{"id":53665,"date":"2018-01-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-09-09T00:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/origin-www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/traditional-new-orleans-king-cake\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T03:58:19","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T08:58:19","slug":"traditional-new-orleans-king-cake","status":"publish","type":"recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/traditional-new-orleans-king-cake\/","title":{"rendered":"King Cake Recipe"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you think of Mardi Gras, you probably think of New Orleans parades, Bourbon Street and revelers tossing strands of colorful beads into the air. You may see fun New Orleans-inspired recipes<\/a> all over the internet. But there are traditional Mardi Gras recipes<\/a>, too\u2014including king cake. We explain exactly what king cake is, why people hide a toy baby in it and how to make it yourself for a festive treat.<\/p>\n

What is king cake?<\/h2>\n

King cake\u2014also known as three kings cake or galette des rois,<\/em> in French\u2014is a sweet bread pastry that’s part of Mardi Gras celebrations across the country. It’s coated in thick frosting and decorated with colorful sugar sprinkles<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The king cake tradition originated centuries ago in areas such as France and Spain, where wreath-shaped cakes were eaten on King’s Day (January 6) to honor the three kings in the nativity story. When European immigrants made their way to America, they brought along the recipe\u2014though the cakes back then were much simpler than the elaborate green, yellow and purple ones you’ll find in New Orleans’ French Quarter today.<\/p>\n

Why is there a baby in king cake?<\/h2>\n

\"Homemadebhofack2\/Getty Images<\/span><\/span>
\nSaid to symbolize baby Jesus, the toy baby represents good luck in the coming year. Traditionally, there’s only one hidden inside the cake\u2014whoever finds it is dubbed king or queen for the evening. Along with bragging rights, king-cake royalty means you’re in charge of buying or making the cake for the next year’s Fat Tuesday celebration<\/a>.
\nThe 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. It was usually a fava bean, but sometimes a pecan or even a gold ring! Whoever found the bean would be named the king or queen of the ball.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to the 1940s, when a traveling salesman happened to have a surplus of porcelain babies. While in New Orleans, he approached McKenzie’s Bakery\u2014the most successful commercial bakery in the city at the time\u2014and suggested hiding the toy babies in king cake. The idea stuck, although they eventually switched to plastic toy babies.<\/p>\n

King Cake Ingredients<\/h2>\n

Cake:<\/strong><\/p>\n