What is King Cake?

What is King Cake! I have learned that King Cake is not a cake made just for kings. Its actually a part of religious tradition pertaining to Mardi Gras.

First of all I did not know that Mardi Gras was based on religious tradition, I thought it was just a time to have a big party. Mardi Grad is a celebration of Christ. The Mardi Gras season begins on January 6th, the 12th day after Christmas, it  always happens 47 days before Easter and Fat Tuesday always comes the day before Ash Wednesday.

Where does Kings Cake come into the picture. Kings Cake was a cake made in honor of the three kings that came to see baby Jesus. The cake represents the gifts brought to the new born king.

Originally, King Cakes were a simple ring of dough with a small amount of decoration. Now King Cakes are much more festive. After the rich Danish dough is braided and baked, the "baby" is inserted. The top of the ring or oval cake is then covered with delicious sugar toppings in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold.

In 1972 a bakery in Mississippi started adding fillings such as  cream cheese and fruit fillings.

Inserting a 'baby" you ask? In history people would bake into the cake a porcelain baby or one made of gold. Today the babies are usually plastic. The baby represents baby Jesus. Tradition says that if you get the slice of cake with the baby it is job to carry on tradition. Meaning the next year you make the cake!

You learn something new everyday! Happy Fat Tuesday!

P.S. Something else you may not know the first American celebration of Mardi Gras started in Mobile, Alabama, not New Orleans.