King Cake

@allrecipes #MardiGras #KingCake  So if we cannot be in NOLA for Mardi Gras, then it only seems fitting to make our own celebration -- with food, of course!  With that, we sought out a well-reviewed recipe for King Cake, a Mardi Gras tradition.  Sure, you can find this cake at local bakeries, but what fun is that, and, of course, we need a giant king cake! 

Baking always means a fun time in the kitchen.  The recipe was very much a hurry up and wait adventure.  Between allowing time for the yeast to activate and for the dough to rise, we spent about 3-4 hours in the kitchen. 

Despite the mound of dishes (and several rounds of dishes after each step), the recipe is relatively easy.  Several reviewers noted doubling the filling, but we didn't and really don't think it is necessary.  On the other hand, if you are cooking for 2, you may want to halve the recipe.  We have eaten the cake for 3 days and still have left overs. 

Here are a couple of quick suggestions if you give this recipe a try (recipe link).  The dough only requires 5 cups of flour (step 2).  Don't let the ingredient list fool you as the final 1/2 cup of flour is in the filling.  Also, as with most baking, be sure not to overwork the dough. 

Oh, and for the record, we did leave the "baby" out of the King Cake -- maybe next year!


Locking in the yummy filling in the first half of the cake



King Cake!  Laissez les bons temps rouler.