How To Do Just About Everything
By divinemuse
Laissez les Bon Ton Roulet with this quick and easy Mardi Gras King Cake!
Rate: (10 Ratings)
Around the 12th Century, early Europeans celebrated the coming of the three wise men during the twelve days after Christmas with a feast of the Epiphany, also known as Twelfth Night or King' s Day. Essential to this celebration was the King Cake, which was baked in honor of the three Kings. The King Cake's circular shape is said to portray the circular route followed by the Kings to see the Christ Child (and to confuse King Herod). Tradition has it that a token (a pea, bean, coin, presently a plastic baby) is cooked inside of the cake. The lucky person receives the piece of King Cake with the hidden token was "King" for the Day and was said to be blessed with good luck for the coming year. In Louisiana, Twelfth Night also signifies the beginning of the carnival season, which ends on Mardi Gras Day. The festive Mardi Gras King Cake is an essential treat at any authentic Mardi Gras celebration. Most recently, a small plastic baby figurine is hidden within the King Cake for a lucky person to find. During carnival season, the person who gets the baby is expected to keep the good times rolling by hosting the next Mardi Gras/King Cake party. If you get the baby, or if you just want to create your own touch of Mardi Gras magic in your kitchen, this easy Mardi Gras King Cakes- made from ready to bake cinnamon rolls you find in your grocery store--will do the trick. Preparation only takes minutes. You are guaranteed to have plenty of time left to let the good times roll and to be the hit of the party!
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Open canned cinnamon rolls and separate into individual rolls.
Take one individual roll and unroll it to full length.
Fold full length of dough in half.
Twist (or braid) rope and place on cooking pan.
Twist (or braid) second rope and place on the cooking pan end-to-end with the first rope.
Optional step: If you have a mess of folks to feed or just like the look of a thicker King Cake, can use two cans of cinnamon rolls and place a second circle of dough inside the first.
Optional step two: If you choose to make your King Cake as described in the above optional step, you can twist/braid the second circle of dough with the first circle of dough. This will give your King Cake a more intricate design/look.
Continue adding twisted sections of dough until you have made a complete circle.
Using your hands, gently move circle of dough into an oval for a more traditional King Cake shape.
Place King Cake into 375 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
While the King Cake is in the oven, you should prepare the icing and decoration.
To prepare homemade icing: Place powdered sugar (approx 1-2 cups) into a small mixing bowl. Slowly mix in warm water until the icing is the desired consistency.
Remove King Cake from oven when it is nice and golden brown. I like to make sure mine is a little more "done" than a batch of cinnamon rolls would be.
Before the King Cake begins to cool, spoon a generous amount of icing over the top and sides.
Immediately after icing your King Cake, sprinkle the icing with a combination of the purple, gold, and green crystal sprinkles.
Add a few strands of Mardi Gras beads and a Mardi Gras Mask and you are ready to Laissez les Bon Ton Roulet (Let the Good Times Roll!)!
Biting into a plastic baby may be a bit surprising (and perhaps even traumatic) to your Mardi Gras party guests,I suggest foregoing baking the baby into the cake or hiding it under the baked cake. Instead, place the baby among the beads and other embellishments surrounding your King Cake.
Enthusiast 
Comments
momofour said
on 7/23/2008 Interesting! Step 18 made me laugh out loud! Thanks for sharing!