Jan 13, 2026 - Mardi Gras

Cure, Ayu Bakehouse team up for king cake in Mardi Gras 2026

Chelsea Brasted

Close-up of a shiny, golden-brown circular bread with decorative cuts and candied orange peel on top, placed on a textured orange surface. — New for 2026 Mardi Gras is a special edition king cake collaboration with Cure and Ayu Bakehouse. Photo: Courtesy of Randy Krause Schmidt

Every Mardi Gras brings new players and short-lived specials amongst the city's king cakes, and 2026 has a handful that are worth working into your rotation.

Zoom in: One of the special edition cakes this season comes from Ayu Bakehouse and Cure, and it's made specifically to pair with Carnival cocktails.

Dig in: The cake is inspired by the Vieux Carre, a classic New Orleans cocktail made with rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, Benedictine and bitters.

That flavor profile blends with Ayu's laminated brioche, which the bakery team whips up in a lattice-topped ring. The effect is specifically galette-style, similar to Levee Baking Co.'s queen cake.
Ayu's version for cure includes a brown-butter pecan praline, Benedictine-flavored frangipane and cherry-vermouth jam. The top is finished with candied citrus.

I scooped one up on Kings Day for a taste test, and my husband and I meted it out over the next few days with our morning coffee. (Alas, no Carnival cocktails in this house at the moment.)

As a red fruit enthusiast, I would have enjoyed more cherry coming through, but the citrusy cake was still a worthy addition to our king cake lineup for the season.

How to get one: Pre-order the cake through Ayu's website.

You can pick it up at the bakery, or try it at Cure with one of the bar's seasonal cocktails.

What's next: We've agreed to pick up a royal-icing topped, cinnamon-heavy braided cake for our next cake. Antoine's perhaps?

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Cure, Ayu Bakehouse team up for king cake in Mardi Gras 2026

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