Don't have time to let the dough rise? Use packaged crescent rolls to make this quick and easy king cake recipe!
Is it even Mardi Gras if you don't make a King Cake Recipe? No! A King Cake is one of the ultimate Mardi Gras traditions that you definitely want to include in your Fat Tuesday celebration. That's why we came up with this simple recipe that you can make quickly. But don't worry, just because it is easy does not mean it is short on flavor! This cake has cream cheese, brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans in the filling.
What is a King Cake?
Coated in the Mardi Gras colors of purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power), the King's Cake is a Mardi Gras tradition. It is round, to look like a crown, and usually made of sweet bread dough with a flavorful filling baked inside the dough. A bean, coin, or small plastic baby figure is hidden inside the cake. Depending on the culture, the person who finds the hidden item in the cake is made “king” of the celebration, must make the next king cake, or must host a party on Candlemas (February 2nd).
Why is there a baby inside?
Traditionally it was a bean that was hidden in the cake. The bean became a baby in the 1950s when a New Orlean's bakery was approached by a salesman who had too many plastic babies on his hands and suggested the baby would be less likely to get lost in the cake than a small bean.
However, in the Spanish version, Rosca de Reyes or Three Kings Cake, the baby is said to represent when Jesus had to go into hiding from Herrod.
When do you eat King Cake?
The first king cake is traditionally served on January 6th, also known as Twelfth Night, the Epiphany, or Kings Day. January 6th is the day that we celebrate the wise men bringing gifts to Jesus. King Cakes are often served on Fridays throughout the carnival season in some cultures. And of course, a King Cake is a mandatory part of any Mardi Gras celebration which occurs on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.
How to Make King Cake with Crescent Rolls:
Instead of making sweet bread dough for your cake, you can use 2 packages of crescent rolls. Separate crescent roll triangles. Then arrange the triangles on a large, round baking stone or pizza pan with the points in the middle. This will create a large circle. Then like a traditional king cake, you will put the filling on the dough. Then you will wrap the triangle pieces around the filling. First, fold the pointed end up, then foul the wider edge over, and press gently to seal. You will find details pictures below.
Easy King Cake Recipe
Let the good times roll with this crazy easy Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe using Crescent Rolls.
Ingredients:
- 2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent roll dough
- 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Colored sugars in purple, green, yellow
- Small plastic baby, bean, or coin
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Open crescent rolls and separate triangles. Arrange triangles on a large, round baking stone or pizza pan with the points in the middle.
- Press the crescent rolls together at their middle in a round circle, allowing the edges to remain loose.
- In a mixer, combine cream cheese, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla until well blended. Then, mix in pecans.
- Evenly spoon cream cheese mixture over the pressed area of the crescent rolls.
- Fold points of crescent rolls over the cream cheese mixture, pressing the tips into the other side of the dough. Then, fold the wide edges of the dough over the cream cheese mixture, tucking the ends under the inside of the crescent ring. Lightly press to seal any open creases.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until golden.
- Allow the king cake to cool slightly but not completely.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and lemon juice until blended with no lumps remaining. Pour icing over king cake.
- Immediately add colored sugars.
- Before serving, slide a plastic baby favor or coin under the king cake.
The person who gets the token in their slice will make the king cake next year.
This tradition is thought to have been brought to New Orleans from France in 1870.
Printable Recipe for Easy King Cake
- 2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent roll dough
- 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Colored sugars in purple, green, yellow
- Small plastic baby favor or coin
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Open crescent rolls and separate triangles. Arrange triangles on a large, round baking stone or pizza pan with the points in the middle.
- Press the crescent rolls together at their middle in a round circle, allowing the edges to remain loose.
- In a mixer, combine cream cheese, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla until well blended. Then, mix in pecans.
- Evenly spoon cream cheese mixture over the pressed area of the crescent rolls.
- Fold points of crescent rolls over the cream cheese mixture, pressing the tips into the other side of the dough. Then, fold the wider edges of the dough over the cream cheese mixture, tucking the ends under the inside of the crescent ring. Lightly press to seal any open creases.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until golden.
- Allow king cake to cool slightly but not completely.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and lemon juice until blended with no lumps remaining. Pour icing over king cake. Immediately add colored sugars.
- Before serving, slide a plastic baby favor or coin under the king cake. The person who gets the token in their slice will make the next king cake.
More Mardi Gras Recipes and Activities
Mardi Gras White Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Mardi Gras Ice Ring Using King Cake Soda
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