It’s Mardi Gras time! Mardi Gras conjures up images of fun, frivolity and feasting and no Mardi Gras celebration would be complete without a colorful Mardi Gras King Cake. Make your own, better-tasting King Cake this year. What is a Mardi Gras King CakeA brioche or sweet roll dough is braided, baked in a circle and decorated with icing and purple, green and gold sugars. Kind of like a crown-shaped cinnamon roll all dressed up for a party. My sister has lived in Louisiana for many years and she talks about all the fabulous King Cakes she’s had over the years. So when Betty Crocker offered me the opportunity to develop a Mardi Gras King Cake recipe for their site, it was the perfect opportunity for me to bake this scrumptious bread/coffee cake. My recipe uses Quick Rise yeast which eliminates the time consuming first rise in many brioche recipes. My cake is filled with a traditional cinnamon sugar filling but it would be fabulous with a cream cheese or fruit filling as well. Traditionally a King Cake has a tiny, plastic baby figurine hidden inside the cake. Tradition says that whoever finds the baby in their piece, must host the party next year. Just like when you bake cinnamon rolls, some of the filling will leak out onto the bottom of the pan. Be sure and bake it with some parchment paper or a Silpat underneath it, so it’s easy to clean up. If you have questions about how to braid the King cake, be sure and watch the video. What Is Mardi GrasMardi Gras in French means “Fat Tuesday.” Mardi Gras is a decadent celebration before Lent, a six-week-long religious fast before Easter. Carnival celebrations start on January 6, a date referred to as the Twelfth Night because it marks the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Mardi Gras ends on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the first day of Lent. This year Tuesday, February 25, 2020, Of course, you don’t have to live in Louisiana to enjoy this Mardi Gras King Cake. It’s been nine years since I first posted the recipe, and I’ve had comments from people all across the US, many who have Southern roots and celebrate with a King Cake this time of year. Mel said:
I hope you’ll give it a try too! I’ve added a video to show you how easy it is to make. More Celebration Desserts You Might
Like: Prep Time1 hr 30 mins Cook Time20 mins Additional Time1 hr Total Time2 hrs 50 mins Servings: 12 Servings
Cinnamon Filling:
Icing:
Decoration:
Tips: - Use a pizza cutter to easily cut dough into strips. - The cake can also be made without braiding. Just roll up the dough jelly roll style after spreading the filling. Pin It: Reader InteractionsWhat makes a king cake a king cake?Every king cake contains a trinket — often a small figurine in the shape of a baby — which plays a crucial part in the celebration of the holiday that inspired this pastry. Whomever finds the trinket in their slice of cake gets to be the “king” for a day.
What is a traditional king cake made of?Typically, king cake is made of a rich, brioche dough and a wide array of fillings, such as cinnamon, chocolate, and cream cheese. But the rainbow magic is found in the glaze and sprinkles, which are usually gold, green, and purple. Even the colors of the icing (and royal colors of Mardi Gras) have a deeper meaning.
How are king cakes made?The base of the king cake is made of cinnamon dough that is braided together. The dough is covered with poured sugar and colored sugar sprinkles. Some varieties may even include fillings like cream cheese, strawberry, lemon, and other flavors. At Caluda's, we braid our dough and create colored sugars in-house by hand.
Is king cake just a cinnamon roll?As Ruckman explains, "A typical New Orleans king cake is extremely similar to a large cinnamon roll, except the dough is braided and shaped into a circle. Basically, it has to have pastry, cinnamon, icing--powdered sugar frosting and lots of it, purple, green, and gold sugars, and the little plastic baby."
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