Blue Bell Just Brought Back a Flavor Fans Wait for All Year Long

Food companies: They just love to give with one hand, and take with the other. Anyone who needs evidence of this should look towards Blue Bell Ice Cream. The frozen dessert manufacturer has, for years, had an ace up its sleeve in the form of its Mardi Gras King Cake flavor, a seasonal, very limited-time offering that turns up periodically around Fat Tuesday. It’s a flavor that it’s fair to say has sent people into a spin in the past. “Best ice cream I ever had in my entire life,” says a Reddit post from a couple of years back. How’s that for good publicity?

No matter how delicious it is, though, Blue Bell’s Mardi Gras King Cake flavor never sticks around for long before the company snatches it away for another year. Well, this is your bat signal to get down to the store pronto, because it’s back. Here’s what we know. 

It’s Time to Celebrate, with Ice Cream

The return of Blue Bell’s Mardi Gras King Cake was recently confirmed to Parade, and over the last few weeks, customers have shared on social media that they’ve spotted it in various stores and locations. Those locations, it should be said, aren’t nationwide: This ice cream is typically only sold around Louisiana (and more specifically, New Orleans), although neighboring states like Texas may well get a look-in this year. 

Folks who love this flavor would do well to stock up on it while they have the chance. Blue Bell’s Mardi Gras King Cake is usually only available in the run-up to the big day itself, and then maybe a couple of weeks afterwards. If you’re having trouble finding it, Blue Bell has a handy store locator on its website. 

A Creamy Dessert, Fit for a King

Now, look, we know that the whole point of this flavor is that it’s seasonal and tied to a holiday—but we really do wish it were a year-round affair. Blue Bell’s product puts the main flavors of King Cake into frozen form, and combines cinnamon cake-flavored ice cream with little nuggets of pastry and a delectable swirl of cream cheese, finishing the whole thing off with candy sprinkles. Visually, it has the gold, green, and purple color scheme that makes King Cakes so impactful, with the three colors representing power, faith, and justice. It’s a treat for the eyes, and for the tastebuds. 

If you’re not lucky enough to have Blue Bell’s ice cream flavor near you this year, then never fear. You can whip up a version at home fairly easily. Make yourself a simple, no-churn homemade vanilla ice cream, sprinkling in some cinnamon for that spicy note, before swirling in cream cheese and leftover cake pieces. Add in your favorite sprinkles, and you’re good to go. Yes, it’s not the same as buying it, but it’ll still taste good.