The notorious king cake, dating back to medieval France, has become a staple of Mardi Gras celebrations, blending history, tradition, and indulgence into one colorful pastry. Originally linked to the Feast of Epiphany, it takes on vibrant purple, green, and gold while inspiring countless flavor variations. But with so many options available, from classic cinnamon to extravagant cream cheese and fruit-filled creations, not all king cakes are created equal. In this article, I dive into the world of king cake flavors, ranking them from the best to worst in my expert opinion.
1. Cherry
This is by far the best flavor. It’s indulgent, smooth, and has just the right amount of sweetness without being overwhelming. Cherry is my go-to king cake flavor!
2. Classic Cinnamon
The foundation of all king cakes, cinnamon is warm, comforting, and always a safe choice. But I don’t think it’s the best. It simply lacks the excitement that cherry provides. Nonetheless, while it may not be the most exciting, it is a flavor that never disappoints.
3. Cream Cheese
Even without fruit, cream cheese king cake delivers a rich, slightly tangy flavor that pairs well with fluffy pastry. It is smooth and filling, perfect for those who do not like overly sugary fillings.
4. Strawberry
Some versions of strawberry king cake are fresh and delicious, but I’ve found that most cakes with strawberry filling tend to taste artificial and overly sweet. I’m often left disappointed when I choose a strawberry king cake. Furthermore, I don’t think strawberry mixes with the pastry in the king cake and other flavors like cherry and cinnamon.
5. Lemon
Lemon is not the first flavor that comes to mind when thinking of king cake, but its tartness can be a refreshing contrast to the sugary glaze. It is a bold choice, so it’s not for everyone, but it’s a solid five,
7. Chocolate
Chocolate lovers may disagree with me, but chocolate filling in a king cake feels out of place. It’s rich and heavy, clashing with the light, flaky dough. While I love chocolate in other desserts, it doesn’t belong in a king cake.
8. Bavarian Cream
While Bavarian cream is smooth and custard-like, it often feels like it belongs in a donut rather than a king cake. It’s not necessarily bad, but it just tastes odd. Bavarian cream tastes like a knock-off version of cream cheese filling.
9. Apple
Don’t get me wrong—apple filling is delicious in apple pie. But that’s the problem—every time I taste apple filling in a king cake, it just tastes like someone snuck a slice of apple pie inside. While tasty, it just doesn’t give off king-cake vibes. Apple filling belongs in apple pie and apple pie only.
10. Banana
Banana filling in a king cake? Absolutely not. It’s artificial, overpowering, and doesn’t work. It tastes like someone melted a Laffy Taffy and stuck it inside a king cake. Most banana-flavored desserts are disgusting, and king cake is no different.
11. Praline
Praline king cake is a huge no for me. I hate nuts and believe they have no place in a king cake.
