Mardi Gras King Cake

My family's favorite cake is King Cake!

A King Cake is associated with Mardi Gras (it is also linked with Epiphany and the Christmas season, according to Wikipedia). King Cakes have a small trinket (we use a small plastic golden baby or a coin) hidden beneath a slice. The person who gets the piece of cake with the trinket is King or Queen of the Day!

Sometimes the person who receives the "baby" must provide the King Cake for the next gathering of the season. It is the perfect way to guarantee a series of King Cakes!

The King Cake comes in a variety of styles. This instructable will demonstrate a traditional New Orlean's King Cake.

My daughter and I usually bake a Pillsbury 'Funfetti" cake version and call it good. But it is no comparison to a traditional King Cake. The traditional recipe is a ring of twisted bread topped with royal icing and decorated in Carnival colors of purple, green, and gold. (Gold for power, green for faith and purple for justice).

General information: The King Cake was served on "Little Christmas" or "Kings' Day" for the Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated Jan. 6. Although the ritual of the King Cake can be found during the days of the Roman Empire, King Cake parties in New Orleans are recorded back to the eighteenth century. (See the sites listed below).

One web site reports that NOLA bakeries sell 4,000-5,000 king cakes each day during the Carnival season, and cakes are shipped all over the world!

More Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_cake
http://www.mardigrasunmasked.com/mardigras/king_cake.htm
http://www.nola.com/mardigras/food/?kingcake.html
http://www.nolanotes.com/2008/01/12/nolas-love-affair-with-king-cakes/

Recipes:
http://www.nolacuisine.com/2007/01/06/king-cake-recipe/
http://www.nola.com/mardigras/about/index.ssf?/mardigras/about/content/stories/kingcakeu.html

Step 1: Gather Tools and Ingredients:

As I said, there are many different ways to make a King Cake. For this instructable, I used Mam Papaul's Mardi Gras King Cake Mix (cost about $6.00). It has nearly everything you will need to make a nice King Cake. I am loosely following the directions on the box. (I have two little helpers, making any baking event truly unique!)

In addition to the box of Mam Papaul's Mardi Gras King Cake Mix (available on the internet) you will need:

1 cup hot water
1 egg
1 stick of butter
Extra Flour

Measuring Spoons
Measuring Cup
Baking Sheet
Rolling Pin
Spatula
Wood Spoon
Mixing Bowls
Blender (not necessary)

Comments

[ftking_83702]

The 2011 King Cake. Made from scratch and is gluten free!
Thought to share. -r

[tmoyers]

I was in hopes that this was a King Cake made from scratch. Do you have a recipe from scratch?

[spark master]

I must admit, I too was looking for a recipe, not a reference to a boxed mix (which may be perfect actually so maybe you might give that a whirls) I googled the subjuct and found many recipes

try

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/mardi-gras-king-cake/Detail.aspx

from various comments I are not be sure what one really is except there is a "baby" hidden in it or under a slice or you put a wedge or orange or a nut (assuming all are nut tolerant) in it .

temarra is shrove tuesday Break out the wine and Justing Wilson reruns on PBS!!!!!

have a great holiday

[ftking_83702]

I do as a matter of fact. I will find some time to add it. This was a fun project to do with my daughter.

[sojo666]

This recipe sounds awesomely delicious, but it's hard to duplicate a real traditional king cake! the traditional ones from gambino's and other bakeries around here have LOTS of cinnamon. Luckily i live in new orleans and can get the freshly made ones! Happy mardi gras!

[evildorkgirl]

Where do you get your little plastic baby? I used to have king cake every Mardi Gras growing up in Mobile, but I haven't found anywhere to get them in Chicago.

[bronwynnm]

Before there were little plastic babies we used beans. Red beans are still the tradition at our house.

[ftking_83702]

Good question. I have managed to hang onto mine from the box mix over the years. www.mardigrasoutlet.com sells a variety of Mardi Gras baby packages.
For example:
http://www.mardigrasoutlet.com/catalog/123.html

[ftking_83702]

This year' s pictures! (My wife and daughter made a King Cake on Mardi Gras!) Thought to share.

[OhEmGee]

Thanks! I love king cake, and come from a Cajun family! My grand pa called the blue bell company to get said king cake ice cream delivered to him. He has a freezer FULL of that ice cream, I mean like 50 gallons! So now he can have it year round. He is very proud of himself for that.

[ftking_83702]

You are welcome! Thanks for checking it out. (This year I posted a Beignet instructable!) Happy Mardi Gras!

[OhEmGee]

I love Beignet's! We always get them at Cafe Du Monde when we visit the french (which is not often. :( ). I will be sure to check that one out as well.

[OhEmGee]

Forgot to say...My family tells me that the trinket means that not only does it make you king/queen, but it also means you have to buy the next king cake. lol. Maybe that is their way of spending less money themselves. Haha.

[ftking_83702]

That's the way it works! Thanks for looking.

[Sunny124613]

coolio,I would definately like this

[BigPupChuck07]

Got my vote because i need to represent NOLA! Looks like a good recipe now i can eat it year round Have you tried Blue Bells King Cake ice cream?

[reno_dakota]

...there's king cake ice cream? How's that work? I'm intrigued.

[BigPupChuck07]

The ice cream has a cinnamon cake taste with little cinnamon cake bites, icing swirls, and purple green and gold sprinkles. I tried finding a picture of it but i couldn't. It is always in stores around Mardi Gras but i dont know if it is just a special blue bell does for NoLa.

[reno_dakota]

I may have to keep an eye out for that next year. Neat! (Or I may have to try making some myself, next time I get my hands on an ice-cream maker...)

[ece123]

What a fun idea to do with kids AND adult gatherings! Thanks!

[LinuxH4x0r]

looks good!

[GorillazMiko]

Yum.

+1 vote.