The Kings Cake is traditionally served on 12th night or January 5th, the day when, according to tradition, The Three Kings, or Wise Men, arrived in Bethlehem with their gifts for the Christ child.  It is part of the tradition to bake a small token, like a coin or a bean, sometimes even a tiny baby doll to represent the Christ Child, into cake.  The person who gets the slice with the token is king for the night.

The Kings Cake of New Orleans is usually made from Brioche_dough and baked in a circle by using a tube or Bunt pan.  The cake is then decorated with Butter Cream Icing and Yellow, Green and Purple sugar or sprinkles.

In New Orleans, 12th Night ushers in the whole Mardi Gras season and the serving of the Kings Cake is certainly not the least of the time honored rituals observed on that night.  The Kings Cake has become such an important part of the celebration that people have even immortalize it by creating Kings Cake costumes.