It's Friday before Mardi Gras. Time for New Orleans King Cake!

There are a variety of King Cake traditions throughout the world, but my only exprience with them was when I lived in New Orleans. I also got to try a slice in Mississippi once while on a road trip. We stopped at the Mississippi rest area welcome center (on the Louisiana border) and they were giving out free King Cake during Mardi Gras season. Yay for Mississippi's welcome center!

New Orleans King cake tradition dates back to the 18th century. Today you will find King Cakes all over New Orleans during Mardi Gras season - from bakeries and supermarkets to school parties, office parties, and parties at home with friends and family. They look like a large oval ring made of cinnamon dough that has been covered in sweet and colorful icing glazes (and/or sprinkles) in purple (representing justice), green (representing faith) and gold (representing power). These are the traditional Mardi Gras colors. The cakes are often braided, or, if they are not braided, they are stuffed with cream cheese or a variety of fillings.

New Orleans King Cakes typically have a little plastic baby inside (the size of a trinket from a gumball machine). It's always fun to see who gets the baby. Finding the baby means that that you will have good luck for the day (some say that you are king or queen for the day). At office parties if you find the baby in your slice, that means you are designated the next person to bring a King Cake to the next office party.

Many Louisiana bakeries bake King Cakes. The bakery in this video is Meche's Donut King in Lafayette. I've never tasted a slice of their King Cake, but from what I have read online, people love it. Thank you to theadvertiser for uploading this yummy video to youtube.