It's all about a King...

 

Fat Tuesday.  That's what we always called this day growing up.  Having grown up in Texas, not all that far away from New Orleans, I was fully aware that Mardi Gras literally means Fat Tuesday. However, since moving to the East Coast, I've heard it called Shrove Tuesday, Kinkling Day and Fasnacht.  Whatever you call it, I've learned that what it represents is the day before Ash Wednesday and the day you load up on all your favorite treats before Lent and giving them up until Easter!

King cake takes its name from the three kings in the bible.  The season for king cake extends from the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas, Epiphany up until Fat Tuesday.  It's a fun tradition that we started celebrating in our home, when our son was little.  We each always hope to get the baby baked inside!  (Tradition says this baby represents baby Jesus and that the person who gets this piece will have good luck for the coming year.) 

I personally love this tradition!  The problem is that it's not that easy to find a king cake this far out of New Orleans... The solution I've found:  This easy recipe anyone can make!

Cake
3 rolls of 12 refrigerated crescent rolls in the can 

Filling
1/2 block cream cheese
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1/2 cup brown sugar

Icing 
2 cups Powdered Sugar
1/8 c. milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
food coloring

To start, place all filling ingredients in food processor and blend well.

 

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a pizza stone or baking pan with a spray vegetable oil like Pam. 

Unroll crescent roll dough and separate each triangle. Place triangles next to each other with the points toward the center, overlapping the longer sides to form a large circle.. Press together where the pieces overlap in the center but be sure to leave the ends of the seams unsealed at both ends so you can fold them over the filling.  Three cans makes a very large circle.  You may have a few left over, but you can use them to strengthen any weak sections after folding.

 

Once you have your dough circle, spread the filling around the center in about a one-two inch inner circle.

Place a small plastic baby somewhere in the filling. *Don't worry about baking it, I've never had one melt.

Fold the top side of each triangle over the filling to cover.  Next, pull the point of the triangles from the inside of the circle over the fold you just created, tucking it under neatly as you go.  Lightly press all the seams to keep the filling from escaping.   This is where you can use the extra dough if needed to reinforce any weak sections.

 Bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool to room temperature.

For the Icing, whisk together the ingredients until smooth. You want the consistency to be almost like glue so it will slowly dribble down the cake as you spoon it on.  Next, separate into three bowls and add the food coloring.  The traditional colors of Mardi Gras King Cake are purple, green and yellow.  Purple represents justice, green represents faith and gold represents power.  Spoon each color 4 times around your circle, starting with your darkest color first.

 Let dry for a few minutes between colors.

Eat, drink and be merry my friends for tomorrow begins Lent and 

we certainly wouldn't want this left over!

Oh and I hope you get the baby!  Good luck!