It’s time for King

Cake! Mardi Gras is February 21

Here’s what to know about this delicious Mardi Gras tradition

ByDanaHatic/Eater.com

Americans usher in the new year with diets and lifestyle resolutions galore, but many people across the globe particularly those from predominantly Catholic countries celebrate the calendar change with a sweet pastry known as king cake It firstappearsinbakerycasesatthebeginning of each year and can be found at the center of celebrations through early spring Some associate it with Mardi Gras, others with a celebrationknownasEpiphany.

KingcakeiseatenonJanuary6inhonorof Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, which historically marks the arrival of the three wise men/kingsinBethlehemwhodeliveredgifts to the baby Jesus (The plastic baby hidden insidekingcakestodayisanodtothisstory.) King cake also appears on tables throughout the Carnival season, which runs from EpiphanytoFatTuesday(thedaybeforeAsh Wednesday and the start of Lent) at which point practitioners typically abstain from suchindulgencesascake.

Thepastrygoesbydifferentnamesaround the world, and comes in varying shapes and styles Here now, an exploration of the history of this baked good, the traditions surroundingit,andabrieflookatkingcakes acrosstheglobe.

Whatiskingcake?

Asweet,circularpastry,cake,orbreadthat is the centerpiece of a historically Catholic celebrationknownasEpiphany,whichfalls onJanuary6.Todayittakesonmanydifferent forms and is found at a variety of similarcelebrationswithreligiousorigins Most Americans are likely familiar with Louisiana-style king cakes that consist of a cake-y bread dough twisted into a ring and decoratedwithcoloredicingandsprinkles Variants can be made from cake batter or bread dough or pastry, but almost all versions are shaped into a circle or oval to mimic the appearanceofaking’scrown.

Every king cake contains a trinket often a small figurine in the shape of a baby which plays a crucial part in the celebration of the holiday that inspired this pastry Whomeverfinds thetrinketin theirsliceof cakegetstobethe“king foraday

Wherediditoriginate?

King cake is said to have originated in Old World France and Spain and came to be associated with Epiphany during the Middle Ages When it was brought to the New World (along with Catholicism and Christianity),thetraditionevolvedfurther.

InNewOrleans,kingcakeandMardiGras go hand in hand: The cakes can be found startinginearlyJanuaryandareavailableup until Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. Thesymbolicbeanorbabybaked(orembedded)intothekingcakeisimportanttoMardi Gras celebrations because the person who getsthepiececontainingthebabymusthost thenextyear’scelebration.

Howiskingcakemade?

To make it, sweet dough is twisted into a roundandsometimesadornedwithcolored sugar doughs before being baked. Some versionsaresplitandthenfilledwithcream orfruit;othersaretoppedwithcandiedfruit, icing, and colored sugar Louisiana-style king cake is almost always decorated in the colors associated with Mardi Gras: green, gold,andpurple(representingfaith,power, andjustice)

Whyisthereaplasticbabyinsidemyking cake?

Whilethere’salonghistoryofhidingtrinketsinsidekingcakes,themoderntradition of a small plastic baby started in New Orleans AcommercialbakerycalledMcKenzie’s popularizedthebabytrinketthatwasbaked intocakesbackinthe1950s;theywereoriginally made of porcelain but later swapped out for an easier-to-find plastic version. These days the plastic baby figurine is typi- callysoldalongwiththealready-bakedcake and hidden by the purchaser, rather than comingbakedinside(duetoconcernsabout eating something that’s been baked around apieceofplastic).

Howdoyoumakeakingcake?

You could make it from scratch—there are tons of recipes online that can meet almost all needs and skill levels, but the basics remain the same You whip up a sweet brioche dough and then plop in a ton ofcinnamonand/oraflavorfulcreamcheese filling twist the dough into a ring and then bakeit.Don’tforgettodropinthetinyplastic baby!Afterit’sbakedandcompletelycooled, youpileontheicingandalotofsprinkles

WheredoIbuykingcake?

