Mardi Gras (a.k.a., Fat Tuesday) falls each year on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday at the start of Lent. Traditionally, as part of that celebratory carnival, colorful king cakes are served at parties and gatherings. King cakes, either purchased or homemade, also tend to contain one customary ingredient—a tiny plastic king cake baby. The cake was used to honor the biblical three kings, whose journey to Bethlehem to greet the baby Jesus took 12 days (hence the 12 days of Christmas). The cake was served at celebrations during The presence of the baby is most commonly associated with the New Orleans-style King Cake, which is heavily influenced by the city’s vibrant Mardi Gras celebrations. If you are purchasing a King Cake from a bakery, it’s a good idea to inquire whether the cake includes a baby or any other figurine. To hide the point of entry, the figurine gets inserted through the soft bottom of the cake, and happily, a 30-pack of plastic mini babies by the Shaoqinlin brand runs for $8.88 on Amazon — that The name king cake is derived from the Three Wise Men in the Bible, who came bearing gifts for Baby Jesus on the Twelfth Night. 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 And wait till you hear the ingredient list: 4,000 pounds of Danish flour, 286 pounds of yeast, 428 dozen eggs, 1,178 pounds of water, 8.925 gallons of flavoring, 2,087 pounds of icing, 331 pounds So, what is a king cake? The name “king cake” comes from the Biblical story of the three kings who bring gifts to Baby Jesus. A blend of coffee cake and cinnamon roll, king cake is usually iced in yellow, green and purple – the colors of Mardi Gras -- and is frequently packed with fruit fillings and decadent cream cheeses. The plastic baby is meant to symbolize baby Jesus. Whoever finds the baby — or whatever hidden item is baked or embedded in the cake — in their slice is crowned “king” for the day. The symbolic bean or baby baked (or embedded) into the king cake is important to Mardi Gras celebrations because the person who gets the piece containing the baby must host the next year’s The cakes are made with a rich dough, filled with various treats, and decorated with the Mardi Gras colors of gold, green, and purple. While shipped cakes are available from New Orleans bakeries, several grocery stores in the Augusta area also stock pre-made king cakes. When Mardi Gras rolls around each year, it’s also time for a king cake. Bake both rings in the preheated oven in the upper and lower thirds until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean, or when a thermometer inserted into the center of the dough reads 190 F, about 25 minutes, rotating sheet trays 180 degrees and top to bottom, halfway through baking to ensure even browning. Mardi Gras King Cake Babies Bulk: Package includes 12pcs or 48pcs king cake babies in gold, green and purple three different colors, enough quantity for mardi gras party. Mini King Cake Babies Size: The mini plastic babies meature 3.1 x 1.7cm/ 1.2 x 0.67inch, proper size fit perfectly in the ice cube tray, ideal for my water broke baby shower Don’t be alarmed, this king cake baby isn’t a mistake – it’s actually one of the elements of the Mardi Gras king cake that has religious symbolism, as it represents the baby Jesus. Keep reading to learn more about king cakes, including what they look like, the Mardi Gras king cake traditions that are practiced today and more religious Mardi Gras King Cake Tradition . The king cake tradition dates back hundreds of years and was originally made to celebrate Epiphany or Three Kings Day. Baking a tiny plastic baby into a king cake wasn’t common practice until the 1800s. The King Cake is an iconic symbol of Mardi Gras, a tradition deeply rooted in culture, religion, and celebration. Finding the baby in your slice of cake means more than just a lucky bite; it – Three Men and a Baby: A Brief History of King Cakes . I hesitated to make this cake at home this Mardi Gras. King Cakes are absolutely everywhere in New Orleans and really there’s no need to make one at home. That would be like visiting Paris and staying indoors to make your own croissants. I’m also very new to New Orleans. Baby figure popularly used in Louisiana (U.S.) king cake. In Louisiana and parts of the Gulf Coast region historically settled by the French, king cake is associated with Mardi Gras and is traditionally served from Epiphany until Carnival [34] and recently year-round. [35] It may have been introduced by Basque settlers in 1718, [36] or by the To prepare cakes, line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Turn dough onto a greased surface and divide in half. Roll one half into a 4-5″-24″ rectangle. 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! The tradition of the baby in the king cake lives on Mardi Gras king cake with beads and baby figurine - Lynne Mitchell/Getty Images. The city of New Orleans is famed throughout the world for its unique history and local culture, renowned culinary
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