By Jeanni Ritchie
I’m not sure my mother’s competitive nature was ever as evident as the day I watched her bid on a Doce Vida cake in an online auction!
My friend Mary and I had put together the auction for a friend of ours going through cancer treatments in the height of Covid. I was handling the computer end of our fundraiser from my Mississippi home, while Mary was the local boots-on-the-ground coordinator. Doce Vida owner Neila Craig graciously donated the Chantilly Cake. I quickly learned the competition for the popular dessert was going to be heated.
I had no clue my own mother would be knee-deep in the fray!
Fast-forward a month and my mom was the generous recipient of the vanilla layer cake filled with fresh berries, and the envy of over 50 bidders. She was not going to let anyone outbid her!
I visited the bakery in person last week, and I knew I’d have to bring home one of the Chantilly cupcakes. They also have Chantilly mini cakes, Chantilly dessert bowls, and Chantilly king cakes.
Mom loved her cupcake, but Dad and I are chocolate lovers. I brought him a One-Pound Loaf Cake (German Chocolate, his favorite), and I selected an Oreo Ball and two Cake Pops: Chocolate Peanut Butter and Lemon.
It was not an easy decision. There was case after case of bakery treats, and a menu with many more made-to-order breads and desserts. I felt like Queen: I want it all, and I want it now…
Puddings. Brownies. Cobblers. Cookies. Cake Pops. Jar Mixes. Loaf Cakes. Pastries. Macarons. Cupcakes. Cheesecakes. Pies. Specialty Cakes. Chocolate Covered Cherries. Candy Apples.
Want the tea? Wednesday mornings have the biggest selection.
Doce Vida Brazilian Bakery is a fusion of Brazilian culture and Louisiana desserts and flavors. Some traditional Brazilian treats include Brigadeiro – chocolate truffles made from condensed milk, cocoa, and butter; Grandma’s Cookies – traditional homestyle cookies, simple, buttery, and comforting; and Pão de Mel – Brazilian honey cake, spiced and often coated in chocolate.
They also have a large variety of Louisiana’s unofficial state dessert – the king cake. In addition to the 260 items on their year-round menu, there is a separate seasonal King Cake menu available now.
One of their top sellers is the Rosca Rainha (Guava) King Cake. Other flavors include Dulce de Leche, Praline, Wedding Cake, and Zulu (German Chocolate). In all, there are 24 King Cake flavors, available in small, medium, or large. You can also get a Cinnamon King Cake on a Stick.
This is by far one of the most diverse bakeries I’ve ever been in. I can order a loaf of challah bread, an anniversary cake, hot cocoa mixes, a dozen blueberry muffins, and a lemon meringue pie all at the same time. No bidding wars required!
Doce Vida Brazilian Bakery
1260-G Texas Avenue
Alexandria, LA
318-613-7402
Hours
Tuesday-Friday: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
