PASCAGOULA—In the rest of the state it is just February, but along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Mardi Gras is in full swing, and that means King Cakes are a hot commodity and topic.
But first, what is a King Cake and where did it originate? The King Cake originated in medieval Europe in association with the Epiphany and the arrival of the Magi. It symbolized the journey and the discovery of the Christ Child and was colorfully decorated with a hidden bean or coin inside to represent the baby Jesus.
Since that time, the King Cake has evolved, and today its tradition is a significant part of the Mardi Gras season with a plastic baby hidden inside to represent the Christ Child. The tradition goes that whoever finds the baby in their slice is expected to provide the next King Cake.
The colorful decorations of gold green and purple symbolize power, faith and justice, and this simple pastry tuned complex cultural icon reflects the diverse influences of New Orleans’ history and cultures.
The New Orleans tradition has spread along the coast into Alabama, where Mardi Gras originated in America, and Florida, with bakeries, restaurants and amateurs all putting a local spin on this cultural classic. For the past 15 years, locals have discovered the King Cakes offered by Crazy B’s Coffee and Confections in Pascagoula.
A visit to Crazy B’s on the south end of Market Street and there is no doubt it is Mardi Gras season from decorated windows, a Mardi Gras tree, and special flavors of coffee and latte. But the best sellers during the
Mardi Gras season are the King Cakes. Susan Kendrick, owner of Crazy B’s, said as a small batch bakery, she can’t produce as many cakes as her larger competitors, but that doesn’t stop her from selling up to 1,000 cakes during the season.
“And then I have to take days of rest,” Kendrick said as she waited on customers picking up special order and grab and go cakes. “Our overall best seller is the Strawberry and Cream Cheese, but this year the Cookie Butter has done really well.”
She said the reason the strawberry is such a hot item is because she uses real strawberries in the filling and not just flavoring or canned filling.
Mardi Gras season begins at the end of the Christmas season with epiphany on January 6, and that is when the cooking begins. She said she does a large part of her annual business during carnival season due mostly to the popularity of the King Cakes. But what makes these better than others?
“There is always a secret to everything,” Ms. Kendrick said with a slow smile as even more customers filtered into the quaint shop to inquire about the variety of flavors available and which is the best. “If they are not special orders, they are first come, first served in the store.”
And when the doors open at 7 a.m., she has customers hurrying in to see what flavors are available. The final week before Mardi Gras, up until February 14, she said she will have additional cakes available daily.
Along with the cakes, she and her partner, the late Martha Kendrick, her mother, decided to use even the leftover dough to create “King Cake Bites.” Imagine a donut hole that is decorated and tastes like King Cake.
“King Cake Bites have been a big seller for us for many years,” she said, noting that they aren’t just made with leftover dough any longer but they have a separate dough just for them. “We sell them in small containers or by the platter. Another local bakery is claiming to be the home of the ‘original’ king cake bite, but that person was still in high school when I was selling them here.”
But King Cakes aren’t just for carnival season. While not on the menu, she said she has made heart-shaped cakes for Valentines and candy canes for Christmas. The bites are also great for bridal and baby showers.
Ms. Kendrick said she enjoys the rush of the carnival season, but mostly she enjoys the coffee, small breakfast and pastry aspects of her shop. But it seems she has definitely found a following with the King Cakes and the bites alike.
Keep up with the creations from Crazy B’s through Facebook.
*Photos: Susan Stachowski
