Image via Wikipedia

Here in the United States the king cake is popular during the Carnival or Mardi Gras season ranging from Florida to Texas most often New Orleans. Louisiana style king cakes are usually a cinnamon roll type dough topped with sugary icing the colors of purple, green, and gold. Inside the cake is placed a small plastic baby. The baby represents Jesus. It is tradition here that whoever gets the piece of cake with the baby inside will be up to purchase the next cake or next king cake party. In other parts of the world king cakes are popular during the Christmas season in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, and Catalonia. The king cake gets it’s name from the Biblical Kings. The king cakes were brought to the New Orleans area from France and Spain. King cake parties in New Orleans date back to the eighteenth century. Our popular bakeries here in New Orleans such as Gambino’s and Randazzo’s have their own special and original recipes. Due to the choking hazard, bakeries leave the baby visable and not hidden in the cake. The French king cake differs from what we serve here in New Orleans. The cake has flakey pastry layers, and in the center frangipane.  That is a filling made from almonds. Here in Louisiana people have king cake parties in their homes, especially those along the parade routes. Also king cake parties are often held in school and at the workplace. King cakes are known in different parts of the world and hold a special meaning for those who celebrate with the king cake.