Inside The Mardi Gras King Cake Tradition - New Orleans - New Orleans & Company (2024)

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Inside The Mardi Gras King Cake Tradition - New Orleans - New Orleans & Company? ›

King cake is a New Orleans tradition that involves a pastry, a tiny plastic baby, and a party! The cake is baked with a tiny plastic baby hidden inside; whoever gets the slice with the baby in it has to host the next party.

King cake is a New Orleans tradition that involves a pastry, a tiny plastic baby, and a party! The cake is baked with a tiny plastic baby hidden inside; whoever gets the slice with the baby in it has to host the next party.

Hidden in its interior, or under a slice, is a small plastic baby. Whoever finds it must either bring the next cake or throw a party, thus sparking an unending round of food and fun. Whether at the workplace, school or home - king cake is a gift that keeps on giving throughout the Mardi Gras season.

Remember, finding the baby inside the king cake not only makes you a “king,” but it also comes with some responsibilities. If you are so fortunate to find the baby in your slice of cake, you will be responsible for hosting the next Mardi Gras celebration and providing the next king cake!

Something like king cake is available year round, but those faithful to New Orleans tradition know it only has its cultural significance during Carnival season. That season will fly by this year, between the kick off on Jan. 6 and Fat Tuesday bringing down the curtain on Feb. 13.

King cake is first served on King's Day (January 6) and lasts through the eve of Mardi Gras to celebrate the three kings' coming and honor them with a delicious homage to their jeweled crowns. Hidden in the cake's interior, or under a slice, is a small plastic baby.

And it helps keep the king cake fresh. It has also been proven to help with portion control, because when the knife is in the box, people can go back and cut off little slabs like this. If you have to pull out a fresh knife from the drawer.

King cake is first served on King's Day (January 6) and can continue to be served through the eve of Mardi Gras to celebrate the coming of the three kings, as well as to honor them with a sweet homage to their jeweled crowns.

Most king cakes are traditionally decorated in royal colors of purple, which signifies “justice,” green for “growth,” and gold meaning “prosperity and wealth.” These colors can be seen as chosen to resemble a jeweled crown honoring the three wise men and their gifts during the visit of the Christ Child on Epiphany.

The baby symbolizes luck and prosperity to whoever finds it. That person is also responsible for purchasing next week's cake or hosting the next Mardi Gras party. Often, bakers place the baby outside of the cake, leaving the purchaser to hide it themselves. This is usually to avoid liability for any choking hazard.

What does it mean if you cut the baby in a king cake? ›

When a king cake is served at a Mardi Gras celebration, everyone wants to know who was served the slice with the king cake baby—but what does it mean if you find one? Tradition dictates that finding the baby in your cake symbolizes luck and prosperity. As such, the finder becomes the “king” or “queen” of the evening.

King cake is eaten on January 6 in honor of Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, which historically marks the arrival of the three wise men/kings in Bethlehem who delivered gifts to the baby Jesus. (The plastic baby hidden inside king cakes today is a nod to this story.)

The person who receives the slice of cake containing the coin is believed to enjoy good luck and prosperity throughout the year. This symbol of wealth is rooted in the tradition's early years when cakes were baked to celebrate Epiphany, commemorating the visit of the three wise men to baby Jesus.

Yes, New Orleans has a cake season. It's technically called Carnival, and it starts on January 6, known as Twelfth Night or the Epiphany. The date marks twelve days after Christmas, when the three wise men came to visit the baby Jesus.

Q: How long will the King Cake last? A: The king cake will maintain its freshness 2-3 days after receiving it. If you're planning on serving the cake 2-3 days later, don't open it up. Keep it out of direct sunlight, in a cool place.

Although King Cakes were originally served as dessert, it is also delicious for breakfast or a sweet treat anytime.

When a king cake is served at a Mardi Gras celebration, everyone wants to know who was served the slice with the king cake baby—but what does it mean if you find one? Tradition dictates that finding the baby in your cake symbolizes luck and prosperity. As such, the finder becomes the “king” or “queen” of the evening.

Traditionally, a small porcelain baby, symbolizing Jesus, is hidden in the king cake and is a way for residents of Louisiana to celebrate their Christian faith. The baby symbolizes luck and prosperity to whoever finds it.

King cakes come in various flavors, but traditionally, the king cake is a cinnamon-flavored dough covered in sweet green, gold, and purple sugar or icing. Over time, other flavors became just as popular. Two of the most popular flavors are the cream-cheese and our Praline king cake.

As Ruckman explains, "A typical New Orleans king cake is extremely similar to a large cinnamon roll, except the dough is braided and shaped into a circle. Basically, it has to have pastry, cinnamon, icing--powdered sugar frosting and lots of it, purple, green, and gold sugars, and the little plastic baby."