A ring-shaped braided brioche, glazed and sugared in purple, green and gold (the Mardi Gras colours), with a small plastic baby hidden inside. Whoever gets the baby buys the next cake.

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).

3 editor picks for King cake in New Orleans, ranked by editorial score. All New Orleans signature dishes · King cake across every city.