also 4th but not in Baton Rouge… Randazzo’s King Cake!
Ambrosia – There are many options when it comes to The Ambrosia King Cake! The Traditional King Cake (shown here for an “In-Store Pickup”) has cinnamon and sugar inside of our family secret King Cake dough. Purchase a “Mardi Gras King Cake Kit” and take your King Cake home for the kids to decorate and have a Mardi Gras Party!

Honorable Mention:

Rouses – Rouses oval-shaped king cakes are made with their exclusive gourmet cinnamon dough, iced, and sprinkled with decorative sugars in the carnival colors of purple (for justice), green (for faith), and gold (for power). Your choice of traditional or one of their tasty fillings.

More Baton Rouge Area locations to get your king cake fix:

Baums – www.baumspastries.com
Blue Rose Cafe – www.thebluerosebr.com
Gambino’s Bakery – www.gambinos.com
Harvest Market in Prairieville – www.harvestsupermarket.com/
Les Amis Bakery Shoppe – www.lesamisbakeshoppe.com
Tiger Deaux-nuts – www.tigerdeaux-nuts.com