Mardi Gras party ideas: king cake, jambalaya and games for a Fat Tuesday at home
A Mardi Gras party at home needs a king cake with a plastic baby inside, one big pot of jambalaya, a batch drink, a game that splits the room into 2 teams and a clear plan for the evening. Order the cake 2 weeks ahead and cook the jambalaya the afternoon of the party.
- Order a king cake by late January and agree who brings next year's cake.cake
- Jambalaya for 10 in one pot, ready to serve at 7 pm.food
- A Hurricane batch plus a zero-proof version in the same glass.drinks
- Split guests into 2 krewes for a bead toss and a 10-question quiz.games
Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, February 9, 2027, and Ash Wednesday follows on February 10 (Farmers' Almanac). Host on Saturday, February 6, so nobody works the next morning.
- Fat Tuesday 2027 is February 9. King cake season runs from January 6 until then.
- Order a shipped king cake about 2 weeks ahead: by January 25 for a February 6 party.
- Jambalaya for 10: 4 cups of long-grain rice, 2 lb andouille, 2 lb chicken thighs.
- A Hurricane batch for 10: 1 bottle of rum (750 ml) to about 1.25 liters of juice.
Order the king cake and set the baby rule
The king cake is the one thing a Mardi Gras party cannot skip. It is a ring of cinnamon brioche topped with purple, green and gold sugar, with a small plastic baby hidden inside (Explore Louisiana). The season opens on January 6, Twelfth Night.
- Where to order. Haydel's Bakery in New Orleans sells its traditional king cake through Goldbelly with shipping across the US. Order by January 25 for a February 6 party.
- How the baby works. Whoever finds the baby in their slice buys the next cake or throws the next party (Explore Louisiana). Warn guests before you cut, then pin the finder's name to the fridge for next January.
- Serve it at 9 pm. Cut 12 slices for 10 guests, so the baby still has a chance if 2 people come late.
Jambalaya for 10 and a batch of Hurricanes
One pot of jambalaya feeds everyone and keeps you out of the kitchen later. Start at 5 pm for a 7 pm dinner.
- Jambalaya for 10. Brown 2 lb sliced andouille and 2 lb diced chicken thighs. Add 2 onions, 1 green bell pepper and 3 celery stalks, then 1 can of diced tomatoes, 4 cups of long-grain rice and 7 cups of chicken stock. Cover and cook 25 minutes without stirring.
- Hurricanes for 10. The Pat O'Brien's classic is rum and passion fruit (VinePair). Mix 750 ml rum, 500 ml passion fruit juice, 500 ml orange juice, 150 ml lime juice and 100 ml grenadine in a pitcher. Pour over ice in tall glasses.
- A zero-proof Hurricane. The same juices with sparkling water instead of rum, in the same tall glass. Drivers get a drink that looks the part.
Games: split the room into 2 krewes
In New Orleans the parade clubs are called krewes. At the door, hand every guest a purple or a green bead strand. That gives you 2 teams for after dinner.
- Bead toss. Put a bucket 3 meters away. Each player throws 5 strands, 1 point per strand that stays in. A bag of 144 strands covers 10 guests.
- Carnival quiz. 10 questions, read by the host, 1 point each. Include the colors: purple stands for justice, green for faith and gold for power, a meaning set by the Rex parade of 1892 (Rex Organization).
- Crown the finder. Whoever finds the king cake baby wears a paper crown and picks the music for the next 30 minutes.
- Dress code. Ask for 1 item in purple, green or gold from your own closet, such as a scarf or a T-shirt.
A run of show for the evening
These times fit a Saturday party for 10 guests with 4 fixed points.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 6:30 pm | Guests arrive, get a purple or green bead strand and a Hurricane |
| 7:00 pm | Jambalaya and salad on the table |
| 8:00 pm | Bead toss, then the 10-question quiz |
| 9:00 pm | King cake. The finder is crowned and their name goes on the card |
| 9:30 pm | Music and dancing. The finder picks the first 30 minutes |
| 10:30 pm | Group photo with the crown, the cake plate and every bead |
Set a QR code card next to the king cake with Gathmo. Guests scan it and add photos, videos and voice messages from the browser, with no app to install. Ask the finder for a 30-second voice message promising next year's cake. The free plan covers up to 60 uploads, and the album stays online for 30 days.
Paid Gathmo plans are a one-time payment per event and add unlimited uploads and original-quality downloads (pricing). More ideas are in our party guides.
Frequently asked
Custom says the person who finds the plastic baby in their slice buys the next king cake or throws the next party. At a home party, write the name on a card and keep it on the fridge until next January, so everyone knows who brings the cake.
Order a shipped king cake about 2 weeks before the party. For a Saturday party on February 6, 2027, that means ordering by January 25. New Orleans bakeries such as Haydel's ship across the US, so you can get a real one anywhere in the country.
For 10 guests, cook 4 cups of long-grain rice with 7 cups of stock, 2 lb of andouille sausage and 2 lb of chicken thighs, plus onion, green pepper, celery and 1 can of tomatoes. It cooks in one pot in about 25 minutes once the rice goes in.
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