The Infamous Mardi Gras Burger Sandwiched Between Two Slices Of Cake
Ready your bead-throwing arm and put on "Mardi Gras in New Orleans," because Fat Tuesday is only a few days away. And in anticipation of February 21, celebrators in Louisiana and beyond are partaking in the annual quest to discover and devour the most delectable King Cake possible.
Named for the three kings that gave baby Jesus an abundance of gifts (though none of them, tragically, were cake), this sweet treat of a Mardi Gras tradition is a half-coffee cake, half-cinnamon creation topped with icing and sprinkles. The baked good houses a plastic baby inside its sweet bread and if you find this unassuming infant in your slice of cake, you're responsible for buying the next one so that your friends and family can continue rolling in the tasty dough. However, the question is, what King Cake variation is best – Antoine's or Manny Randazzo's? Stuffed with cream cheese or plain? How about piled high with meat in the form of a burger? Oh yeah, according to an Instagram post, in Louisiana, it turns out you can keep in peak Mardi Gras form by having King Cake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Here's what you need to know about the Mardi Gras cake burger of legend.
Meet the Mardi Gras Mambo Burger
Throughout the year, Louisiana restaurant chain Burger Smith offers New Orleans-style ice cream and burgers made with fresh ingredients. And during Mardi Gras, it sells the infamous Mardi Gras Mambo Burger. Likely inspired by the song of the same name, The Takeout reports Burger Smith's dessert-dinner was actually the brainchild of two Louisiana radio hosts. One of its founders, Jay Ducote, described the Mardi Gras dish as, "part tradition, part nostalgia, and a whole lot of delicious."
But what exactly goes into this King Cake and burger creation? The dish sandwiches a beef patty, bacon, and gooey cheddar cheese between two gigantic slices of fully iced King Cake. In years past, the company sourced the cake portion of the concoction from Baton Rogue's famous Calandro's supermarket. However, according to an Instagram announcement, this Mardi Gras season, Burger Smith is getting its King Cake slices from Gambinos – an iconic New Orleans-based bakery that's been serving up tantalizing sweets for decades. Just like last year, every Mardi Gras Mambo Burger comes with a plastic baby sitting proudly on its top cake slice. This Mardi Gras-approved dinner option costs $13 and will disappear from Burger Smith's menu on February 16. However, if you thought this burger and king cake meal was innovative, you should know we're just scratching the king cake-inspired treat surface.
There's probably been a King Cake version of your favorite dessert
From cinnamon rolls to smoothies, an abundance of treats can be made with a delicious King Cake twist. Of course, many brands have created and sold desserts inspired by the sweet. For example, Blue Bell once made a King Cake ice cream that infused the taste of cream cheese and cinnamon cake with pastry pieces. And Smoothie King (which actually started in New Orleans) has been known to offer Mardi Gras goers protein-packed King Cake flavored smoothies. But you can also make an array of King Cake-inspired sweets in the comfort of your own home.
Up first, and perhaps the most obvious option, is Taste of Southern Magazine's recipe for King Cake cinnamon rolls. According to the outlet, all you need to do to turn this traditional breakfast into a Mardi Gras treat is douse your rolls in a confectioner's sugar and milk-based glaze. Though the site also recommends adding purple and green sanding sprinkles to the baked goods to deck them out in Mardi Gras colors. You could also try your hand at David Graus' King Cake recipe. Whatever you decide to make, don't forget to hide the baby!