king cake

noun

plural king cakes

: a sweet ring-shaped cake traditionally with a symbolic bean or figurine of the infant Jesus inside that is served from the Epiphany to Shrove Tuesday

Of course, no one does king cake quite like New Orleans. It's decorated in the colors of Mardi Gras—purple (to represent justice), green (faith) and gold (power)—as chosen by one of the city's first Mardi Gras organizations, or krewes. A token or trinket—usually a plastic baby symbolizing the infant Jesus—is hidden inside. Whoever finds the baby may be crowned king or queen of the party; more important, that person is responsible for bringing the cake to the next gathering.

—Noelle Carter

Examples of king cake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To observe this day in culinary fashion, the French partake in a flaky dessert called Galette des Rois (king cake), a cake layered with frangipane and sold with a paper crown, according to France24. —Chad De Guzman, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024

New Orleans, also known as the Big Easy, takes the celebrations seriously, with traditions including king cake and parades beginning in January and continuing in the weeks before the actual holiday. —Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2024

Normally king cakes are consumed at midnight on New Year's, although some cultures eat the treat on Christmas or on Jan. 6 in honor of the Epiphany. —Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 5 Jan. 2024

Tiny Pies Tiny Pies is selling 4 inch king cakes for $5.95. —Kelsey Bradshaw, Austin American-Statesman, 7 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1741, in the meaning defined above