King cake is a pastry of many traditions: In France, the (usually) puff pastry-based galette des rois, filled with almond frangipane, is baked throughout the month of January to celebrate the Epiphany (also known as Three Kings’ Day) on January 6. A single bean is hidden inside the cake, and the finder of the bean gets to be king for the day.

In Louisiana, sweet, bread-y king cake is typically decorated with colorful icing, baked with a toy baby (rather than a bean) inside, and served throughout the February Mardi Gras season.

Here in Colorado, Louisville’s Moxie Bread Company is ushering in a delicious new tradition with an unconventional version of the treat. Its cake is made with kouign-amann dough—like an extra-buttery croissant crusted with caramelized sugar—and filled with a sweet-tart almond-raspberry frangipane. The result is eye-rollingly good: the dough is rich, sweet, and crisp, the filling within creamy yet bright.

Moxie’s owner Andy Clark offers yet another twist: Rather than baking a bean inside the cake, it’s included separately for the purchaser to hide. Whoever discovers the bean is invited to bring it to Moxie’s Mardi Gras celebration on February 28, where it’s redeemable for a slice of pizza.

Moxie’s king cake is $28 and will be available until February 28.

641 Main St., Louisville, 720-420-9616

Callie Sumlin
Callie Sumlin
Callie Sumlin is a writer living in Westminster, and has been covering food and sustainability in the Centennial State for more than five years.