New York｜King Cake: Flaky, Delicious, but Limited to January!

King Cake is a traditional French pastry celebrating Epiphany. Several highly-rated bakeries in New York offer it for a limited time from the start of the year until the end of January. The tradition is also super charming! Like finding a coin in a dumpling, whoever gets the slice with the hidden bean wears a paper crown 👑, symbolizing good luck for the year ahead. 📍Ladurée While their macarons are overwhelmingly sweet, their King Cake is perfectly suited for the Asian palate! The mille-feuille pastry is rich with buttery flavor and incredibly airy. The frangipane (almond cream) is like a fluffy, slightly grainy custard—without any overpowering almond taste—and leaves a delicate nutty aroma as an aftertaste. 📍Bread Story The texture here is similar to Ladurée’s. The surface is slightly over-baked, giving it an extra toasty fragrance. It’s also great value for money. If you’re unsure or trying King Cake for the first time, this is a reliable choice ⭐️. Their chocolate hazelnut and apple flavors look absolutely delicious, though they’re only available in large sizes. 📍Dominique Ansel Bakery Sold out by the afternoon… I’ll update once I get to try it! One bite into the King Cake and it absolutely bursts with crispiness—so crunchy it feels like you’re in an ASMR eating video! That delightful crunch-crunch texture comes from a generous amount of butter used in the process (the napkin underneath even gets a buttery imprint 🧈). Luckily, it’s not overly sweet or greasy to taste. Truly delicious—worth trying! Don’t miss out, or you’ll have to wait until next year. 😋👑✨ #NYCExploration #NYCFoodScene #NYCFoodGuide #NYCDesserts #KingCake