Mardi Gras King Cake (With Video)

Mardi Gras king cake is a traditional New Orleans dessert typically served from Epiphany (Twelfth Night) to Mardi Gras or the Tuesday before the beginning of Lent. A classic Mardi Gras king cake is made from a rich brioche dough, cream cheese or fruit fillings, icing, and colored sugar. There’s always a tiny plastic baby tucked in the baked cake. It’s a must have during carnival season or for a Mardi Gras party.

What is king cake?

The king cake for Mardi Gras is basically a coffee cake ring with colored sugar and icing. This version has a cinnamon cream cheese filling. But you can also use your favorite fruit filling! King cake season runs from Epiphany (January 6th) to Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras. As a Southern California gal, I had no idea what king cake was. It is practically nonexistent in Southern California, at least the Southern, Mardi Gras version.

My very Southern girlfriend, Sandy, from Pascagoula, Mississippi, sent me one from a very famous bakery in New Orleans, during Mardi Gras. I fell in love with it and have been making this recipe for Mardi Gras king cake ever since! My niece and nephew own a restaurant in New Orleans so we make trips to visit them when we can!

How did king cake become a New Orleans tradition?

New Orleans was settled in 1718 by French settlers and fur trappers. Although it was also under Spanish control for the last half of the 18th century, the French left their mark on New Orleans, which remains today. The French Quarter today still very much reflects the roots of the first settlers.

Many streets, bars, restaurants and shops have distinctive French and Creole names which are an amalgamation of the Native, French, African, Spanish and English who settled in Louisiana. Most likely the French brought the recipe for Galette des Rois with them as well as the religious celebrations and Mardi Gras Traditions. Over the years New Orleanians adapted and changed the recipe to the elaborate cake (bread) we recognize today

How is Mardi Gras season celebrated in different parts of the world?

A form of Mardi Gras or Carnavale is celebrated all around the world. There is a Mexican version called Rosca de Reyes  (Three King’s Day) which is served on Epiphany, and France celebrates with a Galette des Rois.

In the south, Mardi Gras, which is French for “Fat Tuesday,” is a season and not just a day like it is in the rest of the country. In preparation for Lent or Ash Wednesday, many households rid their pantries of eggs, sugar, and butter, thus creating decadent pastries.

Along with the king cake, other cultures celebrate with similar sweets, like these Italian bow tie cookies that are popular in Italy.

In England, Shrove Tuesday is celebrated with thin pancakes.  And of course, we know how popular Carnival is in Brazil!

What Do The Colors On The King Cake Mean?

The colored sugars on a king cake represent justice, (purple), faith (green), and power (gold). Traditionally a small plastic baby, symbolizing the baby Jesus, is tucked into the cooked cake for good luck. The recipient of the baby in his or her slice of cake is responsible for bringing a cake to the next party!

What kinds of fillings are in king cake?

This recipe is for a cinnamon cream cheese filling, but you can fill a king cake with just about any filling! A visit to any of the New Orleans-area bakeries’ websites will have a wide array of fillings from cherry and apple to pecan praline and lemon! Use any pie filling, preserve or jam you’d like!

Can The King Cake Dough Be Made In Advance?

Yes! Once I discovered Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, by Hertzberg and Francois, I adapted their brioche dough for my King Cake. Make the king cake dough one day (or up to 4 days) before and the cake the next.

Can I Use Pre-Made Dough to Make King Cake?

No. Unfortunately, this is a brioche or sweetened dough. Although it’s not particularly sweet, there is some honey in the dough which you won’t find in store-bought bread dough.

Ingredients for king cake

Although this king cake recipe makes one large cake, you could use it to make two smaller mini king cakes. Laissez les bon temps rouler, (let the good times roll)!

Dough

• whole milk
•  yeast
• kosher salt
•  large eggs
•  honey
•  butter
•  all-purpose unbleached flour

Cream Cheese Filling

• cream cheese 
• brown sugar
• granulated sugar
• vanilla
• cinnamon

Glaze

• powdered sugar
• vanilla
• milk
• Sanding Sugar purple, gold and green

How to make a Mardi Gras king cake

Dough

• Scald the milk. Add to stand mixer. The butter should cool the milk enough to activate the yeast, but If you’re not sure, test the temperature using a thermometer. It should be between 105 and 110 degrees F. Add butter, honey, salt and yeast. Add eggs and mix until blended.
• Add the flour slowly, until dough comes together in a ball.
• Place dough in a large bowl and cover. Allow to rest at room temperature until dough rises and collapses, approximately 2 hours. 
• Dough is ready to use at this point, but can also be refrigerated for up to 5 days. Allow the dough to sit at room temperature for about 15 for easier rolling.

Filling

​The filling for this cream cheese king cake is simple, just cream cheese and cinnamon sugar.

• Meanwhile, make the filling. In a mixer combine cream cheese, sugars, vanilla and cinnamon scraping down sides of the bowl until combined.

Finishing the king cake

• On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out into a long thin rectangle, about 1/4″ thick.

• With long edge toward you, spread the filling on the dough, leaving on edge free.

• Roll the dough form into an oval or circle.

• Pinch the ends of the dough together and tuck it under

• Place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Tucking ends under to form an oval. Cover loosely with a clean cloth and let rise in a warm place until double, about 45 minutes.
• Bake at 375 degrees F. for 35-40 minutes, or until deep golden brown. The bottom of the bread will sound hollow when tapped
• Let it cool completely on a wire rack. Before drizzling the glaze over the top, make a small slit in the bottom of the cake and insert a plastic baby figurine.

• Sprinkle the top of the cake with alternating bands of gold, green and purple sanding sugar.

• Wrap leftover cake in plastic wrap for up to three days.

Hosting a Mardi Gras party

Decorations are key! Don’t forget the Plastic Babies, Jeweled Crowns,  Mardi Gras beads and tableware in traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, gold and green! Here’s a reasonably priced Mardi Gras party pack.

Mardi Gras dishes!

Cocktails: 

Believe it or not, Pimm’s Cup is a super popular NOLA cocktail. Another Bourbon Street staple is the Hurricane. 

Appetizers: 

Black Eyed Peas are delicious dip. Instead of making full sized Crab Cakes, make them bite sized! What about Jambalaya Stuffed Pepper or Spicy Confetti Shrimp  in small cups with rice?

Main Dishes:

Here are some tasty main dishes for your Mardi Gras party; Jambalaya, Creole Seafood Jambalaya, Gumbo with Andouille Sausage,  or Authentic Chicken Gumbo.

Side Dishes:

Red Beans and Rice or Dirty Rice would be great accompaniments to any New Orleans menu.

Dessert: 

Add traditional Cafe du Monde Beignets 

or Bananas Foster to the dessert menu for a perfect taste of New Orleans!

Some of the items in this post are available in my Amazon Affiliate Store at no additional cost to you.