Street
king cake
What does king cake mean?
An oval braided cinnamon cake glazed with sugar in Mardi Gras colours — purple for justice, green for faith, gold for power. A tiny plastic baby is hidden inside; whoever gets the slice with the baby has to buy the next king cake. Eaten only between Twelfth Night (6 January) and Fat Tuesday.
"Karen got the baby again so she's on king cake duty Friday."
Origin
Brought to Louisiana by French settlers as the 'gâteau des rois' celebrating Epiphany. The plastic baby (originally a bean, then a porcelain figure) represents the Christ child.
Frequently asked questions
What is a king cake?
A king cake is a cinnamon ring cake with a small plastic baby hidden inside, eaten throughout the Carnival season.
How do you use king cake in a sentence?
For example: "Whoever gets the baby in the king cake buys the next one."
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