This is the cake that defines Mardi Gras. I had my first king cake last year and I got the little baby (Is the baby supposed to be Jesus? If so, it’s weird that it’s a lent thing and not a Christmas thing.). I thought it meant I would get good luck for a year, but as it turns out it means that you have to bake the next one. Elizabeth does most of the baking in this house, so the only baking I do is on her birthday (You can’t make your own birthday cake, after all.). So I was worried about making the king cake, especially because with its doughnut-y texture, it’s so different from a normal cake. As it turns out, with this basic recipe, it’s not all that hard to make, and the results were delicious. I was impressed with the airy texture of the cake, and it’s subtle sweetness. The lemon and orange zests give it a nice hint of fragrance. Kings cakes aren’t typically known for their beauty, so when it comes time to decorate, invite the kids to help out.