Mardi Gras King Cake Festive New Orleans-Style King Cake with Cinnamon Swirl and Colorful Icing Ingredients: For the Dough: 1/2 cup warm water (110°F) 2 teaspoons active dry yeast 1/2 cup granulated sugar 4–5 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup warm milk 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted 5 egg yolks 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon For the Filling: 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional) 1/4 cup melted butter For the Icing & Decoration: 1 cup powdered sugar 2–3 tablespoons milk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar Directions: In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water with a teaspoon of sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes until frothy. In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture, milk, melted butter, remaining sugar, egg yolks, vanilla, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Gradually mix in flour until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1–2 hours or until doubled. Roll out the dough into a large rectangle (about 10x16 inches). Mix the filling ingredients, then spread evenly over the dough. Roll the dough up jelly-roll style and form it into a ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Pinch the ends together to seal. Cover the ring loosely with plastic wrap and let rise again for 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool completely. Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to form a glaze. Drizzle over cooled cake, then sprinkle immediately with colored sugars in alternating bands of purple, green, and gold. Optional: Hide a plastic baby or dried bean inside after baking for tradition! Prep Time: 2 hours | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes Kcal: 325 kcal | Servings: 12 servings #kingcake #mardigrasdessert #neworleansrecipes #bakingtraditions #holidaybaking #southernbakes #cinnamoncake #mardigrascelebration #kingcakerecipe #homebakedgoodness #colorfuldesserts #neworleansfood #bakingjoy #cakewithmeaning #mardigrasfood #festivecake #holidaytradition #yeastcake #southernsweets #celebrationdesserts Let the good times roll! Nothing says Mardi Gras like a homemade King Cake with bright icing and a sweet cinnamon swirl inside.

Southern Chicken and Dressing Classic Southern Chicken and Cornbread Dressing Bake Ingredients: 1 (9x13-inch) pan of prepared cornbread, crumbled 4 cups cooked chicken, shredded 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 large onion, chopped 3 celery stalks, chopped 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning 1 teaspoon dried sage Salt and pepper to taste 2 large eggs, beaten 3–4 cups chicken broth (more if needed) Optional: chopped fresh parsley for garnish Directions: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add chopped onion and celery; sauté until soft and translucent, about 8–10 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine the crumbled cornbread, sautéed vegetables, shredded chicken, poultry seasoning, sage, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly. Stir in the beaten eggs and 3 cups of chicken broth, mixing well. Add more broth if needed to reach a moist, but not soggy, consistency. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and slightly crispy on the edges. Let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Prep Time: 25 minutes | Cooking Time: 45 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes Kcal: Approximately 390 kcal per serving | Servings: 8 servings #southerncooking #chickenanddressing #cornbreaddressing #comfortfood #thanksgivingdinner #holidaybaking #familyrecipes #southerndishes #homemadegoodness #southerncomfortfood #classicrecipes #chickenrecipes #savorybakes #soulfood #downhomecooking #southernkitchen #bakedchicken #heritagerecipes #southernliving #holidayfavorites Nothing says comfort like Southern Chicken and Dressing 😋🍗 Fluffy cornbread, juicy chicken, and herbs baked to golden perfection!

Homemade Pecan Sandies Buttery Pecan Sand Cookies: Classic Homemade Sandies Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup finely chopped pecans 1/4 teaspoon salt Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract. Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing until just combined. Fold in the chopped pecans. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart. Flatten each ball slightly with the bottom of a glass or your palm. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes Kcal: Approximately 160 kcal per cookie | Servings: 24 cookies #pecansandies #homemadecookies #pecancookies #buttercookies #classicdesserts #cookiebaking #holidaycookies #snacktime #dessertlover #bakingfun #easybaking #sweettooth #cookieideas #foodblogger #crumblycookies #holidaybaking #pecanrecipes #cookielove #sweetrecipes #bakingfromscratch 🥜🍪 These Homemade Pecan Sandies are buttery, crumbly, and packed with toasted pecans — the perfect treat for any occasion!