re: What's the deal with Gambino King Cakes this year?

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Do they ship it where you don't have to put the icing on yourself?

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Unfortunately no. Looks like our warm winters and sitting in a UPS truck have led them to start shipping without the icing on the cake.

Here is their FAQ:
Are king cakes available year round?
A: Our cakes are made to celebrate the Mardi Gras season and are typically available beginning on January 6. For 2023, king cakes will be available from January 6 – February 21.

Q: Do you ship king cakes every day?
A: No. We fulfill and ship king cake orders Monday through Wednesday at noon. Orders received after 12:00 PM on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will be fulfilled the following Monday.

Q: My king cake didn’t arrive when it was supposed to… what happened?
A: We make every effort to ensure that all orders are fulfilled and delivered on time, but unfortunately, once they leave the Cajun Pecan House we cannot control what happens. These instances include, but are not limited to, weather conditions, UPS mishandling, or late delivery. If you have questions, give us a call and we’ll try to help resolve this issue, but please understand that it is sometimes out of our control.

Q: Can I make an order through Facebook?
A: We will only fulfill orders made using our website, in store, or over the phone. We do not accept orders via social media.

Q: Does the price include the shipping charges?
A: Shipping prices are calculated during checkout once all of your shipping information is entered. PLEASE NOTE: If you live in Louisiana or Mississippi, Ground shipping is available Monday through Thursday at 12:00 PM. If you live outside of Louisiana or Mississippi, you MUST select Second Day Air to ensure your King Cake arrives fresh. Orders will be changed to reflect this option if necessary.

Q: I know the king cakes are guaranteed delivery overnight, Second/Third Day, but can they be delivered by a certain time?
A: No, it’s only guaranteed to be there the next day, not any specific time. If time of delivery is an issue, perhaps ordering the cake the previous day you need it (if shipping date is available) will help avoid that issue.

Q: Can I get a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday delivery date?
A: No. UPS only has delivery dates of Tuesday through Friday, depending on available shipping dates.

Q: How long will the King Cake last?
A: The king cake will maintain its freshness 2-3 days after receiving it. If you’re planning on serving the cake 2-3 days later, don’t open it up. Keep it out of direct sunlight, in a cool place. If you’re wanting to keep it longer, we would suggest to put the king cake in the freezer upon receiving it, and then take it out 3 hours before serving and it will thaw and will be ready to serve.

Q: Can I send the king cake to someone who lives in an apartment?
A: Yes, HOWEVER, UPS WILL NOT leave the king cake at the door if no one is home or no one answers the door of an apartment building or complex. UPS will leave a note on the door saying they attempted delivery and will be back again the next day to accomplish delivery. If this delivery was attempted on a Friday, UPS will come back that Monday to attempt delivery. You can call the UPS center and either pick up the king cake from them or they will attempt delivery again the next day. If someone you know lives in an apartment and you want to make sure they receive their cake, make absolutely sure someone will be there to accept delivery. Another suggestion would be to send the king cake to their place of employment.

Q: What should I know about your king cakes and Food Allergies?
A: All of our king cakes may contain or may have been in contact with the following items: milk, eggs, wheat, soy beans, peanuts, and tree nuts (pecans).

Q: Will my King Cake be ready to eat when I receive it?
A: No baking is required, but you will have to ice your King Cake. Due to Louisiana climate and UPS, we found that when we shipped our King Cakes iced the icing often times melted off of the cake. Your cake will come with everything you need to ice and decorate it (instructions, icing, purple, green and gold colored sugar, and the baby).

The only other places that I would recommend for a King Cakes from are Cannata’s or Mr. Ronnie’s Donuts.

Cannata’s did not specify if they put the icing on, but instead of UPS, they use FedEx to ship. Their Ooey Goey line is pretty good. They have actually won a few regional awards.

Not sure if Mr. Ronnie’s ships. But their king cakes are pretty sweet since they are pretty much a huge donut on steroids.

Rouses may do in a pinch as they do not specify if they make you put the icing on. They are okay and got better in recent years, they used to be a braided cinnamon crusted French bread dough ring with icing on it. Now they use a softer pastry dough.