Delectable Mardi Gras Treats

If you thought the food from our first Mardi Gras post sounded good, just wait until we get to the dessert. The name of the Mardi Gras game is treating yourself before you fast during Lent, so what better way to celebrate than with some tasty desserts? Jungle Jim’s Bakery bakes some of these treats daily. Come on in and give them a try!

King Cake

The King Cake tradition was brought to the US by French settlers in 1870. It’s an oval shaped cake that sits somewhere in between a coffee cake and a French pastry. It’s typically decorated with purple, green and gold icing. The purple represents justice, the green is for faith and gold stands for power. A toy baby is hidden in the cake and whoever gets it in their piece hosts the next King Cake party.

Paczki

Originating in Poland, paczki is deep fried dough filled with cream or custard. They’re very similar to your typical jelly or cream filled donut with frosting or glaze on top, just a bit more dense and quite a bit sweeter.

Doberge Cake

The Doberge Cake originates in New Orleans and is a layered cake containing pudding. Often the cake is made with half chocolate and half lemon pudding.

Bread Pudding

Bread Pudding is a popular treat around the world, but New Orleans puts their own twist on it by adding rum or whiskey during Mardi Gras.

Pralines

Pralines are another gift from the French, from when they settled in the United States. They are similar to fudge candy with nuts embedded inside and on top.

Bananas Foster

Another New Orleans favorite, Bananas Foster is made by cooking bananas and covering them in a delicious sauce that is made from butter, brown sugar and rum. The bananas are then served on ice cream.

French Beignets (Donuts)

Beignets are made by frying yeast dough, and are then served with powdered sugar, creme and/or fruit on top. They are basically flakey, golden donuts.

Krapfen/Pfannkuchen

​The Krapfen, or Pfannkuchen, is a German pancake very similar to what you imagine when you hear “pancakes.” During Mardi Gras, people will use the pancake as a dessert and fill it with a variety of fruits and cream.

Which one of these delicious desserts sounds the best to you? Be sure to stop by Jungle Jim’s and try some of them for yourself!