Mardi Grass King Cake

• This method is a common one for making filled coffee cakes or Danish pastry rings. Here it is adapted to make an easy King Cake for Mardi Gras with its traditional purple (denoting justice), green (faith), and yellow (power) wide stripes of color. However, you will want to keep this simple method on file for a fast and easy filled coffee cake at any time of the year.

• These instructions show how to form the King Cake. Refer to the standard recipe for full ingredients, measures, baking, and icing instructions.
• Position triangles next to each other with the points toward the center, overlapping the long sides about 1/4-inch, forming a large round.

• Begin by unrolling crescent roll dough and separating the dough into triangles.
• Where the pieces overlap, press the seams together only in the center of each seam, leaving either ends of the seams unsealed so you can fold them up over the filling.
• Spread the filling around in a ring covering the center sealed seam of each triangle.
• The maker of each King Cake hides a token in the cake. The tokens used are a dried red bean or a figurine of a baby, representing the Christ child. When the cake is cut and shared, the finder of the hidden treasure is said to enjoy good luck for the coming year. The lucky recipient may also be expected to bake the King Cake or throw the Mardi Gras party for the following year.

• Now is the time to place a small plastic baby or dried red bean somewhere in the filling.
• Fold the short side of each triangle toward the center just to the edge of the filling to cover.
• Then pull the point end of the triangles toward the outer rim of the pan to fully enclose the filling, tucking under the points. Lightly press the seams.
• Bake King Cake for 20 to 25 minutes at 350 F. until golden brown. Let cool to room temperature.
• The cake is frosted with gold, green, and purple icing representing in order, power, faith, and justice.

• Prepare icing according to the recipe. Spoon the icing in a ring over the top of the King Cake and allow it to slowly drip down the sides.

• To decorate for Mardi Gras, sprinkle wide stripes of purple, green, and yellow colored sugar crystals.

• If using food coloring, whisk together icing per recipe. Divide icing evenly amongst 3 bowls. Add 2 drops each of red and blue food coloring to the first bowl to make purple. Use 2 drops each of yellow and green in the remaining 2 bowls. Scrape each individual bowl into its own ziptop bag. Squeeze out all the air and seal. Snip off one corner of the bag and use as a pastry bag to pipe wide stripes of icing on the King Cake. The bags will give you more control than using a spoon or spatula. The icing should firm up a bit in about an hour.