Brought to the Gulf states area by colonists from France and Spain, King Cake is associated with Carnival or Mardi Gras! King Cake parties in New Orleans are documented back to the eighteenth century and the cakes come in numbers of styles! The most simple is the recipe listed below. Cajun King Cakes are traditionally deep-fat-fried like a doughnut with the filling! Yum! It is customary to bake a small trinket (usually a baby) in the cake and make 2-inch cuts. The person who receives the trinket receives various privileges! In our home its no chores for a week! Somehow I never am the winner.
- 1 can of cinnamon rolls, with icing
- 3/4 cup of sugar, separated into 3 parts of 1/4 each
- a container of cream cheese icing
- food coloring or colored sprinkles
- Separate the cinnamon rolls and roll them out by hand into a log shape.
- Make the log into an oval and pinch the ends together.
- Place on a cookie sheet and bake as directed.
- Use food coloring to dye icing. Make purple, yellow and green in three equal parts.
- When your King Cake is finished cooking, ice the tops with different colors, (or use plain icing and sprinkles) alternating as you go around the oval.
