During Mardi Gras, it’s customary to say, Laissez les bon temps rouler, which translates, Let the good times roll. In your world, that might be a throwback to Ric Ocasek circa 1978. In my world, it means eat cake. How convenient for me that the most traditional Mardi Gras recipe is a deliciously sweet and cinnamony yeasted King Cake draped in green, gold, and purple.
How not convenient that making a King Cake recipe in the classic way is incredibly time consuming.
Whether you’re willing to work for the real deal or would rather shortcut with a King Cake inspired treat, we’ve got you covered with these 6 King Cake recipes so that cake can be eaten by all this Mardi Gras, Tuesday, February 17.
Let’s start with a traditional King Cake recipe from one of our favorite cookbook authors of 2014, Joy Wilson of Joy the Baker. She’s a recent transplant to New Orleans and is living—and baking—like a local this year with as you can tell by her recipe for Mardi Gras King Cake. This is a serious endeavor, people. Set aside a good 3 hours if this is going to be on the menu Tueday. But if anyone can walk you through it with ease and humor, it’s Joy.
Want something that looks and tastes traditional, but without the exhaustive work? Angie from Eclectic Recipes has you covered with Easy Mini King Cake recipes. Her secret is to use store bought pop ’n bake cinnamon rolls. She suggests a tasty brand that clearly works well, but we're eager to try it using an all-natural version from one of our favorite brands, Immaculate Bakery.
Related: Fun DIY Mardi Gras masks for kids
