How New Orleans' Famous King Cake Is Actually Made

Chef and baker Cara Benson has built a growing family of beloved New Orleans restaurants, but it all started with a leap of faith and a passion for pastry.

In this episode of Crafted, made possible by Renasant, host Ashla Taylor sits down with Cara to hear how she went from pastry chef to entrepreneur, opening Tartine in 2010 and later growing her restaurant family with Toast and The Hen House.

Then, we head into the kitchen to learn the craft behind one of New Orleans’ most iconic traditions: the king cake. Cara walks Ashla through her signature version, made with brioche dough, cinnamon cream cheese filling, royal icing, and plenty of purple, green, and gold.

From building a restaurant business to perfecting a king cake recipe more than a decade in the making, Cara’s story is a celebration of craftsmanship, creativity, and New Orleans food culture.

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