Balboni's cannoli king cake has fired up a lot of buzz this Carnival season in New Orleans. Beyond its elaborate back story, here's what the extravagant cake is like.

There are bakeries in New Orleans that will ship king cakes, many that can arrive overnight. A list can be found on the New Orleans tourism website. Many local grocery stores sell them pre-packaged. And some local bakeries will custom make a king cake.

Growing up in Nashville, I’ve made the trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras more times than I can count. Now, I’m bringing the celebration to your table with a fun twist on two classics: king cake and cheesecake.