NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The dizzying array of King Cakes available throughout Louisiana during Carnival Season reveals an annual cultural obsession for the traditional tri-color pastry, but this year, for the first time in its 75-year history, the darling of the French Quarter will be joining in the celebratory sweetness and baking hundreds of the tender cakes in three distinct varieties. ‘All Hail to the King Cakes!’ will ring through the kitchen at Brennan’s as the exceptional artistry of Executive Corporate Pastry Chef Brett Gauthier and the culinary team reaches new levels in king cakery. Local aficionados may think they’ve seen –and tasted – it all, but each of these three kingly newcomers is destined to become true New Orleans royalty.
The parade of the Brennan’s three King Cakes begins with the Traditional King Cake of brioche dough rolled with aromatic cinnamon filling and baked to a golden brown. A glaze of frosty white icing is festively sprinkled with colored sugar in the symbolic Mardi Gras hues of purple, green, and gold. [$20 per cake]
Next is the Pink Parade King Cake, a rosy-hued beauty inspired by the iconic deep-pink façade of Brennan’s, itself. 50 flats’ worth of luscious fruit from the strawberry fields of Johnsdale Farm in Ponchatoula, Louisiana last forever. Carefully preserved last season, the strawberry jam and whipped light-and-airy cream cheese gets folded into the cake for a dreamy combination. The jam also tints the sugar icing that coats the cake beneath a light dusting of pink cocoa powder. A delicate drizzle-pattern of white icing atop it all is enlivened with splashes of sparkly sugar pebbles in pink and pearl. [$24 per cake]
The third sweet member of the royal trio is the Chocolate ‘Black and Gold’ King Cake: decadence at its finest that will have chocolate lovers rushing for the intensity each slice delivers. A rich chocolate brioche dough twirled with a center of chocolate icing is topped with an indulgent layer of whipped chocolate ganache. This is then lavishly coated with crumbled chocolate sable cookies, half of which have been tossed in golden cocoa butter. A final light lacing of chocolate frosting makes the entire cake a winning choice. Chocolate fans will have to move into defense mode to fight the urge for another piece – Go Saints! [$24 per cake]
Each cake starts with the same dough made with all-natural flour, yeast, sugar, eggs, milk, butter, vanilla, malt syrup, salt, nutmeg and orange zest, giving it a light, fluffy, yet moisty, brioche texture. A unique, natural process called tangzhong, with origins in Japan, allows the cake to remain fresh for an entire week without any additives. Cakes are 10” X 12” and serve 15-20 people.
Find the Brennan’s trio of cakes online at www.brennansneworleans.com/kingcakes where King Cake lovers are able to pre-order a king cake for nationwide shipping on January 4, 2021 or local pick-up, starting January 6, 2021.
From January 6 – February 15, 2021, pick up locally from Brennan’s Restaurant – 417 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130; Ralph’s on the Park – 900 City Park Avenue 70130; Café NOMA at the New Orleans Museum of Art (by the slice); King Cake Hub – Broad Theater, 636 N Broad St in Mid-City and other select specialty retailers in the New Orleans Metro area. D’Livery Nola also will deliver a Brennan’s King Cake right to your door!
The “wisest’ decision was to present three totally different flavored cakes as a nod to the symbolism of the beloved cake. The Carnival Season begins on the day of the Epiphany, and the ring-shaped confection honors the journey of the Three Wisemen, also known as the Three Kings, coming together from different lands to present gifts to the infant Jesus. Brennan’s regal new trio is sure to be crowned king of all cakes!