This delicious "cake" is a cross between a coffee ring and a sweet bread. Through the years fillings have become varied and elaborate. But the colors decorating the cakes have remained the same - which are purple,green and gold(or yellow). Part of the King Cake tradition is to have a hidden treasure inside the cake . In the past, such things as coins, beans, pecans or peas were hidden inside each King Cake. Today a small plastic or ceramic baby is the common prize. At a party, the King Cake is sliced and served. Each person looks to see if their piece contains the "baby." If so, then that person is named "King" for a day and bound by custom to host the next party and provide the King Cake!
If you're not familar with King Cakes and would like to see a picture of what one looks like go to http://www.whatbayou.com/estorge.html - where Sherl Picchioni, co-owner of the Estorge House Bed and Breakfast, takes you through the process of making your own King Cake with a delicious cream cheese filling. The process is shown through photos on how to make this scrumptious dessert. There is an important note that this site makes a point of and states "traditionally, a ceramic or plastic "Baby" is added before rolling the cake, but consider safety factors for small children and be sure to inform anyone before eating the cake that they may find the Baby!" - please take this note seriously and inform your guests that there is something in the cake. When I worked in Kentucky at a bakery , and a customer would ask for a cake for Mardi Gras and to have a trinket put in the cake, my manager would have them sign a release form stating that the customer had asked for this to be done and that the bakery was not to be held responsible. Some bakeries make their King Cake without a treasure inside for obvious safety reasons. And I personally would not put a hidden object in a cake that was to be served to children. If you feel more comfortable not putting an object in the cake then don't put one in - some bakeries that ship their King Cakes don't put an object in the cake but have it packaged separately or don't put one in at all.
Go To Page: 1 2
