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

New Orleans takes Mardi Gras seriously, with traditions including king cake and parades beginning in January and lasting for weeks until the actual holiday itself. —Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025

Brenda's French Soul Food, a southern staple on Polk, is offering their yearly special for $5.75 a piece: A king cake beignet stuffed with a berry compote and vanilla cream cheese dusted in traditional Mardi Gras colors. —Nadia Lopez, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025

But her ambitious strategy calls for two distinct types of king cake. —Chelsea Brasted, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2025

Rosca de Reyes and other types of king cakes are often are enjoyed between Christmas and February-ish. —Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 5 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1741, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for king cake

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• eastlake
• forsake
• handshake
• headache