King cake: What it is and where to find it in North Jersey - NorthJersey.com

Rebecca King North Jersey Record

Published 1:05 PM EST Jan 3, 2019

King cakes — those garish yellow, purple and green rings that start showing up in bakeries and stores at the beginning of January — are sweet treats steeped in tradition.

King cakes are typically eaten on Jan. 6, called Three Kings Day or Epiphany. The religious holiday honors the three wise men — or magi or kings, depending on whom you talk to — and takes place on the day they’re thought to have visited Jesus. The season for king cakes lasts until Fat Tuesday, which is also known as Carnival or Mardi Gras, when many Christians tend to overeat and celebrate before they swear off French fries, cookies or some other vice for Lent.

Most Americans are used to the Louisiana-style king cake. That’s the bready, twisted cake that gets smothered in thin icing and sprinkled with Mardi Gras colors. This is similar to the “rosca de reyes” served in Spain and Latin America, which is also in the shape of a ring, doused in icing and sprinkled with candied fruit. In France you’ll find a “galette des rois,” a flaky pastry stuffed with frangipane, fruit and chocolate and topped with a paper crown.

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Different countries have their own version of the king cake, and nearly all contain either a bean, coin, nut or, what Americans are most familiar with, a little plastic baby that represents Jesus and signifies luck. If the baby is in your slice, you get to be “king” for a day.

Here’s where to find these colorful cakes close by.

The Little Daisy Bake Shop, Montclair

Though king cakes have religious roots, they're often associated with one of the most unholy of seasons: Mardi Gras. Selling the bright and boisterous cake is The Little Daisy Bake Shop. Its version is made in the Louisiana style, covered in a glaze and topped with purple-, green- and yellow-colored sand sugar. Plus, as with everything at Little Daisy Bake shop, the cake is completely peanut- and nut-free. The cake will be available from Jan. 6 to March 5. Costs $35 and serves 8 to 10.

Go: 622 Valley Road, Montclair; 973-707-2157, thelittledaisybakeshop.com.

Argentina Bakery, Union City

Argentina Bakery makes its rosca be reyes for the week leading up to the Three Kings Day. It is exactly like its Easter ring cake, without the eggs, manager Natalia Fernandez said. “There’s nothing inside of it,” she said. “But it’s topped with custard and candied red and green cherries.” Though Three Kings Day isn’t so popular in America, Fernandez says, “in Argentina, it’s kind of like Christmas.” Costs $13 and serves 8.

Go: 1611 Bergenline Ave., Union City; 201-601-5801, argentinabakeryincnj.com.

A Little Cake, Park Ridge

The bakery A Little Cake offers a French version of a king cake for the Mardi Gras season. It is made with almond cream covered in puff pastry dough that is scored on the top, so a little design appears once it’s baked. Inside, of course, you’ll find the customary plastic baby. “Once you try the French way, you won’t want to eat any other kind of king cake,” said owner Leo Sciancalepore. Costs $18.95 and serves 10 to 12.

Go: 176 Kinderkamack Road, Park Ridge; 201-391-6300, alittlecake.com.

Hackensack Pastry Shop, Hackensack

The Hackensack Pastry Shop sells rosca de reye topped with colorful bursts of candied fruits during the Carnival season. Inside the cake is the customary plastic “baby Jesus,” and the staff says it is Mexican tradition that whoever gets the baby has to host the Carnival party next year. Served in individual pieces; the price is yet to be set.

Go: 184 Hudson St., Hackensack; 201-880-4200, facebook.com/hackensackpastryshop.

Sook Pastry, Ridgewood

During the Epiphany season, Sook Pastry in Ridgewood whips up a gorgeous galette des ros. The top is scored into an intricate pattern and it comes with a crown, which can be worn by whomever gets the figurine in their slice. The porcelain figurine baked into the cake at Sook Pastry is particularly authentic, as it was bought in France. Costs $33.99 and serves 10.