Mardi Gras is rearing its masked head to Louisiana again, and for many it’s the equivalent of a fifth season. The trees begin sprouting dangling bead necklaces, and the smell of king cake wafts through the air.
King cake is rooted in religion and steeped in Louisiana tradition. Because of the state’s strong Catholic influence, the treat’s name comes from the biblical three kings of the nativity.
Mardi Gras signifies the end of Carnival celebrations and the beginning of the Lenten season. The presence of parades, decadent foods and heavy debauchery suggests one last “hoo-rah” before a season of fasting and reflection.
As one can imagine, a heavy desire for celebration equals big business for king cake manufacturers. Though there is a global presence for the baked good, Louisiana maintains a strong footing in production. Across the state, bakeries fire up their ovens and gross order pink plastic babies to prepare for the springtime rush of king cake orders.
Baum’s Fine Pastries and Chocolates is one of the many purveyors of the much-loved sweet treat. A.J. Baum founded Baum’s in Port Allen in 1934. The shop was moved to Main Street in Baton Rouge and later to Florida Boulevard in the 1950s.
The shop has been passed from generation to generation of the Baum family and in 2003, Baum’s opened a second location on Perkins Road.
Like many shops, Baum’s uses a sweet dough for the king cakes. Cakes are made on a conveyor belt by a handful of decorators in a set up reminiscent of “I Love Lucy.” Baum’s ships cakes all around the country with complimentary beads inside a musical box that plays “When the Saints Go Marching In” when opened.
Carly Erwin, one of the cakemakers at Baum’s, said Mardi Gras season is the shop’s busiest time, mentioning she makes roughly 200 king cakes each day. General manager Suzanne Pryn figured Baum’s had made approximately 3,000 to 4,000 king cakes between shipping and in-store sales. Pryn also said the bakery’s most crucial period will be this Friday. After Mardi Gras, Baum’s will continue shipping king cakes until the end of the next week.
Even though king cake is a common product in Louisiana, Baum’s shakes things up by boasting roughly 20 varieties of king cakes. The most popular fillings are pralines, cream cheese and strawberries and cream cheese. This season, the bakery unveiled its latest creation: the maple bacon king cake.
For more information on Baum’s king cakes, visit baumspastries.com.