Hello, Mardi Gras aficionados Let me introduce you to king cake, the dessert that reigns supremely for this joyous event.
This colorful cake starts with a very easy sweet bun filled with cinnamon and glazed beautifully. If you’ve never baked before, don’t be scared—king cake is a great way to start the Carnival season and is very easy.
When you set this beautiful centerpiece and let your visitors hunt for the hidden prize within, picture the joy on their faces!
A King Cake Through Time
History of King Cake is rich! Baked to commemorate Christ’s birth on the Feast of the Epiphany, it all began far back in the Middle Ages. Ultimately, in the 1800s, this custom traveled from France to Louisiana and evolved into the modern-day Mardi Gras custom.
A Taste of King Cake
A real Mardi Gras pleasure are modern king cakes. Traditionally fashioned like a ring, or king’s crown, the fillings—cinnamon or cream cheese—bring them to life. Since bakeries prefer to be inventive, you may also come across fillings like coconut or pecan praline.
A Lighthearted Tradition: The Hidden Baby
A highlight of king cake? The infant whom was concealed! Not as odd as it sounds, don’t worry. This small figure (often a bean or nut) denotes the day’s king or queen; the person who discovers it in their slice is anointed and has the privilege of presenting the king cake the following year!
Our Royal Appearance
A king cake is really distinguished by its appearance, even if contents might differ. The hues have symbolic meanings; purple stands for justice, green for strength. For the most part, we prefer to keep things simple by drizzling a thin glaze over the warm cake and then liberally dusting it with gold, green, and purple sprinkles.
Tricks for Leftovers (if any exist)
If you store king cake wrapped with plastic wrap, it will keep for up to a week.
When Will You Bake? Come Roll Out!
The enjoyable part is now here: make your own king cake! Every ingredient and instruction are listed here.
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Mardi Grass King Cake
Craving a taste of celebration? Dive into the rich tradition of Mardi Gras with a King Cake! This ring-shaped pastry, bursting with colorful icing and decadent fillings, is more than just a dessert – it’s an invitation to join the festivities.
- Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
Dough:
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup sugar
- 4 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 3 cups flour
- 1 packet instant yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- pinch nutmeg
- 1 tbsp oil
Filling:
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- â…“ cup butter (room temp)
Glaze (optional):
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract (food coloring and sprinkles for decoration, optional)
Instructions
- Mix egg yolks, sour cream, sugar, butter, and lemon zest in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk dry ingredients (flour, yeast, spices). Slowly add dry ingredients to wet while mixing until a dough forms. Knead with dough hook or by hand for 5 minutes (dough is sticky!).
- Oil a bowl, place dough in it, and cover with a towel. Let rise for 1.5 hours (warmer) or 2 hours (colder).
- Punch down dough and roll into a 20″x12″ rectangle. Spread softened butter over dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Roll dough lengthwise and pinch the seam closed. Form into a circle and pinch the ends together. Let rise for 45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake cake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Let cool.
- Glaze (optional): Mix powdered sugar, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth. Adjust thickness with more powdered sugar or milk. Decorate with glaze, sprinkles, or food coloring if desired.
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 180
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 14
- Calories: 270
- Fat: 14g
- Carbohydrates: 61g
- Protein: 7g
