Fat Tuesday is just around the corner, and you know what that means: it's time to eat yummy food and celebrate with Louisiana flair. Although you can always bring home a store-bought King's Cake to mark the occasion, why not get a little more creative this year? Here are ten festive recipes to try next week.
King Cake Monkey Bread
Trisha from MomDot found the best way to make a King Cake: with cinnamon rolls! Pack a couple of ready-to-bake cinnamon roll packs into a bundt cake pan, pop it in the oven, and drizzle plenty of cream cheese frosting over the creation. The results are Instagram-worthy and downright delicious.
Easy Skillet Jambalaya Dip
In just fifteen minutes, you can whip up this Louisana Creole Dish in a skillet. Marion from Our Life Tastes Good concocted a simple recipe that's bursting with veggies, shrimp, sausage, cheese, and spicy flavor. All you have to do is plop the ingredients in the skillet, then adjust the temperature as needed.
Mardis Gras Cookies
If you're looking to keep things simple, these cookies are the perfect holiday baking project for you. You'll just need some ready-to-bake sugar cookies from the store, frosting, and Mardi Gras-colored sprinkles. Rope your kids into helping decorate the sweet snacks, then serve them with a little Louisiana style.
Bananas Foster Upside Down Cupcakes
These mini desserts by Flavor Mosaic are bursting with banana and caramel. Although they might seem complicated to make, the steps are actually pretty simple, and the results will impress the whole family. Plus, you won't even have to feel guilty about indulging in such sweet cupcakes; it's Fat Tuesday, after all!
King Cake Dip
You may like King Cake, but you've never tasted it quite like this. Chrisy at Homemade Hooplah decided to kick things up a notch with a decadent dessert dip topped with caramel and pecans. She suggests dipping sprinkle-covered pretzels into this cake batter dip for a treat that's absolutely perfect for the indulgent occasion.
Mardis Gras Beignets
You'll feel like you stepped right into Cafe du Monde with these homemade beignets. Wonderfully crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside, the treats are one of the best parts of this New Orleans-inspired holiday. Remember to cover your creations with plenty of powdered sugar!
Easy Hurricane Cocktail
If you were to meander through a Mardis Gras celebration in New Orleans, someone would probably thrust a Hurricane into your hands at some point. It's one of the cities' most famous drinks, and it's easy to see why. Partiers love the mixed fruit juice and rum, so give it a try by following the recipe from Grits and Pinecones.
New Orleans Gumbo
What Cajun celebration is complete without a batch of spicy gumbo? Marzia from Little Spice Jar can show you how to make a roux from scratch and bring out every ounce of flavor. Serve with rice for a meal that's both festive and scrumptious.
Carnival Queen Cocktail
In the mood for something sweet and fizzy? This adult beverage is a showy blend of lemon, dark berry liquor, sparkling wine, and Crown Royal Regal Apple. Check out Style on Main to see how the creator, Greta, suggests serving it to guests.
VooDoo Punch (Non-Alcoholic)
Kids will certainly get a kick out of this colorful, tasty punch. Wheel'N Deal Mama mixed ginger ale, Lime Kool-Aid, raspberry syrup, and Sprite together to make a family-friendly drink that's as yummy as it is creepy-looking.