Carnival's Sweet Tooth

Hey friends,

My attempt at sharing Carnival season and Mardi Gras wouldn't be complete without an ode to king cake. What's that you say? Aren't king cakes just rings of cinnamony dough sprinkled with icing and colored sugar? True, they're usually not all that complicated but they. are. everywhere. And they're delicious. Even if you haven't had one before, you've likely seen one. Just in case you haven't, a quick Google image search will turn up an endless array of variations on this delectable treat. The version that's popular in New Orleans comes in an oval and is bread dough with swirls of cinnamon sugar. Add, on top, a layer of white icing and some purple, green and gold sprinkles and BAM! King cake. A quick disclaimer before I continue: as with any tradition, specific aspects and stories vary. The following is what I've learned either from conversations here or research on the internet (so take that for what you will).

First, some background info. Because yes, this is a dessert (or breakfast...or snack...) with a history. Just like Carnival, king cake season starts on Twelfth Night, and the cake traditionally celebrates the Wise Men following the star to lil baby Jesus. (Get it? Wise Men...We Three Kings...king cake!) If I'm not mistaken, that would also be why there's usually a plastic baby somewhere in the cake. Traditionally, said baby was a bean that had been baked into the cake. Sometimes that's still the case, and different figures can also be the lucky token. But more often than not, at least around here, it's the baby that's the thing to find. It's good luck, but watch out...it also means you're the one that has to bring the next cake. Which is convenient actually, as it perpetuates a neverending supply of tasty snacks. I swear, I've eaten more king cake in the past month than I have in the rest of my life combined. And I am so okay with that.

In true New Orleans fashion, just about any excuse to celebrate something is a good excuse. And when New Orleans embraces something, she goes all out. Not only are the usual suspects all over the place, but there are interpretations galore. There are the original king cakes, the filled ones, the miniature ones, king cake donuts...you name it. Walk into any grocery store and you're bound to find at least one large table stacked high with the things. Not to mention there is the neverending debate on which local bakery makes the best king cake in town.

Below you'll find a collection of some of my king cake experiences, and after that, the links from whence I got my supplemental info for this post. Because if there's anything that deserves more reading, it's dessert. T-minus 21 days until Mardi Gras!

Love, Allison.

A common grocery store sight.

One of the many cakes that have been in the office so far. This one's from Langenstein's.
 

King cake donut, courtesy of Krispy Kreme (there was even cinnamon in the dough!).
 

I found the recipe for these on Pinterest. The store only had green sprinkles, so I got a little creative.  You can find the recipe here, if you're interested.

Read about king cake on Wikipedia, the city's website, and this tourism page.