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Louisiana Considered: The history of King Cake and how it became a Mardi Gras staple

Ian McNulty
/
Matt Haines
The Big Book of King Cake by Matt Haines

It’s officially carnival season in Louisiana, and if there’s one delicacy synonymous with Mardi Gras, it’s King Cakes.

But how exactly did this dessert become such a staple of Mardi Gras? And how has the traditional King Cake taken on new styles and flavors over the years?

To learn more about the history of King Cakes and where these desserts are headed, WWNO’s Patrick Madden was joined by three guests: Mardi Gras historian Errol Laborde, restaurants and food culture reporter for the Times-Picayune Ian McNulty, and author of The Big Book of King Cake Matthew Haines.

A look inside The Big Book of King Cake by Matthew Haines
Matt Haines
A look inside The Big Book of King Cake by Matthew Haines

Patrick was the Regional News Director for the news collaboration between WRKF Baton Rouge and WWNO New Orleans, from 2019 through 2023.
Alana Schreiber is the managing producer for the live daily news program, Louisiana Considered. She comes to WRKF from KUNC in Northern Colorado, where she worked as a radio producer for the daily news magazine, Colorado Edition. She has previously interned for Minnesota Public Radio in St. Paul and The Documentary Group in New York City.