Here's Where You Can Get That Mardi Gras King Cake Ice Cream From Blue Bell in Texas

First, the good news. Yes, Blue Bell does make a Mardi Gras King Cake ice cream. Now the bad. If you're in North Texas, you're going to have to travel to get it. The special flavor, described as "cinnamon ice cream with pastry pieces, candy sprinkles and a cream cheese swirl," is only available for a limited time in select markets and Dallas-Fort Worth is not one of them. The flavor was originally distributed in 2004 in New Orleans as "Mardi Gras Ice Cream," but expanded the next year into Galveston and Beaumont, Blue Bell spokeswoman Jenny Van Dorf said. Years later, the Brenham-based company switched to a cinnamon ice cream base and added cake pieces and the new flavor was born. Mardi Gras King cake is also available in Brenham, greater Louisiana, Mobile, Ala. and Jackson, Miss., she said. "In Texas, our fans tend to choose flavors with pecans over walnuts. It is this strategy that allows us to offer flavors based on regional preferences," she said. "Regional flavors become a little bit more difficult to understand in the days of social media, especially if it becomes a hit in the market."With all the requests, it may be available in additional areas next year, she said. But first they need to make the supply last to Fat Tuesday.As to whether there's a little plastic baby inside. Nope. "Choking hazard," Van Dorf said.  Continue reading...