The shortcut makes it so easy a kid can make it.

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

A few weeks ago, I tasted my first galette de rois.

A friend in the office where I work brought it in to share.

King cake (all decorated) on a cake stand at a table setting with utensils, a purple napkin, wine glasses, and a stack of plates

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Theres more than one way to bake a king cake.

Maybe, but its indisputably delicious.

If we want home-baked treats, we have to cut some corners.

King cake (all decorated) on a cake stand at a table setting with utensils, a purple napkin, wine glasses, and a stack of plates

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

I have never been to New Orleans (or Louisiana, for that matter).

But I do appreciate how much folks get into the spirit of Mardi Gras all over America.

Its fun to have an excuse to throw a party…or bake a cake.

Slice of king cake on a plate with a utensil, and in the background, more on a cake stand at a table setting with drinks and a napkin

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

A kid could make it.

Heck,mykid should make it.

Then I jazz it up with a cream cheese filling subtly flavored with lemon zest and cinnamon.

Filling ingredients mixed together in a bowl for mardi gras king cake

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Its Not A King Cake Without Colorful Decorations

Every king cake needs over-the-top decoration.

But you could leave the icing plain white and stick to sprinkling it with colored sugars instead.

Its customary to insert a plastic baby in a king cake, but I use a pecan instead.

Crescent dough triangles arranged in a circle on a parchment paper lined baking tray for mardi gras king cake recipe

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

It wont crack anyones fillings.

I plan to bring mine in to share with my officemates this year.

Luckily, even non-bakers can pull off this version.

Filling spread evenly in a ring on the arranged crescent dough for king cake recipe

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Beat with a wooden spoon or electric hand mixer until creamy.

Pop initiate the cans of crescent roll dough and separate it into triangles.

Arrange them in a circle on the baking sheet, overlapping slightly.

Inner edge of dough folded over the filling and the pecan placed on the filling for easy king cake recipe

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Lay the pecan on the filling.

Fold the inner points in like a pinwheel, then fold in the outer points so they overlap.

You should wind up with a ring.

outer edges of dough folded over to create the king cake shape

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

(Dont worry if its a little sloppy.

The cake will look better once its baked.)

Bake until golden, about 30 minutes.

shape of the king cake after all edges are folded

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Add the milk to make it thin enough to drizzle, but not so thin that its soupy.

Divide between three bowls and tint one green, one purple, and one yellow.

The cake will keep, tightly covered, at room temperature for 3 days.

baked king cake on a parchment lined baking tray

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

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green, purple, and white icing added to the king cake

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

king cake topped with sprinkles

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Slice of king cake lifted off the cake pan

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm