[1] A fun variation: King Cake donuts (photo © Tiny Pies).

[2] A King Cake Bundt. Here’s the recipe (photos #2 and #4 © King Arthur Baking).

[3] You can bake the cake in any shape you like…

[4] …including cupcakes!

Celebrate the festive spirit of Mardi Gras (which begins on Karch 4th this year) with these delightful King Cake donuts (photo #1).

Technically, Mardi Gras, “Fat Tuesday,” is just one day—the day before Ash Wednesday.

But you have a few days’ grace to treat yourself to some of these “mini King Cakes” (they are actually baked donuts with a hole in the center).

The Mardi Gras “season lasts from King’s Day on January 6th until the day before the Catholic Lenten season starts on Ash Wednesday.

The flaky pastry is braided, baked, and topped with a colorful glaze of festive purple, green, and gold sugars—the official colors of Mardi Gras.

Purple represents justice. Green represents faith. Gold represents power. Here’s a detailed discussion of the three colors.

> The history of King Cake.

> The history of Mardi Gras.
 
 
GET YOUR MINI KING CAKES

> Head here.

Or bake one of the recipes below.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!
 
 
KING CAKE RECIPES FOR MARDI GRAS

 
Plus: Fusion Food

 
 
RECIPES TO SERVE WITH KING CAKE

 

[5] A Mardi Gras challah. Here’s the recipe (photo © Hannah Kaminsky | Bittersweet Blog).