King Cake

Making a special cake for Mardi Gras is popular in New Orleans…and rumor has it that there just might be a King Cake after worship this Sunday!

The History of King Cakes

Epiphany, celebrated in European countries, marks the coming of the wise men who brought gifts to the Christ Child. Epiphany is celebrated twelve nights after Christmas. People from all over the world celebrate Epiphany by exchanging gifts and feasting. A very popular custom that is still celebrated is the making of the ‘King’s Cake’ which represents the three kings who brought gifts. In France, the Epiphany cake is called ‘Galette des Rois’ and whoever finds the bean baked inside it is made King with a paper crown supplied with the cake.

In New Orleans, a plastic baby is baked inside the King Cake and the tradition is that whoever receives the baby in their piece of cake must buy the next King Cake or throw the next party. King Cakes are made of a cinnamon-filled dough in the shape of a hollow circle. The cake is topped with a delicious glazed topping and then sprinkled with coloured sugar. The three colours of the sugar are Purple (representing Justice), Green (representing Faith) and Gold (representing Power). Today the King Cakes are baked with a wide assortment of fillings. King Cake is the preferred dessert and snack in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Hundreds of thousands are eaten there during the Carnival Season.