Not quite king cakes

King cakes—or at least their ancestors—have been around since medieval times, but it’s only recently that folks have started getting creative with the recipe. The longer-than-average Mardi Gras season this year offers ample opportunity for sampling, but if you’re weary of the normal choices, try these “cakes” for something a little experimental. Frozen yogurt: Splendido! Frozen Yogurt Bar has a cool twist on tap—praline king cake flavored frozen yogurt. Sweet and creamy, try topping it off with a heaping helping of fresh fruit to add some tart bite and lightness to its rich flavor. Cake balls: Brew Ha Ha’s cake balls are already somewhat legendary locally, but the gorgeous—and delicious—king cake variety is flying off this bean bar’s shelves. Stuffed with cinnamon flavor and super-moist, it’ll please even the pickiest purists. Cupcakes: The gals at Sweet Wishes produce a tasty apple-cinnamon king cake cupcake that’s both authentic and ambrosial. With candied toppers like masks, fleur-de-lis and, of course, babies, it’s a Mardi Gras party in miniature. Bread pudding: Bread pudding is basic to any Southern menu, and king cakes are, basically, bread—so why not combine them to make one super-decadent dessert? Bistro Byronz has done just that for the Mardi Gras season—order it off their menu before it vanishes for another year. Coffee: A Coffee Truck’s king cake latte pleased many palates at last week’s Bite Club tasting (see last week’s Dine for more), with a warm, cinnamon-sweet drink that tasted like king cake in a cup. Track them down on Twitter to find out where you can sample this luscious libation.