Tempt my tummy Tuesday- Fat Tuesday!

Its fat Tuesday and I thought it would be a perfect time for a King cake. We don't celebrate Mardi Gras but the story behind the king cake is a very cool one.

A king cake is baked on Fat Tuesday to celebrate the visit to the Christ Child by the three Kings. A small token was hidden in the cake as a surprise for the finder. The colors purple, green, and gold—to represent justice, faith, and power.

KING CAKE

1 box Pillsbury® Hot Roll Mix,16 ounces

1/2 cup granulated sugar for filling

1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon for filling

1/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Cream the butter, sugar, and cinnamon together until soft enough to spread easily.

Follow directions on the Pillsbury® Hot Roll Mix package. Turn one half of the dough onto a floured surface, and roll into a 2- foot x 1- foot rectangle. Spread half of the butter and filling mixture on top of the dough.

Taking a good thing a step farther, many bakeries now stuff their King Cakes with ingredients such as apple, peach, or cherry pie filling, cream cheese, or chopped pecans with cinnamon sugar. Use your creative imagination.

Beginning at the wide edge, roll the dough toward you into a long cigar shape approximately 2 inches in diameter. Do the same with the second half of the dough. Place dough roll seam side down on a well greased baking sheet, and curve each roll, pinching the ends together to make oval ring.

Cover, and let rise in warm place for 20 minutes or until doubled in size. Bake at 375°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until a straw inserted into the dough comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool.

GLAZE

2 cups confectioners' sugar,

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons water

1 cup granulated sugar, large crystals

3 or 4 drops purple food coloring

3 or 4 drops green food coloring

3 or 4 drops yellow food coloring

To prepare the glaze, combine sugar, lemon juice, and water mixing until smooth. Slowly add more water by the teaspoon until it spreads as easily as a thin icing.

Place 1/3 cup sugar in each of three small jars with lids. Add three drops of food coloring in each one.

Cover with lid, and shake until color is evenly distributed throughout the large sugar crystals. Add food coloring, drop by drop until the desired shade is achieved.

Coat the top of the oval king cake with glaze. Immediately sprinkle the colored sugars in 2- to- 3 inch alternating rows of purple, green and gold. Cut and serve.

For more tempting recipes visit Blessed with Grace!