Merritt's Bakery Busy With Rare 'Quadruple Hit' Of Holidays

For many, Mardi Gras is celebrated with a King Cake. News On 6's Amy Slanchik was live at Merritt's Bakery Monday morning to show us how to decorate one!

Monday, February 12th 2024, 4:26 pm

By: News On 6

Bakeries are busy as they prepare treats for several holidays this week. Mardi Gras is on Tuesday and Valentine’s Day is Wednesday.

It is rare for the two holidays to fall on the same week. Merritt's Bakery is normally closed on Mondays but they are open until 6:00 p.m. on February 12, with lots of king cakes and Mardi Gras treats ready to go. Colorful King Cakes fill the inside of Merritt's Bakery on 15th Street in Tulsa, with five flavors to choose from.

"The cinnamon is the most traditional. The cream cheese is the most popular. We also do a strawberry, a blueberry, and a pecan as well,” Merritt’s Bakery Marketing Director Cheyenne Blackwood said.

Merritt's also offers Mardi Gras-themed cookies and donut holes. Blackwood said while preparing king cakes keeps employees busy, Mardi Gras isn't the only holiday or event on their minds this week.

"It's definitely kind of a quadruple hit,” she said. “That very rarely happens. Last year, Mardi Gras actually fell the week after, so we got a little bit more time in there to kind prep and play with the holidays."

The recent holidays that can trigger sweet tooth started Saturday, with the Chinese New Year.

Then there's the Super Bowl on Sunday, Mardi Gras on Tuesday, and Valentine's Day on Wednesday.

"We're definitely making the most of it. We've been prepping for weeks, for this. We've kind of been talking about it as a staff since before we went on vacation for Christmas, that like, hey we're gonna get back and it's gonna get even crazier,” Blackwood said.

With Valentine's sweets on standby, the green, yellow, and purple sugar will be used up first, as Merritt's prepares for the final Mardi Gras rush.

"In fact I'm going to go back this afternoon and do some more sugaring and beading and coining and all the things to get ready for tomorrow,” Blackwood said.

There are several events around Tulsa happening Tuesday, including a Mardi Gras bingo night at Dead Armadillo Brewery and an Ultimate Fat Tuesday Party at Bourbon Street Cafe.