Happy Fat Tuesday and Happy Mardi Gras!
For Mardi Gras I decided to offer my family the experience of a fresh King Cake directly from New Orleans. In the past, I have ordered King Cakes from local Ohio bakers. But this year, I decided to shake things up and order directly from the original – Manny Randazzo.
Manny is a second generation baker learning his baking skills and the secret formula of the Randazzo Family’s recipe for their famous king cakes from his father. Manny’s King Cakes have become so popular that in the 2012 Mardi Gras Season, his Pecan Praline King Cake was voted the best king cake after a series of taste tests at several local bakeries. It was crowned as the “King Cake King.”
The word “Mardi Gras” means “Fat Tuesday” in the French language. Celebrations include festivals, parades, dancing and feasting before the fasting starting on Ash Wednesday.
My ordering experience
I ordered my King Cake 34 days out from Mardi Gras….as the website says, but seriously who’s counting…They offer storefront or shipping for their King Cakes. The website was simple to navigate, very colorful in purple, green and gold. Two types of King Cakes are available – Traditional with cinnamon-infused hand -braided topped with their famous white, creamy “Randazzo” icing with purple, green & gold sprinkles.
Option two is the Cream Cheese King Cake. Homemade cream cheese filling between each cinnamon braid, baked to perfection and covered with the famous “Randazzo” icing, sprinkles, etc. Both cakes come with the King Cake Baby. And every cake order includes the cake, beads, doubloons, history of Mardi Gras, and price included shipping.
Knowing the taste preferences of my household, I opted for the Traditional King Cake. Website states this King Cake is 20-24 2-inch slices, weighs 2 lbs and measures 12in by 16in.
Ordering was easy, and the site allowed me to select the approximate delivery date to fit my needs. The last possible date to receive your cake via shipping was February 5th. I thought it best to allow an extra week, so my requested deliver was Friday, January 29th. It might have concerned me, to order the cake so far ahead, but I read the Kingcake FAQs which include directions on freezing my cake as soon as it arrives.
I received tracking information letting my know my cake was ready and had shipped via FedEx. My cake was baked on Wednesday, January 27th, picked up at Manny’s Bakery Thursday, January 28th at 4:41a.m., and delivered to my home in Ohio on Friday, January 29th at 1:17p.m.
When the cake arrives, take it out the box and put in the freezer as is (wrapped in its polybag with twist tie). That’s all you do. So very simple. I took our cake out of the box and immediately placed it flat into my freezer.
On the day you are ready to serve, take your king cake out the freezer approximately 3 hours before cutting. Just leave it in the bag with the twist tie. Three hours later, just open the bag, cut your king cake and enjoy. Our King Cake looked fresh from the bakery! The braided oval was about three-inches high, reminiscent of a bejeweled crown. And the top of the cake is iced with a simple sweet frosting and sprinkled with colored sugar in traditional purple, green, and gold hues. Delicious, moist and amazing! And
ff you want warm, fresh baked goodness, you can put a slice in the microwave for about 8 seconds. Enjoy! So delicious.
The Baby
Oh wait…the baby… intended to represent the Epiphany – The finding of Baby Jesus by the 3 Wisemen… and of course, whoever is the lucky recipient to find the baby becomes the king or queen for the day, thus providing a Manny Randazzo King Cake for the next celebration or get-together… HOORAY!
Mardi Gras 2022
My husband, Mr. B was the King of our household and will be having his people (me) order next years King Cake. We will certainly be ordering again from Manny Randazzo and hope you will too! Mardi Gras from New Orleans to Ohio!https://randazzokingcake.com
“Laissez les bon temps rouler!” Let the good time roll! Happy Mardi Gras! 2021!
NOTE: This is not a sponsored post. I purchased my own King Cake from Manny Randazzo’s and was not provided any compensation or rewards for doing so.
