People along the Gulf Coast are very serious about Mardi Gras. You might be surprised to learn that the very first Mardi Gras celebrations were in Mobile, Alabama, not New Orleans~
Decorations go up on King’s day Jan. 6, 12 days after Christmas, the feast of the Epiphany. It celebrates the three kings, bringing their gifts to baby Jesus.
King’s day marks the beginning of Mardi Gras season. From Jan 6 until Fat Tuesday, March 4th this year, locals stay busy with parties, parades and celebrations. Schools are even closed for vacation the week of Fat Tuesday in many places, because of all the festivities!
One of my good friends is on the court of the Krewe, Bon Temps Cabrix. This is one of the local Krewes in Orange Beach. So exciting! She asked me to paint a platter for King Robin~ and glasses for her court
The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple [justice], gold [power], and green [faith].
Bon Temps Cabrix is French for good time kids [goats]! They have some wild and crazy parties!
There are lots of wreaths and fun decorations everywhere
This isn’t really the French Quarter, it’s a little shopping plaza nearby in Fairhope, Alabama
There is even a Mardi Gras tree in our local grocery store!
Balloons and cakes galore!
The traditional food all season is King Cake. There are many versions and I have a new recipe posting in a few weeks, but in the meantime I want to re-share an easy peasy version I made last year. It’s, well, it’s fit for a King! The cakes were made circular to represent the route that the kings took to get to the Christ child.
Originally the cakes were baked with a small pea or coin. The person who got the piece with the token was said to be blessed with good luck for the coming year. The tokens have been replaced in modern times with a small plastic baby, representing Jesus. Whoever gets the baby is expected to host a King cake party in the next year
I bought this cake at Publix for us to nibble on, but my version is almost as easy as buying one at the deli~
It’s easy because you use crescent rolls. You don’t have to make the colored icing either, it’s just as good with a little white drizzle and a sprinkle of sugar.
CRESCENT KING CAKE
Ingredients
- 1 can 8, crescent rolls
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- powdered sugar
- almond extract {the secret ingredient}
- milk
- yellow, green, purple food color gels
- sparkling sugar or colored sugars
Instructions
- Unroll crescent rolls and press to seal all perforations.
- Mix vanilla in with the melted butter. Spread butter and vanilla over crescent rolls.
- Mix pecans with cinnamon and brown sugar. Top butter with pecan mixture.
- Starting with the long end, roll up jelly roll style and form into a circle. Pinch edges together. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes (until golden brown).
- After the cake has cooled, mix together powdered sugar and milk and almond extract to make an icing.
- For each color start with 1/8 cup powdered sugar. Add 1 T milk, 1/2 tsp almond extract to a tiny bowl with a few drops of desired food coloring and stir. Once color is mixed add it to the sugar and stir. Continue to add sugar {up to another 1/8 cup or so} until glaze/icing is the desired consistency. Add more milk if it gets too thick.
- Top cake with icing and sprinkle with colored sugar.
Notes
We will be celebrating all through February so stop by any time!
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I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs: