A Bite of History

Background: In the whirlwind of confectionery delights that parade through our lives, few are as seasonally iconic and festooned with tradition as the King Cake. Originating from Europe and making a grand entrance into the Americas, particularly in New Orleans, this cake has become synonymous with Mardi Gras celebrations.

Traditionally, it involves a rich, brioche dough intertwined with cinnamon, adorned with a glaze, and sprinkled with colored sugars in purple, green, and gold, symbolizing justice, faith, and power, respectively. Hidden within its sweet layers is a small figurine, often a baby. Finding the figure is a sign of good fortune, but it usually comes with a responsibility such as buying the next King Cake, or hosting the next party.

Deja Vu: In the culinary world, the tradition of hiding surprises in food spans centuries and crosses cultures. King Cake traces its roots back to the Roman festival of Saturnalia, a December feast where societal norms were turned upside down, and a king was chosen by fate—usually through the finding of a fava bean in a cake. Fast forward to the Middle Ages, and the cake became a part of the Epiphany celebration, marking the visit of the Magi to the Christ child on January 6th. In France, the Galette des Rois is served to mark this occasion, while in Spain, Roscón de Reyes takes center stage. Each culture adds its twist, but the theme remains constant: be careful when taking a bite.

These edible mysteries serve as a bridge between history, tradition, and a bit of cheeky fun. It's a culinary wink to the days of old, where food wasn't just sustenance but a vessel for storytelling, celebration, and even a little superstition.

Let’s sink our teeth into some more un-edible edibles.

Fact: Cracker Jack first put a toy prize at the bottom of boxes in 1912. The first set of prizes were metal objects like thimbles, miniature booklets, and tiny cars.

In 2016, they replaced physical toys with stickers containing digital codes. The codes could be entered on a website to unlock mobile games and digital experiences.

Profile: Saint Basil the Great

A 4th-century bishop of Caesarea in modern-day Turkey, St. Basil is remembered for his contributions to Christian theology, and as the inspiration behind Vasilopita, the fragrant sweet bread enjoyed on New Year's Day by Greek Orthodox Christians. There are different accounts of St. Basil’s miracle, but one of them goes like this:

An enemy was threatening the city, and citizens needed to raise a ransom. St. Basil urged the citizens to contribute whatever valuables they could.

The enemy withdrew before the ransom was paid. St. Basil found himself in a dilemma. He needed to return the items to their rightful owners, but no longer knew who had given what. He instructed bakers to bake all the collected valuables into a large pita bread. He gathered everyone and blessed the bread. Miraculously, each family received a piece containing their original contribution.

To commemorate this miracle, the Vasilopita is baked with a coin or small medallion hidden inside. Whoever gets coin is considered to have St. Basil’s blessing for the whole year!

List: Did You Save Room for More?

• St. Martin's Day Goose: In some European traditions, a small, symbolic item may be hidden inside the St. Martin's Day goose, eaten on November 11.

• Barmbrack in Ireland: This sweet, fruit-studded bread is traditionally served at Halloween. Hidden items like a ring (indicating an upcoming marriage), a coin (for wealth), or a pea (for no marriage that year) foretell the finder's future.

• Christmas Pudding in the UK: A traditional end to the Christmas meal, the Christmas pudding might contain a hidden coin, symbolizing wealth and luck for whoever finds it. This tradition has its roots in Tudor England as part of the Twelfth Night celebrations.

• Wonka Bar: Now, that’s the ticket.

Recommended Reading: The Big Book of King Cake

The Big Book of King Cake tells the cake’s thousands-year-old story through lush photography of more than one hundred and fifty unique king cakes, as well as stories from the diverse and talented bakers who make them.

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Wilton | Discover the joy of baking and bring traditions to life with Wilton, your go-to source for all baking and cake decorating needs. Whether you're preparing a King Cake for Mardi Gras, crafting a hidden surprise cake for a birthday, or exploring the world of fortune cookies, Wilton has everything you need to make each bake a celebration.