Mardi Gras is a vibrant multicultural festival ending on Fat Tuesday, before the 40-day fasting period during Lent. The festival is rooted in Catholic symbols and traditions of feasting before fasting. Mardi Gras is a holiday that I’ve celebrated since I was a kid.
Although I don’t live in Louisiana, my family celebrates it every year with desserts. In honor of Mardi Gras, I’ve brought together five Mardi Gras desserts you can enjoy from home.
1. King cake
As the most popular dessert during Mardi Gras celebrations, King cake is a cinnamon roll dessert shaped like a crown topped with purple, gold and green sprinkles. Each color represents each of the three wise men from the Bible. As a tradition, a little plastic baby is hidden within a cake. The one who finds it in their slice will receive good luck and has to host the next celebration.
2. Beignets
Beignets are a Louisiana classic that gain traction during Mardi Gras. Beignets are dough squares deep fried and topped with powdered sugar. Famous restaurants like “Café Du Monde” are known for their beignets across the state. Beignets are often topped with tons of powdered sugar, so eating them can get messy.
3. Paczki
Similar to beignets, Paczki is a deep fried doughnut filled with jam and topped with powdered sugar. Originating from Poland, the doughnuts are a traditional dessert often eaten on Fat Tuesday. In Louisiana, Paczki can be filled with custard, blueberry or strawberry jam.
4. Moon pie
Moon pies consist of two graham crackers with a marshmallow in between dipped in chocolate. In Mardi Gras parades, floats will throw moon pies at the crowds on the sides of the street. Traditionally, viewers bring buckets to have an easy way to catch the treats. The tradition originated from Mobile, Alabama, but has spread to many Mardi Gras parades across the country.
5. Bananas foster
Bananas foster is a presentational dessert served tableside across Louisiana. The dessert includes bananas cooked in butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and rum. The bananas are then flambéed and served hot over vanilla ice cream. The sauce is caramelized and the alcohol burns off, leaving a rich smoky flavor upon taste. Bananas foster is a classic in Louisiana and gains more popularity in the days leading to Fat Tuesday.
