It's almost Mardi Gras time, y'all! Don't forget to get your decadent king cake, that quintessential N'Awlins sweet treat.

The big day is on February 25 this year, so start thinking about where you'll get your celebration's dessert. A real king cake is a combination of brioche dough, a sweet filling, royal icing, and colored sugar in gold, purple, and green.

Luckily, you won't have to get on a plane to find a king cake around here. These are just five of many places where you'll find the traditional pastry, complete with a plastic baby.

1. Bayou Bakery

While you're in picking up your cake, make sure you try their airy beignets, fantastic pralines, and muffalettas. People come from all over for this Arlington spot's take on bayou favorites. The street parking can be a bit tricky, but it's more than worth it.

Bayou Bakery, king cake

Courtesy of Bayou Bakery

2. Okra's 

This is one of my favorite spots for Cajun cuisine. Order your king cake online and stop in for lunch to pick it up. Try their fried oysters or shrimp po'boy and have a bloody mary while you're at it.

king cake

Courtesy of Okra's

3. Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe

Is there anything this Arlington bakery doesn't make? Their version might have a bit of European flair to it, but it's got all the right bits and pieces. Get some of their gigantic pretzels while you're there.

king cake

Courtesy of Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe

4. Wegmans

  • ADDRESS: Multiple locations in Northern Virginia
  • WEBSITE: Wegmans

You don't have to pre-order the king cakes at Wegmans—they'll have them right in the open bakery section of the store.

5. Giant

  • ADDRESS: Multiple locations in Northern Virginia
  • WEBSITE: Giant

While these are the most mass-produced king cakes on the list, they're also the least expensive. They also have them in multiple flavors, not just the traditional cream cheese filling. Be the office hero and bring one in for the break room; it's practically a coffee cake!

If you want to start a fun tradition, have the children at your party sell each slice of your king cake to the guests for $1. Anyone who finds the baby gets the loot, which is then usually divided up among the kids who did the serving.

Wherever you get it, remember to keep an eye out for the baby in the cake. It's said to bring good fortune and prosperity to its finder!

Do you have a favorite king cake source we didn't list? Tell us where in the comments!