Royalty is inherited, a state of prestige passed down from generation to generation. Unless an individual’s bloodline ties him or her to the ranks of nobility, regality cannot be earned of common blood, with exception, of course, during the festivities of Mardi Gras.
By luck of the draw, the sparkly, colorful and regal pastry of Mardi Gras can bestow royalty upon anyone, at least until the next king cake is purchased.
In Catholic culture, it is tradition in several European countries to have a king cake on the eve of Epiphany. Originally, the cake was baked with a bean or a small china doll inside, a small token of the same sentiment of the king cake babies used today.  
Because the king cake was made in honor of the Three Wise Men’s (or Three Kings) arrival to present gifts to the Christ child, finding a baby or bean within the cake was a symbol of hope and rebirth.
The custom eventually made its way to Louisiana from France. In early tradition, each family gathered around the dinner table, awaiting the “king of the bean” to be declared. The king cake was cut into enough pieces to feed the family, plus one more piece, which was given to God.
The piece set aside for God was given to the first poor man to come to the family asking for help. Pieces were then distributed from eldest family member to the youngest. The person who found the bean or baby was announced King of the Bean. Each time the King of the Bean takes a drink, he or she must first say “Le Roi boit,” (the king drinks) or each family member has the right to smear the king’s face in king cake.
Today, the tables of Louisiana are made colorful with the presence of king cakes during Mardi Gras festivities. Bakeries such as Southern Maid make room on their menus for these regal cakes starting in January.
Debbie St. Romain, an evening manager at Southern Maid, makes king cakes by rolling out donut dough into a flattened rectangle, then cutting it in half lengthwise. Each half is covered in cream cheese filling, and then the edges of the dough are pinched together to form a rope. The two halves are then twined together to form an interwoven circle. Once the cake is finished baking, colored sugars and icings are applied, making the cake a vibrant symbol of Mardi Gras.
The baby is not added in Southern Maid king cakes; it is the responsibility of the buyer to hide the baby.
King cakes come in a vast variety of flavors, including strawberry cream cheese and caramel pecan, the two most popular flavors at Southern Maid.
“We do make them [king cakes] all year long by order,” said St. Romain. They even make custom designed king cakes for special occasions, such as Valentine’s Day.
Many students on campus have an affinity for king cakes and Mardi Gras festivities, including Adam Callender, a junior majoring in computer science, who makes king cakes at home using a family recipe.
“King cakes are definitely one of my favorite foods,” said Callender. “There are a ton of great flavors, and it’s really hard to mess one up. Not to mention king cake along with Mardi Gras, is something only Louisiana gets to enjoy!”