King cake is a ring of braided cinnamon dough topped with purple, green, and gold icing and a hidden plastic baby, eaten across New Orleans during the Mardi Gras season from January 6 until Fat Tuesday, which falls on February 17 in 2026. The Bayou Swamp Tours team suggests grabbing a slice between parades.
Everyone should visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras at least once, whether you travel here solo, with a partner, or the entire family, there is something here for everyone to enjoy. Don’t stress trying to figure out all the details, check out Your Guide to Mardi Gras for loads of tips and tricks. One of the many must-do’s of Mardi Gras is eating all of the delicious native cuisines and enjoying some drinks along the way. Many visitors love grabbing some food and a cocktail while watching the festive parades along St. Charles Ave.
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What Is a Mardi Gras King Cake?
The best way to describe this traditional Mardi Gras food, king cake is that it is a mix of cinnamon roll and coffee cake. On top, the cake is smothered with white icing and colorful candies (purple, gold, green). Hidden in the middle of each cake is a plastic toy. Throughout New Orleans, it’s common to find some slight variations in king cake recipes. Some cake recipes call for cream cheese filling while others call for fruit filling. Try a few different styles and see which method you enjoy most! You can also find packaged king cake in the local food stores, so feel free to bring some home as souvenirs.
What Is the History of King Cake?
The dessert is referred to as king cake because it’s symbolic of the biblical story about three wise men who visited baby Jesus after his birth. Also, the plastic toy hidden in the middle of each cake is a baby that represents a newborn Jesus. According to Southern Living, the purple stands for justice, the green for faith, and the gold for power. The circular shape represents unity and echoes a crown, tying the cake back to the three kings of the Epiphany.
Where Can You Find King Cake During Mardi Gras?
Traditionally, king cake is only available around the Mardi Gras Season. Sometimes you can start to find it in restaurants and food stores as early as December. You can purchase king cake in many different bakeries, cafés, restaurants, and food stores scattered throughout New Orleans. Check out La Boulangerie in the Garden District for a delicious take on king cake. Parades roll for about 2 weeks before Fat Tuesday, per Mardi Gras New Orleans, so you will never be far from a fresh slice during the celebrations.
How Much Does a King Cake Cost?
A traditional bakery king cake varies in price depending on size, filling, and whether you order a specialty flavor. Grocery-store cakes tend to run cheaper, while cream-cheese and fruit-filled versions from popular bakeries sit at the higher end. With roughly 18 million visitors passing through New Orleans in a recent year, according to New Orleans & Company, the most famous shops can sell out fast, so order ahead if you have a favorite.
What Other New Orleans Treats Should You Try?
While you’re at it, try some other tasty treats found in New Orleans. Beignets date back to the French colonists and are a deep-fried pastry, similar to a doughnut just without a hole. This treat, topped with powdered sugar, is best enjoyed hot and goes great with chicory coffee. Other familiar treats include bananas Foster and snowballs. For a full rundown, see our guide to the foods you must try in New Orleans.
How Do You Add a Swamp Tour to Your Mardi Gras Trip?
Balance the sweets and parades with a morning on the water. Bayou Swamp Tours runs 90-minute airboat trips departing about 30 minutes from the French Quarter, with small airboats carrying 6 to 10 passengers and larger boats seating up to 27. It is an easy half-day break from the crowds before you head back for another slice of king cake. Book a swamp tour to round out the celebration.
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