Forthoseofuswhowouldratherbuythan bake,thereareoptions!Nomatterwhereyou live,manybakeriesandgrocerystoresacross the U.S. will have them on hand during the carnivalseason.Butifyou’recravingaLouisiana-stylekingcakeandyoueithera)don’t live in Louisiana; or b) don’t have time to visit Louisiana to simply buy a cake, you’re in luck. Lots of bakeries will ship it straight toyourfrontdoor.

EditorsNote:FormoreNewOrleansinspired recipes to celebrate carnival season, turn to page 4.

Mardi Gras King Cake

BYMICHELLEDOLL/DELISH.COM

Yields: 16 - 20 serving(s)

Prep time: 30 mins

Total time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

CAKE

„ 2largeeggyolks

„ 1c.sourcream

„ ½c.granulatedsugar

„ 4tbsp (½stick)unsaltedbutter,melted

„ 1tsp finelygratedlemonzest

„ 3c.all-purposeflour

„ ½oz.(2packets)instantyeast

„ 1tsp koshersalt

„ ¼tsp groundcinnamon

„ Pinchofgroundnutmeg

„ 1tbsp.canolaoil

FILLING

„ 2tbsp granulatedsugar

„ 2tsp.cinnamon

„ ⅓c.unsaltedbutter,roomtemperature

GLAZE

„ 1½c.powderedsugar

„ 2tbsp wholemilk

„ 1tbsp.freshlemonjuice

„ ¼tsp purevanillaextract

„ Purple,green,andgoldfoodcoloring, forglaze(optional)

„ Purple,green,andgoldsprinklesor sandingsugar fordecorating(optional)

Directions

TOMAKETHECAKE

Step 1: In a large bowl or in the large bowlofastandmixerfittedwiththepaddle attachment, stir egg yolks, sour cream, granulated sugar, butter, and lemon zest to combine Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk flour, yeast,salt cinnamon,andnutmeg

Step 3: Using stand mixer or an electric mixer on medium speed, beat sour cream mixturewhileyouspoonindryingredients afewtablespoonsatatimeuntilcompletely incorporated.Switchtodoughhookattachmentandcontinuetobeatonmediumspeed until dough is smooth and pulls away from sides of bowl, about 5 minutes (Alternatively transfer dough to a floured surface and knead until smooth 8 to 10 minutes.) Resist the temptation to add more flour it’s a sticky dough but will eventually come together

Step 4: Swirl oil inside a large bowl. Transfer dough to bowl, turning to coat in oil Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise untildoubledinsize,about1hourinawarm environmentand90minutesinacolderone

Step 5: Punch down dough and turn out ontoalightlyflouredsurface (Don’tknead.) Usingarollingpin,rolldoughtoalargerectangleabout20”-by-12”

TOMAKETHEFILLING

Step 1: Line a baking sheet with parchment. In a small bowl, combine granulated sugarandcinnamon.Usinganoffsetspatula, spread butter on dough, leaving a 1” border ontop

Step2:Sprinklecinnamonsugarmixture over dough. Roll dough away from you lengthwise (Ifaddingapecan,bean,orother food item in lieu of a baby, you can& hide it in the dough now.) Pinch edges together and transfer to prepared sheet. Form into a circularshapeseamsidedown.Pinchedges ofthecircletogether

Step3:Coverwithakitchentowelandlet riseabout45minutes.

Step 4: Preheat oven to 375° Bake cake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes Let cool on baking sheet. (If you’re inserting a plastic baby, lift up an edge to place into cake.)

TOMAKETHEGLAZE

Step1:Inamediumbowl,mixpowdered sugar milk lemon juice and vanilla until smooth. If glaze is too runny, add more powdered sugar; if it’s too thick, add more milk1teaspoonatatime Divideglazeamong 3 bowls and color it with purple, green, and gold/yellowfoodcoloring,ifdesired.

Step 2: If you want more of a thin glaze, drizzleovertopwhilecakeisstillwarm.For a thicker glaze, wait until cake has cooled andspreadicingwithaspoonoroffsetspatula.

Step 3: Add purple, green, and gold/ yellowsprinkles orsandingsugarifdesired whileglazeisstillslightlywet.