It’s time for the brioche-rich, cinnamon-swirled, colorfully sprinkled cake that is KING CAKE!
It’s carnival time here in New Orleans. That means that we’re celebrating life, pushing the limits of indulgence, dancing in the streets (most literally), catching as many beads as we can, throwing as many beads as we can, and eating King Cake… all before Lent next Wednesday. We have a lot to fit into this next week!
In New Orleans, which is a world in its own, we eat King Cake between very specific dates: January 6th to honor the Three Kings and Fat Tuesday (the madness just before Lent).
What’s with all of the colorful cake madness? History. We need a history lesson.
“The King’s Cake accompanies festivities to commemorate the Epiphany, the day the Magi (interpreted by some to mean “kings”) arrived in Bethlehem and presented gifts to baby Jesus the twelfth night after his birth. The cake is a reenactment of Epiphany, with a bean or baby figurine baked into the cake to symbolize Christ and is eaten throughout Carnival festivities.” – Three Men and a Baby: A Brief History of King Cakes
I hesitated to make this cake at home this Mardi Gras. King Cakes are absolutely everywhere in New Orleans and really… there’s no need to make one at home. That would be like visiting Paris and staying indoors to make your own croissants. I’m also very new to New Orleans. Who am I to make a dang King Cake? Well… here goes nothing (/everything).
• Is that a plastic baby Jesus in my cake? Kinda yea.
• 10 things to know about Mardi Gras. Yes… Mardi Gras is only a legal holiday in Louisiana. It’s a different world.
• Mardi Gras Mix Tape Zing!
Here’s what we need: flour and salt, milk, sugar and yeast. The makings of a fine and good yeasted bread.
What takes this treat from bread to cake is fat and flavor. Lots of melted butter, five creamy egg yolks, ground cinnamon, and lemon zest!
We’re also going to need a mega amount of sprinkles. Purple for justice, green for faith, gold for power. And a little plastic baby to sneak into the cake after baking. Whomever gets the cake has to buy the next King Cake… and the circle never ever ends.
If you’re not with us here in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, I hope you make this cake and fill your kitchen with the spirit of this city. It’s special. It’s delicious! It’s Mardi Gras!
Sugar, yeast, and a spoonful of flour are added to warmed milk. This is how we activate the yeast. It’s like the starting line for the yeast race.
Once the yeast mixtures comes alive to foam and froth, melted butter, egg yolks, and lemon are whisked in.
This cake dough is rather soft and wet. I brought the wet and dry ingredients together with a spatula before kneading it with a dough hook for 7 minutes.
Leave the dough in the mixing bowl to rise. No need to dirty another. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest in a warm, draft-free place for an hour and a half.
Soft, fluffy, and risen!
This is also where the filling comes together. Softened butter, sugar, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. We’re going to mix this into a spreadable paste for the inside of our cake.
Coaxed into a circle and placed on a lined baking sheet.
Egg wash to make everything golden as ever. I let the cake rest for about 30 minutes while the oven preheats. This allows the cake the stretch out and relax before it gets to work in the oven.
Baked up big and golden brown. Once cooled the cake is frosted with a lemon vanilla glaze.
Call your friends. Call every single one of them. You made a King Cake and that’s just about the best thing in the world.
Soft and rich, cinnamon swirled and sweet glazed! It’s like a fancy brioche coffee cake, with a tiny plastic baby inside, and regal festive sprinkles on top. Don’t forget to to lift a corner of the cake and tuck the baby up inside!
Happy Mardi Gras! Le Bon Temps Roule!
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