And wait till you hear the ingredient list: 4,000 pounds of Danish flour, 286 pounds of yeast, 428 dozen eggs, 1,178 pounds of water, 8.925 gallons of flavoring, 2,087 pounds of icing, 331 pounds A king cake is a type of cake that's associated with Mardi Gras, New Orleans, and parts of the Gulf Coast. It's a ring-shaped pastry that's usually covered in icing, then topped with yellow and purple edible glitter or sprinkles. Whoever found the bean or trinket in their slice of cake would be crowned the king or queen of the balls leading up to the lavish finale on Mardi Gras. In the 1940s, babies became a staple in the cakes when bakery owner Donald Entringer began placing porcelain varieties in the cakes until plastic ones became more widely available. Key Ingredients for Mardi Gras King Cake . Don't let the long ingredient list fool you—the bulk of this celebratory cake is made up with pantry staples like butter, sugar, flour, egg yolks, and milk. Active dry yeast, a few special flavorings, powdered sugar, and sanding sugars round out the list. To make Mardi Gras king cake, you'll need: Enjoy this delicious homemade Mardi Gras King Cake this year and let the good times roll! Made with a sweet brioche dough and a cinnamon or cream cheese filling, this is the best king cake recipe and 1,000x better than anything you’ll find in a grocery store or bakery! Today's traditional king cake is a twisted ring of brioche-like cake covered in icing or sugar in the Mardi Gras colors of green, gold, and purple. Cajuns tend to take the cake to the next level Mardi Gras King Cake 116 Reviews 3.9 out of 5 stars This moist, tender, buttery yeast bread, lightly sweetened then drizzled with vanilla glaze, sprinkled with colored sugars, and sometimes crowned with candied cherries, is a traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras favorite. King cake, a scrumptious sweet treat, becomes one of the main food events during Mardi Gras. Traditionally the King Cake is a cinnamon sugar filled dough twisted into a delightful ring that is topped with vibrant purple, green, and gold decorating sugars. Step #6: Second Dough Rise – Move the roll to a parchment-lined baking sheet, bring the ends together to form an oval and pinch the ends together.Cover the dough with oiled plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and let rise for 30 minutes. A festive brioche crown adorned with vibrant sugars and hiding a lucky surprise - the Mardi Gras King Cake transforms a rich, sweet dough into a celebration of New Orleans tradition. This homemade version captures all the joy and symbolism of the carnival season while delivering a tender, flavorful treat that surpasses any store-bought variety. Step #6: Second Dough Rise – Move the roll to a parchment-lined baking sheet, bring the ends together to form an oval and pinch the ends together.Cover the dough with oiled plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and let rise for 30 minutes. In New Orleans, king cake and Mardi Gras go hand in hand: The cakes can be found starting in early January and are available up until Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. Step 1 For the dough: In a medium bowl, stir together the yeast, water, and 2 teaspoons of the sugar. Let the mixture stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Step 2 In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the yeast mixture, milk, butter, eggs, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup of the sugar. What is King Cake and why is it eaten? King cake, a scrumptious sweet treat, becomes the main food event during Mardi Gras. Traditionally the King Cake is a cinnamon sugar filled dough twisted into a delightful ring that is topped with vibrant purple, green, and gold decorating sugars. The person who hosts the Mardi Gras party buys or makes the king cake, and since whoever finds the baby is said to be prosperous in the coming year, they take on the responsibility of providing the king cake for the next year. King cake is only eaten during the Carnival season — which begins 12 days after Christmas, on Epiphany, or Twelfth Night — and ends on Mardi Gras Day. A Mardi Gras tradition, now available all year long! Our one-of-a-kind King Cakes are hand-made and baked fresh every day so you can have another reason to celebrate! The sweet, Danish dough is mixed with cinnamon swirls for a flavor you will love. Make it even more special by adding one of our sweet fillings. Can I Make King Cake at Home? Yes! You can definitely start a tradition of making your own king cakes at home with your loved ones. Check out Sucre’s award-winning king cake recipe for inspiration this Mardi Gras season. Voted "A Favorite" by the Times-Picayune King Cake Contest and "BEST" King Cake by a Washington Post blind taste test. In Christian tradition the cake commemorates the witness of the "Three Kings". [9] [10] The tradition of the Mardi Gras king cake did not become established until the 20th-century, although the ubiquitous gold, purple and green sprinkles have been standard decoration since 1872. The cake is usually purchased at a shop. Baking a homemade king cake brings the joy and tradition of Mardi Gras right to your kitchen. While it’s called a "cake," king cake is actually a sweet, rich bread made from soft, brioche-like dough. This festive treat is filled with delicious flavors and captures the spirit of the season.
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