Make a King Cake to Celebrate Mardi Gras in Severna Park

King Cake, by definition, is a bakery item associated with Mardi Gras traditions. Usually served during parties held in the season leading up to Fat Tuesday and the beginning of Catholic Lent, it can be a delicious and fun way to put your touch on a gathering this year.

King Cake season extends from the end of Ephipany (Jan. 6, or Three King's Day) through to Mardi Gras day itself, which this year is March 8.

In Mardi-Gras-famous New Orleans, the tradition can be traced back to the 18th century. King Cake itself is thought to have started in France around the 12th century. That's a lot of King Cake!

King Cake's delightful history takes its name from the Biblical three kings whose travel to Bethlehem took 12 days, arriving in time to honor the Christ Child on the Feast of the Epiphany. 

Cakes were made in a circular shape to portray the circular route used by the kings to arrive at the Christ Child's birthplace. This was done to confuse evil King Herod, who tried to follow the wise men so that he could kill the Christ Child.

Symbolism doesn't stop there. Baked into the King Cake itself there is often a tiny plastic baby, trinket or shelled pecan hidden, representing the actual Christ Child. The person who finds the trinket in his or her slice of cake becomes the new king (or queen) for the day. It's up to that person to provide the cake for  the next gathering. Finding the hidden "baby" is also thought to be a sign of good fortune for the year to come. 

The King Cake most familiar to many is a ring of braided or twisted sweet Brioche bread, topped with icing and/or sugar in the traditional carnival colors of bright purple (for justice), green (for faith) and yellow or gold (for power).

 While there are many versions -  some containing real fruit filling or fresh cream - each cake is decorated with the three traditional colors. 

For Patch readers looking to start a new tradition to add to their family fun, try this low-calorie, low-fat recipe. It serves 32. One slice has 134 calories and two grams of fat.

Mardi Gras King Cake

5 3/4 cup flour

 1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. salt

2 pkg. yeast

3/4 cup skim milk

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup stick butter or margarine

1 tsp. grated lemon rind

2 eggs

1 small trinket, pecan half or baby figurine (which can be found in craft and party stores in the baby shower section).

• Combine two cups of flour, the sugar, salt and yeast. Set aside.
• Combine milk, water and margarine in a saucepan until warm.
• Stir together the dry and wet ingredients and beat until smooth.
• Add another cup of flour, the rind and eggs. Beat again until smooth.
• Continue adding flour until fully incorporated. Knead until smooth and elastic. 
•  Liberally coat surface of dough with small amount of cooking oil to prevent  surface from drying out and set aside. Let rise one hour, or until doubled. Punch down and turn out. 
• Divide into thirds. Create three 26” ropes. Braid and form circular ring shape. Hide trinket within dough from underneath. Let rise again for 45 minutes, or until doubled.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes; should sound hollow.

For icing:

Combine 1 cup confectioners sugar with 1 Tbsp. lemon juice and 1 Tbsp. water. Divide into thirds and add food colorings. Spoon over the cooled, baked bread ring.

Serve to smiling crowd.

If you don't have the time and would like to order a King Cake, try Giant Food, the Freedom Bakery and Safeway. Call ahead.