For those who don’t know, Mardi Gras is a huge party with parades, masks, and plenty of fun that generally takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana. One such event wouldn’t be complete without great food, and king cake is an essential part of it.
What Is It?
A king cake is a cake shaped like a wreath that resembles a Danish pastry and is traditionally made of brioche. It’s flavored with cinnamon and decorated with sugar colored in green, gold, and purple. These are the official Mardi Gras colors and they all have assigned meanings—gold for power, green for faith, and purple for justice. The cake is a symbol of the unity of these faiths.
Not Just For Mardi Gras
King cake is traditionally eaten during the carnival but you can get it all year long. The tradition of eating this cake comes from the holiday known as Three Kings Day, which falls on January 6th. The holiday celebrates three wise men who visited the baby Jesus, and if you’re wondering what represents the baby in this cake, it’s actually a bean that’s placed inside the cake.
