a document of days

I am very surprised that many folks up north are not familiar with the King Cake. After living in New Orleans, the cake is an annual staple not to be missed... but had I not wandered south, it's likely that I, too, wouldn't know much about the tradition.

A brief primer:

Borrowing a Spanish custom (which some say 16th century France adopted as well), the Creoles served King Cake at balls held on the sixth of January (the Epiphany). Baked inside each cake, was a small object, usually a ring or a bean. The person who got the lucky slice containing the ring or the bean became king or queen of the ball. With their chosen partner, the two would reign as monarchs of the party, and would be responsible for hosting the next ball.

In New Orleans today, King Cake parties are held throughout the Mardi Gras season. Small plastic babies have replaced the more traditional ring or bean. The search for the baby adds excitement, as each person waits to see in whose slice of cake the baby will be discovered.

While custom holds that the person who finds the baby in their slice will be rewarded with good luck, that person is also traditionally responsible for bringing the King Cake to the next party or gathering.

Everything old is new again in the world of King Cakes. While the traditional Creole King Cakes are made from twisted strands of cinnamon dough, topped with icing, and sprinkled with purple, green, and gold colored sugar, in recent years, French bakeries in the New Orleans area have begun selling cakes like the ones made in France: made from a brioche dough and containing an almond paste filling. It looks different but tastes wonderful.

--History of King Cake adapted from WWLTV and www.holidays.net/mardigras/cake