The oval-shaped pastry with a plastic baby inside traditionally heralded the arrival of Carnival season on 12th Night -- Jan. 6 -- the day the Catholic faith says three wise men arrived with gifts for the baby Jesus. And it was eaten only until Mardi Gras, Feb. 5 this year.

Traditional king cake is made of cinnamon-flavored sweet breadlike pastry with thin icing, topped with purple, green and gold sugar. Each contains a plastic baby, or sometimes a red bean. The person who gets the baby is supposed to supply the next king cake.

This recipe from Kit Wohl's "New Orleans Classic Desserts" uses store-bought roll mix.

Recipes

King Cake