The King Cake From This Kentucky Bakery Is So Authentic, You'll Swear You're In New Orleans
By Sarah McCosham|Published January 30, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Mardi Gras is a season of parades, revelry, masks, and food… especially food. While New Orleans specials like crawfish and beignets certainly go with the season, nothing says “Mardi Gras” like king cake. In Kentucky, Plehn’s Bakery makes a king cake that’s so deliciously, wonderfully authentic, you’ll swear you’ve been transported to NOLA’s iconic French Quarter.
In 1922, Kuno Plehn, a native of Kiel, Germany, opened the eponymous Plehn’s Bakery in Louisville, Kentucky, unaware that he was creating a place that would become a legendary Louisville institution.
In the 100 years since, the bakery has moved and been passed down through four generations of Plehn family members, and while the world looks very different today than it did then, this Kentucky bakery continues to stand out for its delicious and delightful desserts made with love and care!
The bakery cases at Plehn's are always stocked with tasty treats, fresh breads, and seasonal specials. Christmas, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving... every holiday of the year is worth celebrating! Especially...
Mardi Gras. Every year come February, Plehn's Bakery goes big for Mardi Gras, offering everything from cupcakes and cookies to entire sheet cakes, all in the iconic yellow, green, and purple color scheme.
The name "king cake" comes from the Biblical story of the three kings who bring gifts to baby Jesus, and is traditionally a blend of coffee cake, filled with fruit and decadent cream cheeses, then iced in yellow, green and purple -- the colors of Mardi Gras.
What makes the king cake from Plehn's Bakery so special, you ask? Everything! Not only are Plehn's king cakes beautifully composed works of culinary art, but they come in both cinnamon or cheese varieties, the latter of which tastes exactly like a cheese danish and comes highly recommended by pretty much everyone.
Have you tried the king cake from this Kentucky bakery before? Plehn’s Bakery is a beloved family-owned bakery that’s truly one of the best in the Bluegrass.
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