| King Cake Anyone? |
By Kara Johnson
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| Making Your Own King Cake A New Family Tradition Turning baking a king cake into a fun family activity is a wonderful way to celebrate Mardi Gras together! As a child, I loved Mardi Gras season. Every year on 12th Night, my family would gather at my great grandparents 7th ward home to kick the season off with king cake and eggnog. It was something I looked forward to. It seemed that every year, my great uncle, Emile, would get the baby, and after much deliberation (it seemed to me), he would choose me to be the queen and present me with the baby. The suspense I felt as silently prayed to be the Queen… again. All these years later, it is still a cherished memory of time with my family. My wish for you is to create family traditions everyone will cherish. Speaking of traditions, if you want to learn all about the history of king cakes, please go to my website for ‘The Great King Cake Debate’. |
| The Plan |
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| King Cake By Design Here are some creative ideas to make the process of making your own king cake engaging and memorable: 1. Assign Roles for Teamwork Divide tasks based on age and skill level so everyone feels involved: – Kids:Can help measure ingredients, mix the dough, or sprinkle toppings. – Teens/Adults: Can handle more complex tasks like kneading dough, rolling out the rectangle, or applying the filling. – Everyone: Take turns stirring, shaping the dough, and decorating the cake. 2. Make It a Themed Event – Dress Up: Encourage everyone to wear Mardi Gras colors (purple, green, and gold) or costumes like masks, beads, and hats. – Play Music: Create a playlist of New Orleans jazz, zydeco, or Mardi Gras classics to set the mood. – Decorate the Kitchen: Hang up Mardi Gras decorations like streamers, balloons, and beads to make the space festive. 3. Turn It Into a Competition – Filling Flavor Contest: Let family members create their own mini fillings using different combinations of spices, nuts, fruits, or chocolate. Vote on the best one! – Decorating Challenge: Divide the cake into sections and let each person decorate their part with icing, sprinkles, or edible glitter. Award prizes for “Most Creative,” “Most Colorful,” or “Most Traditional.” 4. Hide Multiple Babies or Trinkets – Instead of just one baby, hide several small trinkets (like beads, coins, or tiny toys) in the cake. Each person who finds one gets a small prize or gets to make a wish. 5. Storytime While Baking – Share the history of Mardi Gras and king cakes. Talk about the traditions, the symbolism of the colors, and why the baby is hidden. You can even read a children’s book about Mardi Gras while the dough rises. 6. Create a King Cake Bar – Set up a “king cake bar” with different fillings, icings, and toppings so everyone can customize their own mini king cake or slice. Include options like: – Fillings: cinnamon sugar, cream cheese, fruit preserves, chocolate, or savory options with your Creole and Cajun seasonings. – Toppings: colored sprinkles, edible glitter, crushed nuts, or gold dust. 7. Make It a Learning Experience – Math Skills: Have kids measure ingredients or double the recipe to practice fractions. – Science Fun: Explain how yeast works to make the dough rise. – Cultural Exploration: Teach kids about the origins of Mardi Gras and how it’s celebrated around the world. 8. Document the Fun – Take photos or videos of the process and create a family scrapbook or social media post. You can even make it an annual tradition to compare photos from year to year. 9. Host a King Cake Party – Invite friends or neighbors to join in the fun. Everyone can bring their own king cake or help decorate one giant cake together. 10. End with a Celebration – Once the king cake is ready, gather around to enjoy it together. Play Mardi Gras games, have a mini parade, or dance to your playlist. And please don’t forget to crown your “King” and “Queen”! By involving the entire family in making the king cake, you’ll create fun, lasting memories and a new family tradition. 🎉👑 |