How to Make the Ultimate King Cake for Mardi Gras (and More Mardi Gras Recipes!) (2024)

FAQs

What is the flavor of the Mardi Gras king cake? ›

A blend of coffee cake and cinnamon roll, king cake is usually iced in yellow, green and purple – the colors of Mardi Gras -- and is frequently packed with fruit fillings and decadent cream cheeses. Hidden within these season sweets also lie a special surprise: a plastic king cake baby to continue the fun.

The popular custom of baking a special cake in honor of the three kings started in France, approximately 300 years ago. The French-style almond puff pastry, Galette des Rois, is traditionally filled with a bean rather than a plastic baby.

Every king cake contains a trinket — often a small figurine in the shape of a baby — which plays a crucial part in the celebration of the holiday that inspired this pastry. Whomever finds the trinket in their slice of cake gets to be the “king” for a day.

The king cake is a mixture of a French pastry and a coffee cake. Its oval shape and festive colors give it a unique appeal. The original version features the royal colors of gold, purple, and green. Gold represents power, purple represents justice, and green signifies faith.

1) Cream Cheese

Cream cheese has been a popular king cake filling since most people can remember, and it still holds up as one of the top choices enjoyed by Mardi Gras revelers today.

As a symbol of the Epiphany, a tiny trinket (like a plastic baby or bean) is hidden inside each King Cake. Each person looks to see if their slice of cake contains the “baby.” If so, that person is the “King” for a day. The King will also host the next party and provide the next King Cake!

One of the key differences between Rosca de Reyes and a traditional King Cake is the type of pastry used. Rosca de Reyes is made with a sweet, buttery dough that is similar to brioche, while King Cake is made with a denser, richer dough that is more similar to a pastry.

When a king cake is served at a Mardi Gras celebration, everyone wants to know who was served the slice with the king cake baby—but what does it mean if you find one? Tradition dictates that finding the baby in your cake symbolizes luck and prosperity. As such, the finder becomes the “king” or “queen” of the evening.

Classic King Cakes

Manny Randazzo's King Cakes — Boasted by locals far and wide as the best king cake in the state, Randazzo's is a Metairie-based bakery dedicated to king cakes and only king cakes.

What country celebrates Mardi Gras the most? ›

The Brazilian edition of Mardi Gras is the world's largest carnival. A whopping two million people pour into the streets of Rio de Janeiro each year for a major blowout. It comes complete with feathered showgirls, thumping sound systems and sensational samba choreography.

The colors of the icing (and the royal colors of Mardi Gras) have a deeper meaning. Gold represents power, green is associated with faith, and purple illustrates justice. King Cake is a frosted seasonal treat usually eaten between January 6, known as King's Day or Twelfth Night, and Fat Tuesday.

King cakes come in various flavors, but traditionally, the king cake is a cinnamon-flavored dough covered in sweet green, gold, and purple sugar or icing.

Bakers in Houma and Thibodaux say the rising cost of eggs and other ingredients has made it tough to keep king cake prices affordable this Mardi Gras season. Shantelle Danos, owner of The Willow Cafe in Thibodaux, said a typical order for the bakery includes about 15 dozen eggs.

But tradition has a way of broadening itself. Now instead of just getting the traditional cinnamon king cake, you can get your king cake filled with various fillings: Cream Cheese, Apple, Strawberry, Lemon, and if you dare, Pecan Praline or Royal (cream cheese, apple, strawberry & lemon quartered off in sections).

Folgers^® Mardi Gras Blend is a flavorful and rich medium-dark roast coffee with a cocoa and caramel finish. It was crafted to honor the vibrant spirit of our hometown in collaboration with New Orleans artist Kelli Laderer. Brew a cup to taste the passion behind our coffee, proudly roasted in New Orleans.

As Ruckman explains, "A typical New Orleans king cake is extremely similar to a large cinnamon roll, except the dough is braided and shaped into a circle. Basically, it has to have pastry, cinnamon, icing--powdered sugar frosting and lots of it, purple, green, and gold sugars, and the little plastic baby."