FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – King Cakes are a vibrant part of the Mardi Gras tradition in New Orleans, and Fresno, as well.
Bakeries like Eddie’s Bakery on Herndon and Cedar reported selling 50 king cakes on Tuesday, February 28th, according to Eddie’s employee, Sophia Meyer (photo above).
“A King’s Cake” is popular custom in honor of the wise men bearing gifts to the Christ Child. Each king cake has a tiny baby inside, and the person who receives the slice of cake with the baby is asked to continue the festivities by having the next King Cake party or purchasing the next cake.
Originally, king cakes were a simple ring of dough with decoration, but nowadays king cakes are much more festive. After the rich Danish dough is braided and baked, the “baby” is inserted. The top of the ring or oval cake is then covered with delicious sugar toppings in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold.
Roselle (left), Laura (right) and Mary (middle) visited Eddie’s Bakery on Tuesday, to enjoy their king cake, and donned the traditional Mardi Gras masks for our photo, but they told us they have yet to find the baby in their slice of cake.
Click below to listen to the story by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
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