Happy Fat Tuesday! 

We sure do miss Louisiana this time of year. During our 6 years stationed there we loved the Mardi Gras celebrations the best! The parades and the King Cakes, every flavor you can imagine, were our favorite things about Mardi Gras and every year my girls and I would set out to try a new flavor {or two or three}. One of my favorite local King Cake bakers is Chef Shauna from Dat Truck. I included her cakes in my post My Favorite King Cake Treats in Central Louisiana and we was lucky enough for her send a homemade Bavarian Cream Filled King Cake to us here in Missouri this year! Scroll down for a little history on Mardi Gras, King Cake decorating tips, and of course, to see this year’s cake!

Check out Dat Truck, located in Deridder, Louisiana,  here on Facebook.

The history of the King Cake

Now time to decorate!

Don’t worry they didn’t lick the spoons until after they frosted the cake!

Start with a cooled and filled King Cake.

Now add a powdered sugar glaze all over the top or spread on a flavored frosting. Traditionally it is white.

Most decorate your own King Cakes come with glaze and sprinkles.

But if not you need yellow, purple, and green sugar sprinkles.

You want to color the cake evenly in the three colors. First purple over 1/3 of the frosting.

Now green sprinkles over another 1/3 of the frosting.

And finally gold over the remaining frosting covered King Cake. 

You can decorate with colorful plastic beaded necklaces or fake gold coins. 

I love the look of the Brioche style braided dough and the cream filling makes it extra rich and delicious.

Lucky Ashton had the baby in his slice so he is the King next year and has to get the cake!

We sure do miss Mardi Gras festivities in the South but thank goodness we had a little slice of Mardi Gras at home this year with Dat Truck’s King Cake!

The post All About Mardi Gras King Cake : History and Tips appeared first on For the Love of Food.

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Mardi Gras King Cake Latte

Makes one mug

Ingredients

• 4 oz ground espresso 2 scoops
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon plus more for garnish
• 1 tbsp caramel
• 2/3 cup milk

Instructions

• Add espresso to the Ninja coffee maker, set to "specialty brew" and travel cup size (4oz). You can also brew a strong cup of coffee in a regular coffee maker.
• Add caramel, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a large mug.
• Place in your coffee maker and brew into your mug.
• Meanwhile heat milk for  minute in the microwave, then froth milk.
• When latte is brewed give it a stir, top with frothed milk, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Add caramel, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a large mug.

Caramel and coffee are a match made in heaven {in my foodie opinion!}.

I use 2 scoops of espresso for a large mug and double for a cappuccino size mug.
You can also use strong coffee.

I love my Ninja and all it’s fancy settings!
I use the specialty brew to make a strong cup of coffee, perfect for a latte!

Add espresso to the Ninja coffee maker, set to “specialty brew” and travel cup size (4oz).
You can also brew a strong cup of coffee in a regular coffee maker.

Place in your coffee maker and brew into your mug.

Meanwhile heat milk for 1 minute in the microwave, then froth milk.

When latte is brewed give it a stir and top with frothed milk.

Add a sprinkle of cinnamon on top and enjoy!

Happy Mardi Gras Coffee Lovers!

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Chila ‘Orchata
Cinnamon Cream Rum mixed with King Cake Vodka and a splash of Amaretto
are the perfect combo for a cool and creamy King Cake Cocktail to
celebrate Fat Tuesday! Garnish with cinnamon, a sugared rim, and a cube of King Cake and you are ready to party!

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King Cake Cocktail for Fat Tuesday

Makes one drink

Ingredients

• 2 oz Chila 'Orchata Cinnamon Cream Rum
• 2 oz King Cake Vodka
• 1/2 oz Amaretto
• Ice
• Cinnamon for garnish
• Yellow green and purple sugar, for rimming glass
• Small cube of King Cake for garnish

Instructions

• Rim a chilled martini glass with colored sugar. I dip in vodka then dip in the three different colored sugars.
• To make the sugar just add 1-2 drops of food coloring to a 3 separate tbsps of sugar and stir until combined.
• In a shaker combine ice, vodka, Chila 'Orchata, and Amaretto.
• Shake vigorously,strain, and pour into martini glass.
• Add a sprinkle of cinnamon and skewer a cube of King Cake and lay across the top.
• Drink up and enjoy!

These three liquors combined make one tasty cocktail!

Chill your cocktail glass in the freezer before preparing your drink.
I like to use a martini glass.

Add a small amount of vodka to a plate or wide bowl and add all three colored sugars, in purple, green, and yellow to a plate.

Dip the rim of the chilled glass in the vodka.

To make the sugar just add 1-2 drops of food coloring to a 3 separate
tbsps of sugar and stir until combined.

Then dip a different section of the rim in a different color sugar.
 
 To make the cocktail start with a handful of ice cubes added to a shaker.
 
 Add 2oz Chila ‘Orchata Cinnamon Cream Rum to the shaker.

Now add 2oz King Cake Vodka.
You could also use Vanilla Vodka.

And finally add 1/2 oz Amaretto.

Shake it up well in the cocktail shaker.

 

Strain and pour into the cocktail glass.

It’s not done yet!
Mardi Gras is over the top so why not add a cube of
 skewered King Cake and even a traditional King Cake baby on top?! 

Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon and you are ready to celebrate!

Laissez les bon temps roulez !

{Let the good times roll}

The post King Cake Cocktail for Fat Tuesday appeared first on For the Love of Food.

My girls love King Cake just like their Mama! Photos by Lisa Anne Photography

King Cake Bread Pudding and Bacon Wrapped Dates for noshing on at the Ladies Night Out Paint Party.

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Pecan Praline King Cake Bread Pudding

Makes one 9X13 bread pudding

Ingredients

• 1 large Pecan Praline King Cake cut into 1 inch cubes
• 3 large croissants cut into 1 inch cubes
• 6 eggs beaten
• 1 quart milk
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt

For the topping:

• 8 oz bag Glazed Pecans {or 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans with 1/3 cup brown sugar)
• 2 tbsp flour
• 4 tbsp butter diced

For the glaze:

• 4 ounces cream cheese cubed and softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2-3 drops each of purple green, and yellow food coloring

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter a 9X13 or 2 8X8 baking dishes.
• Add cubed king cake and croissants to the buttered dish/es.
• In a large bowl whisk together eggs, milk, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
• Pour over the cubed bread, pressing down. Let sit for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine the bag of glazed pecans with flour and butter. Mix together, crumbling by hand.
• Sprinkle evenly over the top of the bread pudding.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes until cooked through and the topping is lightly browned and toasted.
• Let cool slightly before adding the glaze.

For the glaze:

•  Beat cream cheese on medium-high speed with an electric mixer until fluffy.
• Add sugar and beat until combined.
• Add salt, lemon juice, and milk; mix on low speed until smooth.
• Divide into three bowls and add 2-3 drops of food coloring into each bowl. You should have one purple, one green, and one yellow.
• Using a spoon, drizzle generous lines of all three colored glazes across the top of the bread pudding.
• Slice into squares and serve warm or at room temp.

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