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Legend has it, if you eat or sell king cake before January 6, it will rain on Mardi Gras day and the Saints will lose. Southerners know not to mess with long-standing superstitions, which is why we've gathered the best king cakes in New Orleans that are certainly worth patiently waiting to enjoy. Martha Gilreath founded her Nolita king cakes pop-up a few Mardi Gras ago with delivery king cakes and opened her first bakery in Bayou St. John just in time for the start of the 2024 season. After one full king cake season at her standalone shop in the books, Gilreath's king cakes are solidified as one of the most popular in town. Here are 20+ New Orleans bakeries that are shipping king cakes for Mardi Gras Mardi Gras is Feb. 21 this year. BY CARLIE KOLLATH WELLS | Staff writer Here are more than 20 New Orleans bakeries 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. The cake originated in the Middle Ages, and France brought the king cake tradition to New Orleans in the 1870s. Since then, New Orleans' bakeries have created variations of this historic treat, filled with flavors like cream cheese, cinnamon, chocolate, pecan, and fruit. 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. Manny is a second generation baker learning his baking skills and the secret formula of the Randazzo Family's recipe for their famous king cakes from his Father, Manuel Randazzo Sr. In 1965 Manuel Sr., along with his father and brothers, opened the renowned Randazzo's HiLan Bakery in Chalmette, Louisiana. King cake is a New Orleans tradition that involves sweet cinnamon dough, 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. Sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sugar, or decorate with whole pecans and candied cherries. Carnival is rolling, meaning the king cake is everywhere. Until Mardi Gras, we're sampling far and wide around the king cake realm. Here's today's cake: King cake commands compulsive attention in It's the most magnificent time of the year in New Orleans: king cake season. What's happening: King cakes are sold seasonally between Jan. 6 and Mardi Gras, which is Feb. 13 this year. Zoom in: While the traditional cinnamon pastry is common, more unusual options are popping up like bacon/marshmallow, Vietnamese coffee and crawfish. Mardi Gras in New Orleans In the heart of New Orleans, where jazz notes linger and the aroma of delectable treats fills the air, King Cakes stand as symbols of joy, unity, and indulgence. These oval-shaped wonders, adorned in royal hues of purple, green, and gold, carry profound significance, symbolizing justice, growth, prosperity, and wealth To make the cake, heat milk in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and whisk in the granulated sugar, yeast, and a heaping tablespoon of the flour, mixing until both the sugar and the yeast have dissolved. A festive brioche crown adorned with vibrant sugars and hiding a lucky surprise - the Mardi Gras King Cake transforms a rich, sweet dough into a celebration of New Orleans tradition. This homemade version captures all the joy and symbolism of the carnival season while delivering a tender, flavorful treat that surpasses any store-bought variety. 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. The tradition of hiding objects in the cake dates back to the 19th century, when king cake had become a staple dessert at Mardi Gras celebrations, including the annual balls in New Orleans. Bakers began to hide objects inside the cake. Recipe Ingredients for King Cake. 1 cup lukewarm milk, about 110 degrees . 1/2 cup granulated sugar. 2 tablespoons dry yeast. 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour If you can't get to Louisiana for Mardi Gras this year, making a homemade king cake is the next best thing. Katie Rosenhouse is a pastry chef and food writer with over 15 years of experience in the culinary arts. She's worked as a pastry chef in some of the finest restaurants in New York City, as a The 2025 King Cake season starts on Twelfth Night or Epiphany January 6th through Mardi Gras March 4th, 2025. Annual Tradition A taste of Mardi Gras shipped nationwide. We're renowned across the United States for delivering the finest King Cakes right to your doorstep! 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 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.
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