Happy “spring forward” day, everyone! Even though it’s been freezing here in Ontario and the remnants of February’s Snowmageddon are still piled high on our lawn, I definitely feel spring in the air. Wishful thinking? Maybe… but time will fly, and the flowers will be blooming before we know it!
I hope you’ve been enjoying all of my recent New Orleans travel guides. From what to do – both inside and outside the French Quarter – to where to eat and drink, I’ve covered all the essential categories… with the exception of one! You all know I love dessert, so today I thought I’d wrap up my NOLA travel series on a sweet note.
If your sweet tooth is as big as mine, New Orleans will steal your heart – and your stomach! The Big Easy is world-renowned for its culinary scene and iconic dishes – from po’ boys to gumbo to jambalaya – and you’d better believe they didn’t forget about dessert. Beignets, pralines, king cake… there are so many desserts NOLA is famous for, and I was lucky enough to try several of them! Here are the iconic desserts that no trip to New Orleans would be complete without trying – and where you can find them.
Bananas Foster – Brennan’s
You’ve heard of dinner and a show… this is dessert and a show! Bananas Foster is made by cooking bananas in butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and banana liqueur, then adding rum and flambéeing. The caramelized bananas are then served over vanilla ice cream. Bananas Foster was invented at Brennan’s Restaurant in 1951. New Orleans had become a major centre for banana imports, so restaurateur Owen Brennan asked chef Paul Blangé to create a banana-centric dish, and Bananas Foster was born. Decades later, it’s still the most ordered item on the Brennan’s menu, and is still flambéed tableside in a dramatic fiery show. Brennan’s requires a minimum of two people per order, but trust me… everyone at your table is going to want in on this! I don’t even like bananas, and I loved it. (Rum and ice cream really do make everything better!)
Baked Alaska – Antoine’s
This iconic “grande dame” of NOLA dining has had its fair share of firsts: Antoine’s is the oldest restaurant in New Orleans, the oldest family-run restaurant in the United States, and the birthplace of Oysters Rockefeller (invented in 1889 by the founder’s son, Jules Alciatore.) Antoine’s may not have invented Baked Alaska, but they do it better than just about anyone! If you’ve never tried it, think of it as the ultimate ice cream cake: a buttery pound cake shell filled with a ridiculous amount of vanilla ice cream, topped with meringue frosting, and drizzled with dark chocolate sauce. Fair warning: this is a huge dessert, so bring a group… or make sure you order a light lunch! We requested a small Baked Alaska for two, and it easily could have served six or more. I alone probably ate 3000 calories worth of ice cream… but it was so worth it! This dessert isn’t just delicious, but also very Insta-worthy: the chefs typically pipe “Antoine’s” in frosting on one side and “Since 1840” (their founding year) on the other. Celebrating a birthday or other special occasion? Let them know and they’ll be happy to personalize it for you!
Bread Pudding Soufflé – Commander’s Palace
Although its roots originate in 11th century Europe, bread pudding is undeniably a “Southern thing” today – and it’s especially popular in Louisiana! While this dish was once referred to as “poor man’s pudding” (it’s made from stale bread scraps, after all!) the version at Commander’s Palace is anything but. This landmark restaurant in the Garden District has a bread pudding so iconic that even Martha Stewart has a copycat recipe. Commander’s combines a classic bread pudding with a meringue to create their signature soufflé version of this delicious dessert. It must be ordered twenty minutes in advance, and the finishing touch – the warm whiskey cream – is poured on at the table. It’s light and fluffy, yet delightfully decadent all at the same time. The perfect ending to your three-martini lunch!
Bread Pudding (among other things) – The Court Of Two Sisters
This historic restaurant delivers a more traditional – but equally delicious – take on bread pudding. It’s just one of several delectable desserts you’ll find on their overflowing buffet table. From cakes, pies and brownies to Southern classics like bread pudding and Bananas Foster, there’s truly something here to satisfy every sweet tooth. The Court Of Two Sisters is famous for their buffet jazz brunch, which is offered every day of the week. Savoury offerings include regional delicacies like turtle soup, shrimp étouffée, gumbo, andouille sausage and more! We circled back to the buffet table more times than I’d like to admit, and of all the desserts I tried, the rich, comforting bread pudding (accompanied by a healthy scoop or two of ice cream) was hands-down my favourite. Other faves: the pecan pie and strawberry layer cake!
King Cake – Gambino’s Bakery
Steeped in history and tradition, this legendary cake is the official dessert of Mardi Gras. Traditionally baked to celebrate Epiphany, king cake isn’t just a New Orleans thing – its origins date back to ancient Rome, and it’s still a popular tradition in France, Spain, Portugal, the U.K… and yes, Louisiana! Different countries have their own takes on the tradition – for instance, my French friend Marie makes a delicious “kings’ pie” (galette des rois) that I look forward to every year! That one’s made with a puff pastry crust and filled with a rich almond paste – think of it like an almond croissant in pie form. New Orleans king cake is very different: it consists of a twisted ring of cinnamon-roll-style dough, topped with cream cheese icing and green, gold and purple sugar (the traditional Mardi Gras colours.) A tiny plastic baby Jesus is hidden inside: whoever finds him in their slice will enjoy good fortune and prosperity, and is also responsible for baking or buying the next king cake! Now, king cake is traditionally only eaten during Carnival season (which runs from Epiphany through Mardi Gras) and most NOLA bakeries only serve it during this time, as eating king cake out-of-season is said to be bad luck. But I’ll confess: we did the unspeakable and ate a slice of king cake during our tour of Mardi Gras World… in October. I know, I know… we just couldn’t resist! All tours of Mardi Gras World – regardless of season – include a slice of king cake from the legendary Gambino’s Bakery, who’s been baking them for over 70 years. Click here to read more about our experience at Mardi Gras World – it was a fabulous tour and I highly recommend it. (If you’re superstitious, just skip the king cake!) All I know is I definitely have to return to NOLA during Carnival season to sample some more king cakes, because that one little slice had me hooked!
