King cake

A king cake is a special cake that many people enjoy during the time after Christmas, especially around a celebration called Epiphany or the Twelfth Night. This cake is often made from a sweet type of bread called brioche. Inside the cake, there is usually a small hidden toy or figurine called a fève, which means 'fava bean' in another language.

When the cake is cut up and shared, the person who finds the hidden fève in their piece gets a special prize. This tradition is fun and adds excitement to the holiday season. King cakes are enjoyed in many countries and are a tasty way to celebrate together.

History

See also: Vasilopita § Origins

The king cake has a long history. Some people believe it started from Roman festivals called Saturnalia, which celebrated the return of longer days after winter. Others think it comes from older traditions linked to the Saturnalia and Kronia.

During the Middle Ages, the person who found the special item in the cake had to treat everyone to drinks. To make sure no one cheated, the item changed from an edible bean to a porcelain bean. In Christian traditions, the cake honors the story of the "Three Kings".

The first known mention of a king cake in North America was in 1649. A French settler in Acadia, now Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, had to give a special cake with a black bean inside to their lord each year.

In the United States, the king cake became popular during Mardi Gras in the 20th century. Today, these cakes are often decorated with gold, purple, and green sprinkles. While older versions were simple, bakers now create cakes with many different fillings to stand out.

Regional variants

French-speaking countries and regions

There are two types of French king cakes: the galette and the gâteau. The galette des rois is made with flaky puff pastry and usually filled with frangipane, though today it can also have fruit, chocolate, or cream. Pastry chefs often create new versions with special ingredients.

The gâteau des rois is popular in southern France and is made from a crown-shaped brioche dough, decorated with candied fruit and sugar.

In French Guiana, there is a special type called the Creole galette, eaten during Epiphany and Carnival. It can be served with cream, coconut, guava, and more.

A paper crown comes with these cakes for the person who finds the hidden "fève" or bean inside. The youngest person sits under the table and calls out names as each slice is given out.

German-speaking countries

In Germany and Switzerland, the Dreikönigskuchen or three kings cake is shaped like a wreath and uses an almond as the hidden prize.

Portugal

In Portugal, the Bolo-rei is a traditional cake eaten from December until Epiphany. It has a round shape with a hole in the middle, like a crown, and is covered with dried fruit. The cake contains a dried fava bean, and the person who finds it must pay for next year’s cake.

Roscón de reyes

In Spain and Latin America, people enjoy the roscón de reyes around January 6th. These cakes are usually oval and decorated with figs, quinces, cherries, or candied fruits.

In Spain, the cake is made from sweet brioche dough with orange blossom water and filled with cream or almond paste. A figurine of one of the Three Wise Men is hidden inside, along with a dry broad bean. The person who finds the bean pays for the cake.

In Mexico and other parts of Latin America, the hidden figurine represents the Child Jesus. The person who finds it is blessed and must take the figurine to a church or host a party.

United Kingdom

In the past, the United Kingdom had a Twelfth Night cake with a bean and a pea inside. The person who found the bean became "King" for the night, and the one who found the pea became "Queen." This tradition was recorded by Samuel Pepys in 1660.

United States

In Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast, king cake is linked to Mardi Gras and is eaten from Epiphany until Carnival. It may have been brought there by French or Basque settlers.

The simplest kind is a ring of twisted cinnamon roll dough, sometimes topped with colored icing to show the Mardi Gras colors: purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. Fillings can include cream cheese, praline, cinnamon, or fruit.

Traditionally, a small plastic baby figure is hidden in the cake, bringing luck to the person who finds it. That person then buys next year’s cake or hosts the next Mardi Gras party. Sometimes the baby is placed outside the cake to avoid any safety issues.

The New Orleans Pelicans basketball team introduced the King Cake Baby as a seasonal mascot. The New Orleans Baby Cakes baseball team also used this name before moving to become the Wichita Wind Surge.