King Cake

Submitted by Planet Joan February 16th, 2013
Certifikitsch Winner

A King Cake is a Brioche style pastry covered with poured sugar, decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras colored sugars, with a plastic baby baked into the cake.To find a baby baked into the cake is a sign of good luck, and is customary for the person who discovers the hidden plastic baby to host the next King Cake Party. I’m not sure why this plastic baby is on top instead of inside, maybe avoiding a possible choking hazard. It is clear I found the baby as soon as I bought this cake (and the last two we have eaten this Mardi Gras season), so I will gladly host the next King Cake Party.

2 Responses to “King Cake”

  1. Allee Willis

    I got hand it to the Mardi Gras. It certainly has its traditions down. More so than any parade or holiday on the planet. From costumes to cakes it’s got it all. I never made it to one and if I weren’t such a bad and lazy traveler I would. One day….

    Someone sent me one of these king cakes a couple years ago. I couldn’t stand to open the package because it was so pretty and me being into packaging as much as contents. But I gave in after a couple days. I wasn’t much for the taste but again, I love the tradition so I was all into it nonetheless.

    I WAS one of those people who almost swallowed the baby but coughed it up just in time. I love those plastic babies so just added it to my collection of about 1000 of them.

    I’ve seen them sold in packages like this but I would imagine a lot of people make them by hand and make it gigantic, right?

  2. BRBill

    ….and i finished my last piece of King Cake yesterday, arrgghh. Now i have to wait another almost year. The babies are placed on the outside of the cake to avoid the choking hazard(it’s that darn liability thing) as some folks may not know they are baked into the cake. These are placed outside so the host/hostess can place it whereever they so wish. Most cake boxes like this one have a warning on the outside also.
    Soon come on this years Mardi Gras adventures, three parades worth, so stay tuned….