Foodie Friday Starts Big for Mardi Gras
Foodie Friday launched carnival season in a big way with Kara Castille from Thee Heavenly Donut in the studio. With Mardi Gras approaching, the show began a weeks-long celebration of king cakes, and starting with a donut shop felt like stacking the deck. Kara leaned into that idea and made it clear that her shop plays by different rules. She said Thee Heavenly Donut brings something bold to Baton Rouge’s king cake scene while still respecting Louisiana tradition.
A Family Legacy Built on Dough and Discipline
Kara shared how her story began long before her first storefront. She grew up in bakeries, learned product and technique from her mom, and learned business sense from her dad. She opened her first shop at just 18 years old. This carnival season marks 25 years in business, a milestone she proudly celebrates as a small, locally owned success story rooted in Baton Rouge.
Fried King Cakes Made Fresh Every Day
Thee Heavenly Donut makes every king cake from scratch in-house. Kara explained that her husband and team start production late every night to keep cakes fresh. The shop sells each king cake within 24 hours. They fry every cake using their homemade dough, which gives it a buttery, moist texture closer to a cinnamon roll than a traditional baked king cake. Kara said freshness matters more than mass production, and customers taste the difference.
Maple Bacon and Plain Cinnamon Lead the Pack
While the shop offers gourmet options like banana foster with rum and savory boudin king cakes, customers consistently choose plain cinnamon first. The studio review also crowned the maple bacon king cake as a standout. The smoky bacon flavor hits first, followed by sweet maple glaze, creating a bold sweet-and-savory balance.
Where to Find Thee Heavenly Donut
You can find Thee Heavenly Donut at 17732 Highland Road in Baton Rouge. Customers can also purchase king cakes in Henderson and at Oak Grove Market in Ascension Parish. The shop ships king cakes nationwide, bringing a taste of carnival season far beyond Louisiana.