About King Cake Dip
Seriously, could there be any more events and holidays next week? First, we have the super bowl on February 7th (and if you’re still planning your game day menu, might I make a few suggestions?), then Chinese New Year on February 8th, and then there’s Mardi Gras on February 9th.
Yeesh.
Who knew February was so festive?
Now, for most of these holidays, you can celebrate them no matter where you are.
I mean, sure, having a seat at Levi’s Stadium sure would be nice, but you’ll be able to enjoy the big game (and all of the commercials!) just as much from your own living room. And I’m sure being in China for the Chinese New Year is the absolute best way to experience it, but you can also bring the same festivities, traditions, and food to wherever you are in the world.
But Mardi Gras?
Oh, I’m sure you could try to recreate the experience in your midwestern town, and you might even come close to capturing the spirit, but I don’t think there could ever be a true replacement to celebrating Fat Tuesday in the Big Easy. I know for me, it’s on my bucket list of things I need to do before I’m 40. Thankfully, this little blog gives me the perfect excuse to experience at least a small part of Mardi Gras: the food! And for my favorite Mardi Gras recipe I learned about this year?
You guessed it – King Cake!
King Cake is typically very doughy (like bread) and flavored with caramel and pecans. In a way, it reminds me of a large cinnamon roll or monkey bread. It’s typically also topped with white icing and purple, green, and yellow sprinkles.
And I thought about making a King Cake. I really, really did. I even wanted to, had it all planned out. But early one morning I had a flash of inspiration… could I make a King Cake… dip?
Because if you frequent this blog, you know how much I love my dessert dips.
I love finding ways to turn otherwise complicated or decadent desserts into easy dips, and King Cake seemed like a perfect candidate.
I opted to make a simple cake batter dip that’s topped with caramel and pecans. Easy to make and it has the right caramel flavor.
But what really shines in this recipe? The festive candy coated pretzels. They had just the right amount of salty sweet substance to make it worthy of the King Cake name. Plus, they turned out so pretty!
No matter where you’re celebrating, this dip makes it easy to have a little piece of Mardi Gras at your next party (whether it be the 7th, the 8th, or whenever!)
Recipe Details
King Cake Dip
Ingredients
Instructions
For the Mardi Gras Pretzels
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For the pretzels, set up your work area to work through one color at a time. Fill a with sprinkles, and set nearby. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper, then set aside.
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Add candy melts to a microwave safe bowl and melt in the microwave per package instructions until smooth.
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Dip a pretzel in the melted candy, then use a fork to scoop the pretzel out, tapping the fork on the side of the bowl to remove any excess candy. Pretzels should be covered but candy coating should be thin. Drop the pretzel in the bowl with the sprinkles and use a spoon to toss and coat the pretzel. Using another fork, lift the pretzel out of the sprinkles and shake to remove any excess. Place coated pretzel on prepared baking sheet to dry.
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Repeat this process until all colors have been used and pretzels are coated.
For the King Cake Dip
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While pretzels harden, add cool whip and cheesecake to the bowl of a stand mixer (or a hand mixer + small bowl). Beat mixture on low until combined, about 1-2 minutes.
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Keeping speed on low, add in milk and white cake mix and blend for another 2-3 minutes until dip creamy and there are no more clumps from the cake mix.
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Add dip to a serving bowl. If you're keeping with the King Cake tradition, bury a small plastic baby within the dip. Traditionally, whoever finds the baby has to host next year's party. Finish by drizzling top of dip with caramel sauce and chopped pecans.
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Serve dip immediatley with candy coated pretzels.
I am loving this so much I spent some minutes only looking at the photos! How gorgeous those pretzels are and I can totally see we would go crazy over that dip! Super creative and festive, this recipe just made me so happy!
Thank you Shadi! 😀
I love the idea of this as a dip – how creative!! The pretzels are fabulous! Pinned!!
Thanks Kathryn! The pretzels are probably my favorite part, too 😀
That looks delicious! I usually do the “cheater” version of a king cake, which doubles as a delicious breakfast with coffee. I use the Pillsbury crescent rolls to make a ring and put a cinnamon cream cheese in the center. Then I drizzle the icing on top. It’s so good!
