Have you ever been to Mardi Gras? It is a celebration of food, drink and debauchery – it is supposed to be one last big party prior to Lent which is the 40 days leading up to Easter. There are many parades and family gatherings with friends in tow, generally associated with New Orleans (NOLA) and Bourbon St. I went once many years ago with friends from college. It is as advertised, that’s for sure!
While there, I had this wonderful dessert called King Cake. There was a rather ugly icing in three colors Purple, Green and Gold. I was told it signified Justice, Faith, and Power – in that order. It wasn’t all that pretty a cake and honestly it was more of a sweet bread than it was a cake but there was a baby inside and if you got the piece having the plastic baby in it – you were supposed to have lots of good luck throughout the year.
The way the cake was made all had to do with family tradition – what your grandmother and her grandmother made – I loved it all! The whole thing was gawdy and splashy and bawdy – like Dolly Parton! I have always glamorized the seedy side of life a bit – so I was in my element down there. Now I am older and wiser plus I have to be in bed by 10PM, so I won’t be going to NOLA for Mardi Gras anytime soon. This year, Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) is on March 4th but the parades will start on February 15th! See, I told you it was a big long party!
I have tried to make gumbo and King Cake each year during the season but MY family King Cake tradition is of the No-yeast-no-knead-no-raisins-no-nuts kind so when I found this recipe, I was thrilled. If you have a work party or kids Mardi Gras celebration – this will be quick and perfect! It only takes about 30 minutes to throw together and it tastes DIVINE!
Mardi Gras King Cake
Here’s what you are going to need:
Cake:
2 cans Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
4 oz of Cream Cheese – softened
½ Cup Brown Sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ soaked raisins – optional
½ chopped pecans – optional
Icing:
1 ½ Cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3-4 Tablespoons milk
Food coloring to make purple, green, and yellow or gold
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F
Pop the cans and separate all the crescent triangles like this:
Mardi Gras King Cake from Kelli’s Kitchen
Then put them around a parchment covered pizza pan overlapping just like this:
Mardi Gras King Cake from Kelli’s Kitchen
The press and seal ONLY in the middle parts like this leaving the pointy end and other end loose.
Mardi Gras King Cake from Kelli’s Kitchen
Mix up the cream cheese, sugar, cinnamon (nuts and raisin if wanted) in a food processor.
Spread the cream cheese mixture only on the sealed part of the crescent sections like this:
Mardi Gras King Cake from Kelli’s Kitchen
Drop the plastic baby in randomly.
Mardi Gras King Cake from Kelli’s Kitchen
Fold the back end over, just in front of the filling and then the pointy end back up over the back end, sealing it into a very large donut.
Mardi Gras King Cake from Kelli’s Kitchen
Bake for 20 – 25 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool completely.
Mardi Gras King Cake from Kelli’s Kitchen
Mix up powdered sugar, vanilla and milk then separate into 3 different bowls and color.
Spread over a single color at a time until it is used up. It’s not all that attractive but many of them look that way. You could always just leave the icing white spreading it all over the cake and then put sprinkles in purple, green and gold all over the cake.
It’s a wonderful fun cake to make for a quick celebration – it won’t try your patience and it won’t take all day!
Find more Mardi Gras recipes!
Find me at Weekend Potluck!
Wow! Very cool and looks so easy!
Thank you! It is and very tasty!
So colourful and pretty, perfect to celebrate Mardi Gras! 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thank you very much!
I’ve never been to Mardi Gras but the King cake sounds good – especially your version.
Lillian
Thank you!!
Great job with this!!
Thank you! xoxo
This is so cool!!! Cant wait to try it, I know my kids would love it!
And it tastes delicious! Although not pure to the King Cake “rules” – some ice cream on a warm piece is divine!
OMG ~ I’ve been wanting to make a King Cake forever ~ You have to submit this to FoodFotoGallery, girl ~ I love it 🙂
I will CJ – Thank you so much. tonight for sure!
Mardi Gras isn’t a big thing up here, and I have never had king cake. I might just have to make it, though, because you make it so easy!
You could leave the colors out of the glaze or change up the colors to red and pink and call it valentines because the cake is THAT good – you will love it!….and no eggs so Baby G will love it too!
This is just perfect for those who wouldn’t make a king cake otherwise, Kelli! I love your shortcut way!
And that’s exactly why I make it like this – quick, easy and still looks festive! 🙂 hope you are nice and warm over there – it’s 14F for a high here today!
We are enjoying pleasant temperatures in the low 50s at night. Too nippy to sit outside without a jacket but very nice when the windows are open. You all keep warm and stay off the icy roads!
I missed making one last year. We used to have a NOLA native of staff that kept us up to date when Mahdi gRas was near. Now we are left on our own. I guess I need to get baking. I have a lighter version on my site that I like better than the traditional one. Scroll the the bottom for the link. http://eliotseats.com/?p=8364
What a great idea. I have spent hours making the one from scratch, but I can’t wait to try this one!
Great! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. I made 2 and it was just finished up this morning…..someone (I’m not saying who) had the last piece for breakfast! 🙂
Love how you simplified a classic King Cake with Cescents!