Variety of KingCakes – Icings, Decorations, Flavors and More.

Feb 12
09:38

2010

Adele Tiblier

Adele Tiblier

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There are endless possibilities in flavor, decoration, and icings for King Cake’s. Check out the wide variety including traditional cinnamon, filled, holiday cakes, special occasion cakes, and so many others throughout its deep history.

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Everyone has a favorite king cake; Bavarian cream filled,Variety of KingCakes – Icings, Decorations, Flavors and More.  Articles regular cinnamon, Apple?  Authentic New Orleans bakeries have created memorable trademarks in the icing, decorations, color, etc.. of their kingcakes; each with their own unique touch.

King cakes were brought to the New Orleans area by colonist from France and Spain back in the eighteenth century. The original kingcakes were called “La galette des Rois” by the French, and “La Rosca de Reyes” by the Spanish. They similarly all carry the tradition of a “small trinket” hidden inside, but the actual cake varies dramatically. La Galette des Rois is made of puff pastry layers, and has a dense center of frangipane. The Spanish La Rosca de Reyes is made in an oval shape with dried or candied fruit for decoration, commonly using figs or cherries.

The King Cake has transformed from its traditional form to the new style we all know today.  They are made of twisted or braided bread, very similar to brioche.  The kingcakes are then topped with sugary icing and decorated purple, green, and gold. These colors are traditional carnival colors; Purple meaning Justice, Green for Faith, and Gold standing for Power; these colors were chosen by the Grand Duke Alexis Alexandrovitch Romanoff of Russia during a visit to New Orleans in 1872. 

Though the base of most New Orleans style kingcakes display the purple, green, and gold colors and are made of braided dough, but the rest is up to the bakery. Kingcake icings include Royal, chocolate, and the more traditional powdered sugar icing. Most kingcakes are then dusted with colored sugar crystals. Some stick only to the traditional carnival colors of purple, green, and gold, and others use a wider variety of sprinkles.

Another exciting surprise in this sweet treat includes the optional fillings. The most common fillings include; Bavarian Cream, Cream Cheese, Pecan, Praline, Cherry, Pineapple, Chocolate, Blueberry, Apple, Strawberry, Raspberry, and Lemon. Other than these scrumptious filings inside your kingcake, you will also find a small trinket. Throughout history, each cake was said to have a small trinket, or “baby” hidden inside.  A tradition from the Roman Empire placed a little bean inside; in 1870 this bean was replaced by a porcelain figurine and more recently a plastic “baby.” It was customarily said this bean, or figuring was to represent Baby Jesus.  And tradition declares whoever “gets the baby” or finds the figurine in their piece of kingcake has the obligation to bring the next cake, or host the next carnival celebration.

So go grab a kingcake and start celebrating this carnival season. Share with your family and friends at the next get together, students in class on Fridays, or even co-workers.  Sending kingcakes as corporate gifts transforms time consuming marketing hours into a hassle free, quick way to connect with your customers, clients and colleagues