King cakes are an old Mardi Gras tradition. They were brought to New Orleans from France around the year 1870. In France they originated around the 1100’s. King cakes represent the three kings who visited Jesus on Epiphany.

Some people describe king cakes as cinnamon rolls twisted in an oval. Others describe them as a cross between coffee cakes and a French pastry and circular, braided coffee cinnamon rolls. Most king cakes are covered with white icing and sprinkled with sugar dyed gold, green, and purple. King cakes are 12 to 24 inches in diameter.

Hidden inside king cakes are small plastic babies. The plastic babies are pink and around 3/4 of an inch long. In the past gold coins, beans, pecans, and peas were hidden inside king cakes. The baby represents the day that Infant Jesus first showed himself to the world. If you get the baby in your piece of king cake you are supposed to buy the next king cake and host the next party! Some bakeries used to put porcelain babies inside, but during World War II bakeries started using plastic instead.