Mardi Gras King Cake Recipes

Mardi Gras just wouldn't be Mardi Gras without eating King Cake. Mardi Gras King Cakes are a time honored tradition during this holiday, and no Mardi Gras celebration would be complete without them. Mardi Gras King Cakes are so popular during this time, that many people have Mardi Gras King Cake parties to celebrate the holiday.

Here are two recipes to make your own Mardi Gras King Cake. One is a very simple recipe using prepared cake batter however there is also a recipe for a traditional, made from scratch King Cake. Which ever recipe you choose to make, you will most certainly enjoy.

Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe- One

This is a very simple way to make a Mardi Gras King Cake. The cake is made from a prepared yellow cake mix, which cuts preparation time almost in half.

Cake Ingredients:

1 18.25 oz. box of yellow cake mix batter, prepared according to directions on box.
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
1 1/2 teaspoons of ground nutmeg

Glaze Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 tablespoon of water

Other ingredients:

3 table spoons of powdered sugar, divided
Yellow, green, red and blue food coloring

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Add nutmeg and lemon peel to the prepared cake batter, and pour into a 9x13 inch greased cake pan. Cook according to the package directions. Once cake is done, allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

Combine the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and water in a small bowl, and whisk until the mixture forms a glaze. Spread the glaze over the top of the cake, allowing it to run down the sides.

In three separate bowls, place 1 tablespoon each of your granulated sugar. Add 2 drops of yellow food coloring to one bowl, 2 drops of green food coloring to 1 bowl, and 1 drop of red plus one drop of blue (to make purple) to another bowl. Mix the food coloring into the sugars well, and then sprinkle over the glaze. Slice and enjoy your Mardi Gras King Cake!

Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe- Two

This recipe is a little more complex, as it is made from scratch. However if you are looking to make a more traditional Mardi Gras King Cake, this is definitely the way you want to go.

Cake Ingredients:

1 small envelope of active dry yeast
1/4 cup of warm water
2 tablespoons of milk
4-5 cups of flour
8 ounces of butter
3/4 cup of sugar
1/4 teaspoon of salt
4 eggs
2 teaspoons of melted butter

Glaze Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 tablespoon of water

Other Ingredients:
3 table spoons of powdered sugar, divided
Yellow, green, red and blue food coloring

Dissolve the yeast in warm water. Add milk and 1/2 cup of flour to the yeast. In a separate large bowl, blend 8 ounces of softened butter, 3/4 cup sugar and eggs. Add the yeast mixture and mix well. Slowly add 2 1/2 cups of flour, a 1/2 cup at a time to finish making dough.

Place the dough in a large greased bowl and brush with the 2 teaspoons of melted butter. Cover with a warm damp cloth and let rise for about 3 hours, or until the dough has doubled. Add another cup of flour and knead the dough well. Roll the dough into a long rope, then form into a circle or oval and place on a large greased baking sheet. You can add a few drops of water to the ends of the rope to help make a good connecting seal.

Cover the dough with a warm damp cloth, and allow to rise again until doubled for about 1 hour. Bake at 325 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned. Allow the cake to cool completely.

Mix your glaze ingredients together. Pour or brush glaze over the top of the king cake. Divide your granulated sugar, placing 1 tablespoon of sugar each in separate bowls. Add 2 drops of yellow food coloring to one bowl, 2 drops of green food coloring to 1 bowl, and 1 drop of red plus one drop of blue (to make purple) to another bowl. Mix the food coloring into the sugars well, and then sprinkle over the glaze. Slice and enjoy your Mardi Gras King Cake!
It is important to note, that traditionally a token is placed within a Mardi Gras King Cake. Most often, this token is either a glass or plastic baby though some people prefer to use other items such as large beans or coins. This token is said to bring luck to the person whose slice of King Cake holds the token.

Should you choose to place a token into your Mardi Gras King Cake, you can add it before or after baking depending on what it is made from. You of course would not want to put a plastic baby into the king cake before baking as it would most certainly melt! Please also be extremely cautious if you choose to place this token into your Mardi Gras King Cake, as they can cause dangerous choking hazards. Make sure that you warn those that are eating your King Cake that the token is inside, and to be watchful for it.