What type of cake is traditionally eaten during Mardi Gras season?

“What type of cake is traditionally eaten during Mardi Gras season?” — “King cake.” In Louisiana and other parts of the Gulf Coast, king cake is closely associated with the Carnival season, especially the weeks between Epiphany and Mardi Gras.

The cake has older connections to Epiphany, or Three Kings’ Day, which commemorates the biblical Magi. Traditional versions are often made from sweet brioche-like dough and shaped as a ring or oval. Modern American versions may contain cinnamon, cream cheese, praline, fruit, or other fillings, and are commonly decorated in purple, green, and gold.

One of the cake’s defining customs is the hidden fève, traditionally a bean and now often a small plastic or porcelain baby representing Jesus. The person who finds it is associated with luck and prosperity and may be expected to buy the next cake, host a party, or serve as the celebration’s “king” or “queen.”

Paczki and beignets are also linked with pre-Lenten celebrations, but they are different foods. A paczki is a filled Polish doughnut, while a beignet is a fried square of dough.