King Cake

King Cakes are also intimately linked to the traditions of New Orleans and Mardi Gras parades that, Bourbon Street, and jambalaya. The city of New Orleans is proud to host the popular Festival Mardi Gras and Mardi Gras celebrants consider a King Cake is a necessity. These unique treats are so coveted that people across the country to them about their favorite bakery or cook for their families and friends.

A Mardi Gras King Cake is made from braids rich dough flavored with cinnamon, which is oval in shape, before being cooked. Some of the recipes can even be more modern fillings, chocolate cream cheese, lemon, apple or strawberry. When the king cake is removed from the oven and cooled, it is then in ice glazed and decorated with colored sugars. Sugars and braid cake triple origin as a way to honor the three Wise Men who brought gifts to the Christ Child. Each sugar color has a meaning:
aec Purple-Justice
aec Gold-Power
aec Green-Foy

Even the time of preparation of these cakes is special, with baking done between the dates of the Twelfth Night (January 6th) and Ash Wednesday. There are thousands of king cakes prepared for the purchase and delivery to customers who have placed their personal weeks in advance. For many people having one of these sweet treats is reason enough for celebration.

January 6, or Twelfth Night, officially introduced the carnival season is an eagerly awaited of the year. This is when the Christ Child was honored with gifts of the Wise. Since time immemorial, the chips were placed in small cakes for the party people to find. Sometimes, people have chosen to use a coin, peas, or even a pecan. In the 19th century, a small gem has been added to a king cake from wealthy families. The chips bring luck to those who found and the finder would be king (or queen) of the ball.

It was in the early 20th century that the tradition has changed to place a small plastic baby in the cake. This baby is the plastic baby Jesus, and is placed in the cake after baking. Then the cake is frosted and decorated so that no one knows where the object is hidden. Everyone hopes to find the doll in their slice of cake and slice cake is an exciting time. Whoever finds the doll has the opportunity and they also honored as the king or queen. According to tradition, they must also host a celebration of Mardi Gras next year and provide a new Mardi Gras King Cake guests to enjoy.