History

King cake came to New Orleans via French and Spanish Catholic tradition of celebrating Epiphany (Twelfth Night, January 6) with a galette des rois. The Mardi Gras colours of purple (justice), green (faith) and gold (power) were chosen in 1872 by the Krewe of Rex. The plastic baby inside (representing the Christ Child) was added by McKenzie's Bakery in 1937 to lift the dish. Modern New Orleans now has two giants: traditional cinnamon-braided king cakes from Haydel's, Randazzo's and Manny Randazzo, and a Vietnamese-American king cake from Dong Phuong Bakery in New Orleans East, which won a James Beard award and triggers two-hour lines through Carnival. Bywater Bakery and Brennan's Royal Street do chef-driven versions. The season runs January 6 through Mardi Gras (February 17, 2026).

Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy, Egg

Make it at home

Yield Serves 12Hands-on 45 minTotal 4 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 550g all-purpose flour
  • 100g caster sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast
  • 180ml whole milk, warmed
  • 3 large eggs
  • 100g unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 100g brown sugar (for filling)
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon (for filling)
  • 60g unsalted butter, melted (for filling)
  • 250g powdered sugar (for glaze)
  • 60ml milk (for glaze)
  • Purple, green and gold sanding sugar (for decoration)
  • 1 small plastic baby figurine

Method

  1. Whisk flour, sugar, salt and yeast in a bowl. Make a well; add milk, eggs and softened butter. Mix to a soft dough, knead 8 minutes.
  2. Cover and rest 90 minutes until doubled.
  3. Mix brown sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon. Roll dough into a 40cm by 25cm rectangle. Brush with melted butter, sprinkle the cinnamon sugar. Roll up tightly along the long side.
  4. Form a ring by joining the ends, pinching to seal. Transfer to a parchment-lined tray. Rest 45 minutes.
  5. Heat oven to 175C (350F). Bake 28 to 32 minutes until deep gold. Cool fully.
  6. Whisk powdered sugar and milk to a thick glaze. Drizzle over the cake. Sprinkle the sanding sugars in three bands: purple, green, gold. Push the plastic baby into the underside of the cake.

Tip from the editors. The baby goes in from the underside after baking, not before. Baking the plastic baby risks melting and tradition (per New Orleans bakery practice) inserts after.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat king cake

King cake in New Orleans

Dong Phuong Oriental Bakery ★ 4.8

Tue to Sun 06:00 to 17:00, closed MondayWalk-in onlyVietnamese pastry and king cake

Dong Phuong in New Orleans is the James Beard America's Classics Vietnamese bakery on Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans East, with the city's most-demanded Mardi Gras king cake.

Tip: King cake sales run January 6 to Ash Wednesday only; lines form before opening on weekends.

Worth the queue: King cake (Mardi Gras season)

14207 Chef Menteur Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70129

Bywater Bakery ★ 4.4

Bakery cafe brunch$10 to $20Tue to Sun 07:00 to 15:00Walk-in only

Bywater Bakery in New Orleans is the corner cafe on Dauphine Street in Bywater, with king cakes through Mardi Gras, breakfast plates and the Chantilly cream cake year-round.

Order: Chantilly cream cake and a breakfast plate.

Tip: King cakes are seasonal between Twelfth Night and Mardi Gras; the chantilly slice is year-round.

3624 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70117

Haydel's Bakery ★ 4.4

Mon to Sat 06:30 to 17:30, Sun 06:30 to 14:00Walk-in onlyKing cake and Mardi Gras pastry

Haydel's Bakery just outside New Orleans on Jefferson Highway is the family-run king cake institution since 1959, with traditional cinnamon-braided king cakes shipped nationwide.

Tip: Order online for nationwide shipping in Carnival season; the original Jefferson store also stocks daily.

Worth the queue: Traditional king cake

4037 Jefferson Hwy, Jefferson, LA 70121

More cities are in research. Want king cake covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

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