Meche’s Donut King Cake
I had this when I lived in Breaux Bridge, LA back in the 50’s, it was prepared by my friend’s grandmother who did not speak english only “Cajun French”.
History of King Cake:
During the weeks of carnival leading to Mardi Gras, the food du jour is king cake, an oval-shaped coffee cake decorated with sugar in the official Mardi Gras c0lors gold for power, green for faith and purple for justice.
The origins of king cake can be traced to the Middle Ages, when the celebration of Christmas often focused on the Three Wise Men, or kings, who followed a star to find the baby Jesus. Epiphany falls on Jan. 6, the Twelfth Night after the birth of Christ. The cake represents a kingly gift, and the baby doll baked inside (replacing the coin or bean used in earlier times) represents the Christ child found by the kings.
This recipe is from Meche’s Donut King, Lafayette, LA.
Meche’s Donut King, 402 Guilbeau Road, Lafayette, LA 70506; (337) 981-4918. The cake is made of doughnut dough and topped with green, purple and gold colored sugars, plus a filling of your choice. It comes with a history of king cake, a cardboard crown, carnival beads and a tiny baby doll to be tucked into the bottom side of the cake. Cost is $35, including next-day shipping.
Ingredients:
2 packages active dry yeast
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1/2 cup lukewarm water
4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup lukewarm milk
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
5 egg yolks
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1 dried bean or pecan half or small (1-inch) plastic or china doll
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon milk
Additional butter, for top of cake
Sugar tinted green, gold and purple, about 4 tablespoons of each color (see directions)
Sprinkle yeast and 2 teaspoons sugar over lukewarm water. Stir to dissolve, then let stand about 10 minutes, or until light and bubbly.
Combine 3-1/2 cups of the flour, 1/2 cup sugar, salt and nutmeg in large mixing bowl; stir to mix well. Add yeast mixture, milk and lemon peel. Work mixture together well (an electric mixer is ideal for this). Add egg yolks; beat in well. Work in 1/2 cup butter and continue to beat until butter is incorporated and mixture is smooth.
Either change to a mixer dough hook, or turn out dough onto floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, working in remaining 1 cup flour gradually. Dough should not be sticky.
Butter a bowl with 1 tablespoon butter; put ball of dough in bowl and turn to coat all sides. Cover with a towel and let rise in a draft-free place 1-1/2 to 2 hours, or until doubled.
Spread remaining 1 tablespoon butter on baking sheet. Turn out dough onto floured surface and form into a roll 14 or 15 inches long. Put roll on prepared baking sheet and form into an oval, pressing ends together to seal. Push bean, nut or doll into dough from the bottom, so that it is not visible from the top. Cover with a towel and let rise 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until doubled.
Brush top with egg-milk wash. Bake on middle rack of preheated 375-degree oven about 25 minutes, or until brown. Slide cake onto a wire rack to cool
Butter top of cooled cake. Using each color to cover 1/3, spread colored sugars over top of cake.
Yield: one cake; 12 to 15 servings.
To tint sugar: Put a drop of desired food color into sugar (one drop for 4 tablespoons sugar) and stir until sugar is evenly colored and brightly tinted. Green, gold (yellow) and purple are the traditional Mardi Gras colors.
Note: Some people knead cinnamon sugar, candied citron or raisins into the dough. Sometimes a confectioners sugar or fondant icing is applied before the colored sugars are added. Sometimes the cake is filled with cream cheese and/or other fillings.
February 5, 2005
Posted in: Eats
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10 Responses
Thanks for the recipe and geaux tigers. My old cake making grounds down there too! I mess the king cakes and will make one this year. Thanks again!
Used to live down the street from this exact store. I loved everything they make. Happen to be a Meche, so glad they make the family look good. Enjoy to all. Jen
I have not had this cake yet, but have been told that it is the best. Thanks.
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Honestly, this is the best king cake in the world! Dont be fooled by buying one from New Orleans and having it shipped cause by the time it gets to you it will be dry and tasteless. I grew up in Lafayette but now live in Houston and I pick a few up around this time every year. The best!
the best king cake I’ve had….a marketer brought to us…there went the diet….
Thanks, Jerry!
I will give this one a try, too!
; )
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just moved back down here from Cleveland, OH. All i want for my birthday on October 9th is a king cake from your store. That is exactly what I’m going to get when I wake up in the morning!!!!
Mona, This is just a blog article about Meches
I suggest you call them at (337) 981-4918 and see if they will ship to Iraq.
Do you make Easter King Cakes? If so,do you ship them to Iraq?
Thanks,
Mona
I have not had this cake yet, but have been told that it is the best. I am planning on picking one up for my family reunion next weekend. I can say that their donuts are the best, so if the cake is made from the same dough…i’m sure it is fabulous
I’ll let you know !!!:smile:
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