Beignets – Café Du Monde & Café Beignet
When you think of classic New Orleans foods, beignets are probably one of the first that come to mind! These fluffy, pillowy, deep-fried bites of heaven – always served with a mountain of powdered sugar – were introduced to New Orleans in the 1700s by French immigrants. Though their true origin is contested (France and Italy both claim O.G. beignet fame) they’re now synonymous with NOLA. Whether you enjoy them for dessert, breakfast, or anytime in between, one thing’s for sure: no trip to New Orleans would be completely without one (or in our case, multiple) beignet stops! The two most famous beignet spots in NOLA are Café Du Monde and Café Beignet. Café Du Monde is the O.G.: their original location at the French Market opened in 1862, and it’s still going strong – they fry up to 30,000 beignets PER DAY! Café Beignet was established in 1990, though if you visit their original location on Royal Street, you’d assume it’s much older: the café is located in a converted 1800s carriage house, and is absolutely stunning. Both cafés are NOLA icons, and their beignets are delicious – yet distinctly different from one another. I highly recommend trying both before deciding on your favourite. And yes, I do have one… but I’m not telling! You’ll just have to taste-test for yourselves.
Pralines – Aunt Sally’s, Loretta’s & Leah’s
This classic Southern candy is often described as “fudge’s nuttier cousin” (I’m pretty sure I’ve also been described as the “nuttier cousin” by my family at least once in my life… so there’s something pralines and I have in common!) Though there are variations, the core ingredients are simple: butter, sugar, cream and pecans. If it sounds sweet, that’s because it is – trust me, I’m the sweetest of sweet tooths, and even I got an instant sugar high from these decadent confections! They are indeed delicious, but trust me: when it comes to pralines, a little goes a long way. Pralines are sold at pretty much every gift shop in the French Quarter, but if you’re looking for the best pralines NOLA has to offer, here are the three spots I recommend:
- Aunt Sally’s Original Creole Pralines – This small, family-run business has been making authentic Southern-style pralines since 1935. Choose from three variations: original (thin and crispy), creamy, or chewy. Aunt Sally’s has two locations: one on Decatur and one on St. Charles. Both have kitchen windows with live cooking demonstrations, where you can watch the praline masters in action!
- Loretta’s Authentic Pralines – Located in the French Market (with a second location on Rampart Street), this shop is famous for their pralines – available in chocolate, coconut, rum and original flavours – along with other unique Southern delicacies like crab beignets and sweet potato cookies. The late founder, Loretta Harrison, was the first African American woman to successfully own and operate her own praline company in New Orleans. She passed in 2022, but her legacy – and her delicious pralines – live on.
- Leah’s Pralines – Leah’s is located just across the street from Antoine’s… just in case that giant Baked Alaska didn’t quite satisfy your sweet tooth! Leah’s is proudly family-run and women-owned. I had the honour of chatting with Leah’s granddaughter, and learned that her grandmother established the shop in 1944. Leah’s Pralines come in four flavours: traditional, creamy, rum and chocolate. I bought a sampler box with all four flavours, and I’m embarrassed to admit they didn’t make it home… they were just that good! Bonus points for the beautiful packaging – these would make a lovely gift (provided you don’t eat them all yourself first!)
Glitter Petits Fours – Sucré
These may not be a traditional New Orleans dessert, but they sure are delicious… and dazzlingly beautiful! Sucré is a French-inspired patisserie with four locations in NOLA. We went to the one at 217 Royal Street, where I was instantly drawn in by the gorgeous interior: millennial pink walls, sage green banquettes, minimalist lighting, and graphic black-and-white floor tiles. And if you think the space is pretty… wait until you see the food! The exquisite handcrafted desserts in Sucré’s tantalizing display case are almost too pretty to eat: from luscious frosted cupcakes to glittering pastries to macarons in every colour of the rainbow. I got the almond petit four, which met all my criteria (Pink? Check. Sparkly? Check.) Luckily, it also checked the third box: it was just as delicious as it looked! Sucré’s prices aren’t cheap, but sometimes you just have to treat yourself – especially on vacation!
And on that sweet note, I’m wrapping up my series of New Orleans travel guides. This trip was truly one of the most memorable I’ve ever taken, and it’s been so fun reliving it via these posts! If you’re planning your own trip to NOLA, I hope these guides have been helpful resources for you. As always, feel free to contact me with any questions you might have – I’m always happy to provide travel tips and advice wherever I can!
Next week, I’ll be back to my usual Ontario content – and I’ve got an especially exciting local event that I can’t wait to share with you. Stay tuned!
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