HOUSTON – For many bakeries in town, the King Cake is the most popular item at this time of year. At Common Bond, the King Cake isn’t just a Mardi Gras staple, it’s also a way to spread happiness and pay it forward. For the fourth year in a row, Common Bond is partnering with Texas Children’s Hospital and Sky High for Kids, organizations committed to providing comfort and saving the lives of young warriors fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Pastry Chef Samara Peña took us behind the scenes at the bakery to show us how they crank out thousands of croissants, loaves of bread, cookies, cakes and King Cakes every single day. “There’s always movement at (Common Bond) Bakehouse; somebody’s always making something.”

For Peña, each day on the job is filled with meaning. “I love being a pastry chef because it’s really satisfying to be able to give people a product that you’ve made with love and give back with it.” Right now, five dollars from each traditional King Cake sold at Common Bond locations will be donated to Sky High for Kids. Houstonians can also place an order to donate an entire DIY King Cake decorating kit to young patients at Texas Children’s Hospital — bringing smiles to their faces and giving them a sweet treat on Fat Tuesday.

Common Bond opened doors to its first location 10 years ago with a simple mission: to connect people and build relationships with good food. Now, with eight locations and counting, the company is proof of doing well by doing good.

If you’d like to donate a DIY King Cake kit to be delivered to Texas Children’s Hospital, pre-orders end on Thursday, February 8th. To connect with Common Bond, click here.

Source: Baking with a purpose: How Common Bond’s King Cakes are helping to fight pediatric cancer