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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 Whoever found the bean or trinket in their slice of cake would be crowned the king or queen of the balls leading up to the lavish finale on Mardi Gras. In the 1940s, babies became a staple in the cakes when bakery owner Donald Entringer began placing porcelain varieties in the cakes until plastic ones became more widely available. Today's traditional king cake is a twisted ring of brioche-like cake covered in icing or sugar in the Mardi Gras colors of green, gold, and purple. Cajuns tend to take the cake to the next level A king cake is a type of cake that's associated with Mardi Gras, New Orleans, and parts of the Gulf Coast. It's a ring-shaped pastry that's usually covered in icing, then topped with yellow and purple edible glitter or sprinkles. The practice of making and serving king cakes actually dates back to the origins of Mardi Gras itself, which was first celebrated in America in 1699. Baking a baby into the cake wasn’t common practice until the 1800s. As the modern American Mardi Gras officially kicks off on January 6th, marking the Twelfth Night and the Epiphany, King Cakes extend their allure beyond Louisiana. This sweet treat is available for the duration of Carnival season which spans from January 6th until concluding on Mardi Gras day, which falls on February 13th this year. Mardi Gras and king cakes go hand in hand – especially in New Orleans where hundreds of thousands of king cakes are enjoyed at parties, offices and in homes every year. According to the Christian faith, Jesus first showed himself to the three wise men and to the world on January 6th, also known as Twelfth Night or the Epiphany. Key Ingredients for Mardi Gras King Cake . Don't let the long ingredient list fool you—the bulk of this celebratory cake is made up with pantry staples like butter, sugar, flour, egg yolks, and milk. Active dry yeast, a few special flavorings, powdered sugar, and sanding sugars round out the list. To make Mardi Gras king cake, you'll need: Decorating Mardi Gras king cakes at Dong Phuong Bakery & Restaurant in New Orleans. Photo by C. Ross for The Washington Post via Getty Images Elias Alvarado rolling out butter for a king cake at King cake is only eaten during the Carnival season — which begins 12 days after Christmas, on Epiphany, or Twelfth Night — and ends on Mardi Gras Day. Celebrate Epiphany or Mardi Gras (or any other day!) with a homemade king cake that’s as festive as it is delicious. This sweet, cinnamon sugar-filled bread ring is topped with a simple glaze and colorful sprinkles in purple, green, and gold. In New Orleans, king cake and Mardi Gras go hand in hand: The cakes can be found starting in early January and are available up until Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. Step 1 For the dough: In a medium bowl, stir together the yeast, water, and 2 teaspoons of the sugar. Let the mixture stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Step 2 In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the yeast mixture, milk, butter, eggs, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup of the sugar. What is King Cake and why is it eaten? King cake, a scrumptious sweet treat, becomes the main food event during Mardi Gras. Traditionally the King Cake is a cinnamon sugar filled dough twisted into a delightful ring that is topped with vibrant purple, green, and gold decorating sugars. The person who hosts the Mardi Gras party buys or makes the king cake, and since whoever finds the baby is said to be prosperous in the coming year, they take on the responsibility of providing the king cake for the next year. King cake is only eaten during the Carnival season — which begins 12 days after Christmas, on Epiphany, or Twelfth Night — and ends on Mardi Gras Day. A Mardi Gras tradition, now available all year long! Our one-of-a-kind King Cakes are hand-made and baked fresh every day so you can have another reason to celebrate! The sweet, Danish dough is mixed with cinnamon swirls for a flavor you will love. Make it even more special by adding one of our sweet fillings. Can I Make King Cake at Home? Yes! You can definitely start a tradition of making your own king cakes at home with your loved ones. Check out Sucre’s award-winning king cake recipe for inspiration this Mardi Gras season. Voted "A Favorite" by the Times-Picayune King Cake Contest and "BEST" King Cake by a Washington Post blind taste test. In Christian tradition the cake commemorates the witness of the "Three Kings". [9] [10] The tradition of the Mardi Gras king cake did not become established until the 20th-century, although the ubiquitous gold, purple and green sprinkles have been standard decoration since 1872. The cake is usually purchased at a shop. Baking a homemade king cake brings the joy and tradition of Mardi Gras right to your kitchen. While it’s called a "cake," king cake is actually a sweet, rich bread made from soft, brioche-like dough. This festive treat is filled with delicious flavors and captures the spirit of the season.
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