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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. 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. 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 Here now, an exploration of the history of this baked good, the traditions surrounding it, and a brief look at king cakes across the globe. In New Orleans, king cake and Mardi Gras go hand in The person also is expected to carry on the carnival festivities by hosting the next King Cake party. Embrace the tradition, enjoy your reign, and spread the joy of Mardi Gras! 2025 King Cake Season The 2025 King Cake season starts on Twelfth Night or Epiphany January 6th through Mardi Gras March 4th, 2025. King cakes are served on King’s Day (January 6) and last until the eve of Mardi Gras. This wondrous cake is said to have originated in Old World France and Spain. It became associated with Epiphany throughout the Middle Ages. New Orleans takes the cake. As Mardi Gras festivities expanded, king cake became more popular and began to take on slightly different personalities. In the 1940s, the king-cake craze took off. Much of the credit goes to the now-defunct McKenzie’s Pastry Shoppe, says Liz Williams, founder of New Orleans’s Southern Food and Beverage Museum. Mardi Gras celebrations call for a king cake, clad in green, purple, and gold sprinkles. Here's the history of the holiday food, from Europe to New Orleans. A 1999 article from The Times-Picayune stated that having king cakes throughout the Carnival season in New Orleans didn’t take off until 15 or 20 years prior — around the early 1980s — and Long before the Lord of Misrule reigned over the first pageant of the Twelfth Night Revelers in New Orleans, his ancient ancestor, the King of Saturnalia, set the precedent for a tradition that holds the key to understanding how a toothsome treat — king cake — became one of the most universal, and hungered for, symbols of Mardi Gras and New Orleans. The tradition dates back hundreds of years—and there’s an interesting story behind how the king cake baby made its way into the pastry. 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 The origins of King Cake: How the colorful, sweet treat became a Mardi Gras staple Published: Jan. 25, 2025, 6:00 a.m. King Cake is a popular treat typically served only during the Mardi Gras season. A 1999 article from The Times-Picayune stated that having king cakes throughout the Carnival season in New Orleans didn’t take off until 15 or 20 years prior — around the early 1980s — and New Orleans takes the cake. As Mardi Gras festivities expanded, king cake became more popular and began to take on slightly different personalities. In the 1940s, the king-cake craze took off. Much of the credit goes to the now-defunct McKenzie’s Pastry Shoppe, says Liz Williams, founder of New Orleans’s Southern Food and Beverage Museum. Origins of Mardi Gras and its Culinary Influence. Mardi Gras traces its origins back to ancient European celebrations, particularly in France and Italy, marking the beginning of Lent.
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