Ha, now I’m wishing I had king cake with my coffee 😀 I may just have to make the “cheater” version (which is still pretty close to the real deal) this weekend!
How fun! My little guy would love this dip.
Thanks Maggie! 😀
Oh my gosh, you are seriously speaking my love language with this dip!!! I’d like to face-plant right into it! 🙂
And just when we finish up with all of the celebrations next week…there’s Valentine’s Day! Like you said, who knew it was so festive at this time of year?!
I know, right? I feel like I need to look at a calendar to see what other holidays are about to sneak up on us.
This seriously looks so amazing! YUM.
Thanks Chelsea!
This sounds fantastic! I’m actually not a huge cake person but I love dips – so I feel like this would be the perfect way to enjoy this!
Thanks Becky! Hopefully this dip would make for a good cake-compromise 🙂
This sounds delicious! I love the pretzels, so pretty!
Thanks Mary!
I was already craving king cake earlier today and then I saw this!! I can’t wait to get home to New Orleans this weekend. Mardi Gras should be on everyone’s bucket list. It’s a blast!!
So awesome! I hope you have an amazing time this weekend! I’m a teensy bit jealous, but I’ll get there one day I’m sure 😀
What a great dip! I bet it would be great with shortbread cookies! Yum!
Oo, shortbread cookies would be perfect 😀 That’s why I love dips like this, there’s so many options!
As a Louisiana native I miss king cake and Mardi Gras season!
I am dying to go back in the near future.
xoxo, Jenny
😀 Hopefully we both make it there soon!
I have been to Mardi Gras before and nothing captures that spirit like you said! What I remember of it anyway. This dip is genius and I am going to serve it at Superbowl while I’m stuffing my face and watching commercials! Those sprinkle covered pretzels are the icing on the King Cake!!
😀 Thanks Jennifer! If you do make it, I’d love to hear what you think 😀
That looks so yummy, and I love those pretzels! How cute are they?!?!
Thanks Angie! 😀
I LOVE King Cake – a local grocery store makes an amazing one, no nuts in it, just this brown sugar swirl thing, it’s expensive but totally worth it! And I definitely need to try this dip!
My mother (a bakery manager) was telling me about a similar cake they sell at her store. Apparently I’ve been missing out – might just have to pick some up to see how it compares to the dip 🙂
super nice idea to replace traditional king cake loving the combination and the creativity =)
Thank you Adriana! 😀
Looks like a sugar overload, but worth it!
True, this is definitely a recipe for sugar lovers 😀
Wow this look so fun!
Thanks Jennifer!
So festive and colorful. Those sparkles are fun.
Thanks Becky!
This dip sounds delicious and your pictures are gorgeous!!
Thank you Lindsay! 😀
Hi there! I can’t wait to try this recipe out at home and then for my Mardi Gras society once the holiday rolls around next year. And I see that it’s on your bucket list to go to New Orleans, but let me suggest going to Mobile, Alabama, as that is the birthplace of Mardi Gras. N.O. just made it bigger and with lots more alcohol. The floats in Mobile are beautiful and it’s more family oriented. As a native Mobilian, let me extend a personal invitation to experience the holiday like no other city on earth can do it!
Does the 6 serving size ingredient fill up the trifle bowl or did you double? I’m making for a carry in and wanted to be sure I would have enough?
Looks and sounds delish. I’m not a baker, but did I miss the part of baking the “cake”. My very first king cake I tried to make from scratch was from the N.O. Times Picayune Food section. The recipe forgot to mention to put the eggs in, of course I followed the recipe to a “T” and I baked a door stop, not a king cake. So, I’m just wondering about the raw cake batter. Thanks!
Seriously? This is not a cake. There is no baking involved? SMH Good grief. Did you read the directions?
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I have researched it and we are not supposed to consume uncooked cake mix out of the box. Uncooked flour can pose health problems
This Kings cake looks incredible!!! Absolutely so perfect for a Mardi Gras celebration!!!!
Such a tasty recipe! Thanks for the tips on how to get the pretzels perfectly covered in sprinkles.
The caramel sauce and pecan toppings are perfect.
I love the fun pretzels! Great tips on how to make them so festive. This dip with the caramel, goodness so yummy!!
Love the mardi gras colors! So festive and delicious