What Is A King Cake? In two words—sensory overload. But more specifically, it's a frosted seasonal treat that Mardi Gras partygoers eat between January 6 (otherwise known as Epiphany, Three King's Day, or Twelfth Night, and Fat Tuesday), which is the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Typically, king cake is made of a rich King cakes are most popular in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region, but they can also be found in other areas where Mardi Gras is celebrated. Why Can't You Eat King Cake Before Jan. 6? Whether at the workplace, school or home - king cake is a gift that keeps on giving throughout the Mardi Gras season. When do you eat king cake? King cake is indeed a heavenly treat for New Orleanians when it appears in supermarkets and bakeries between early January and Ash Wednesday. NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans is a city strong on traditions, and few inspire as much passion as the king cakes of Mardi Gras season. Do you eat Haydel’s, Gambino’s or Randazzo’s? Fillings and The cake made its way to the United States in the 1870s when the French brought it to Louisiana. Since then, the king cake has become synonymous with “Mardi Gras” and “Fat Tuesday.” When Do You Eat King Cake? King cake is not available year-round. In fact, you can only get your hands on this cake during January, before “Ash Wednesday.” Recipes for king cakes are usually taken out and dusted off before the Christian holiday of Epiphany (aka Three Kings) and they are made continually until Fat Tuesday, which we all know as Mardi Gras, per Today. That season began on Jan. 6 and it ends on Feb. 16, this year. Can you eat king cake outside of Mardi Gras season? 8 7. Can you make a king cake at home? 9 8. What are some alternatives to a traditional king cake? 10 9. Are there any regional variations of king cake? 11 10. Are king cakes only popular in the United States? 12 11. Is it necessary to follow all the customs associated with king cake? 13 12 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 However, you can still find king cake at many local bakeries before the official start of the Mardi Gras season. Brendon Oldendorf cuts into a Caluda's Oreo king cake with his family, at their You may not be able to get to New Orleans in the time between Epiphany and Mardi Gras, but if you still want to celebrate, there’s a sweet tradition you can eat anywhere: king cake.. While king History Of Mardi Gras King Cake & Recipe Tips. This is some fun Mardi Gras king cake history for kids before they make the kids king cake! What is a Mardi Gras King cake? A Mardi Gras King Cake is a sweet, round pastry, shaped like a circle with a hole in the middle (like a crown). When to Eat King Cake. King Cake is traditionally eaten during the Carnival season. It is typically enjoyed on Epiphany (January 6th) through Mardi Gras Day (the day before Ash Wednesday). It's the magical season of Mardi Gras! The New Orleans carnival season is a time of music, masquerades, unlimited beads and flowing booze. King cake and indulgent treats are plentiful in the days King cake season winds down around February 28th, the last day of the month, because that is when Mardi Gras ends. This is also why king cakes are colored green, purple, and gold: to symbolize the colors of Mardi Gras. However, king cakes in New Orleans tend to start disappearing around Fat Tuesday. For those who follow the convention, January King cake can be enjoyed throughout the Mardi Gras season (Epiphany to Fat Tuesday), but more commonly enjoyed on the day of Mardi Gras — which is an official holiday in Louisiana. 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! 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. Last year for Fat Tuesday (aka Mardi Gras), I decided to make a fun treat for my family. A mini king cake! Mardi Gras is traditionally the last day to party it up before the season of Lent begins (for 2025 Mardi Gras is March 4!). Many people celebrate Mardi Gras with a King Cake, which is a cinnamon pastry-like cake that hides a baby inside. One rule is that you must eat the cake within the designated King Cake season, which runs from Twelfth Night or Epiphany through Mardi Gras, which is the Wednesday after Fat Tuesday. If you eat the cake outside of that time-frame, keep it to yourself. Another rule is that you mustn't let the cake get stale. Eat it while it's good or hang your These colors are very important. They make the cake special for Mardi Gras. Inside each King Cake, there is a small plastic baby. The person who finds the baby has good luck. They also must bring the next King Cake. This tradition makes eating the cake fun. It brings people together. Sharing a King Cake is a big part of Mardi Gras.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |