Ideas for Imitating King Cake

We suggest two alternate methods for creating your own King Cake. The first is BUYING DOUGHNUT HOLES, DOUGHNUT TWISTS, OR COFFEECAKE.  Doughnuts and coffeecake are similar in taste and texture to King Cake, especially if there is cinnamon mixed in the dough.  If you would like to use doughnut holes, buy about 5 dozen (the cinnamon cake-like work very well) and place them in an '0' shape on a large plate or cookie sheet.  If you are using doughnut twists, buy 2 dozen, and again, place them in an 'O' shape on a large plate or cookie sheet.  If you are using coffeecake, simply place on large plate or cookie sheet.

If you could only get glazed doughnuts or plain coffeecake and would like a cinnamon taste, mix 2/3-cup brown sugar, 1-1/4 sticks butter, and 2-teaspoons cinnamon in a pan, boil for 1 minute. Cool slightly, then pour over your arranged doughnuts or coffeecake.

Alternate the three colored sugar packets around your cake. Make the first section purple, second section green, and the third section gold, repeating until the entire cake has about 5 sections of each color.  It should look similar to this King Cake (lead to image of cake).  Before you cut your cake, place the baby in one of the pieces where the person eating the cake can easily discover it.

The second method we suggest is THE MONKEY BREAD WAY.  Monkey Bread is a delicious Louisiana treat, and the perfect surrogate cake.  If you have the time, we definitely recommend that you invest it in this recipe. You will go absolutely nuts for this bread, which can also be used year-round!

MONKEY BREAD

4 cans buttermilk biscuits

2/3 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1-1/4 stick butter
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 large plastic bag

Preheat oven to 350F.  Separate biscuits and cut into quarters.  Roll quarters into balls.  Mix 2/3-cup sugar and 1-tsp cinnamon in plastic bag. Shake biscuit rolls in the plastic bag until evenly coated. Place biscuit rolls in Bundt pan (or shape into an "O" on cookie sheet). Pour extra sugar mixture left over from bag on top.  Mix brown sugar, butter, and 1-tsp cinnamon in saucepan.  Boil for 1 minute. Pour over biscuits.  Bake at 350F for 35 minutes.

When the cake is done, alternate the three colored sugars around your cake.  Make the first section purple, second section green, and the third section gold, repeating until the entire cake has about 3 sections of each color. Before you cut your cake, place the baby in one of the pieces where the person eating the cake can easily discover it.

Enjoy... and Happy Mardi Gras!