King Cake is a big deal for Mardi Gras. If you don’t have time to whip up an elaborate King Cake this Mardi Gras season, make an Individual King Cake using a Twinkie! They’re so darn cute.
My daughter has lived on this earth for seven long years and never had a Twinkie. She didn’t even know what a Twinkie was. I could’ve accepted this knowing that she inherited my sweet tooth and has had plenty of exposure to other treats. I could have – had I not gone on and on about how amazing they are and then not been able to find them.
Individual King Cake
But the child forgave me when I surprised her with a simple, individual King Cake, just in time for Mardi Gras. Since Twinkies were not available (they’re available now – YAY!), I grabbed Little Debbie’s Cloud Cakes and they worked out great!
King Cakes are traditional festival fare during the Mardi Gras season. The traditional cakes often have a baby figurine hidden inside. Whomever should find the baby within their piece is considered lucky, often recognized as king/queen for the day, or may even the run the risk of being responsible for the next year’s celebration.
If you have young children and don’t like hearing them fight, you may understand that I wanted to fill each cake with a small figure.
How to Make King Cake for One
Scroll down for a printable recipe card.
To make an individual king cake, cut each cake (Twinkie or Cloud Cakes) in half width-wise like the photo.
Next, put a small figurine inside the filling of the cake. I found plastic Hello Kitty figurines in a pack of collector cards at Target. Any small figures will work, though. Make sure that the cakes are only given to individuals old enough to not swallow the toys! King Cake babiesI was able to find some on Amazon if you’re looking for something more traditional.
Then, carefully put the two pieces of cake back together and wrap in parchment paper to conceal the seam. I used ribbon, but baker’s twine in gold, purple, or green (traditional Mardi Gras colors) would work great, too.
These cute little quick treats were a fun way to introduce the idea of Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras celebrations to my children. While it’s not a traditional King Cake, it’ll work when there aren’t any other alternatives.
Individual King Cake Tutorial
Easy Individual King Cake
Celebrate Mardi Gras with a super easy to make Individual King Cake using Twinkies or Cloud Cakes.
Ingredients
- Twinkies or Cloud Cakes
- King Cake Baby
- parchment paper
- ribbon or twine
Instructions
- Cut each cake (Twinkie or Cloud Cakes) in half width-wise.
- Put a small figurine inside the filling of the cake. Any small figures will work.
- Carefully put the two pieces of cake back together and wrap in parchment paper to conceal the seam. Wrap with ribbon, but baker’s twine in gold, purple, or green (traditional Mardi Gras colors) would work great, too.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 840Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 115mgSodium: 690mgCarbohydrates: 134gFiber: 3gSugar: 74gProtein: 11g
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
What a cute idea! My kids would love those!
Christie says
My kids would get a kick out of finding the figurine! Almost as much as eating the cakes 🙂
Pam says
This is such a cute and easy way to get into the Mardi Gras spirit. My husband loves Twinkies so this would be fun to put in his lunch.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
This looks amazing! Anything that uses a Twinkie as a base is a winner. Yum!
Liz Mays says
I think Twinkies are the awesome too!
Liz Mays says
I love the Hello Kitty figurine. Someone will be very happily surprised by it!
Michele says
That really is a cute idea. I was so upset when Twinkies left the shelves–but didn’t I hear that they are back again? Noe I want a Twinkie–or maybe I can find Little Debbies version of it.
Catherine S says
This is a really great idea. Twinkies have always been my weakness. I could sit and an entire box at one time.
Jeanine says
That is adorable! We’ve never celebrated Mardi Gras. Maybe one day I will hit up the real thing!
Mary O'Malley says
I’ve never thought of having individual king’s cake before. I actually don’t celebrate Mardi Gras, but that’s mostly because I don’t know much about it.
Colleen says
Oh how cute. I’ve never actually had a King Cake nor have I been to Mardi Gras. I would love to go some day.
Sara P. (@SensiblySara) says
SO CUTE!! I’ve never had a King Cake but I think the Cloud Cake would be a suitable substitute.
Estelle Erasmus says
I haven’t had a King Cake, but I’ve been in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. I love the idea of individual treats with surprises inside, although I probably would eat the item if I didn’t know:)
Stephanie says
Anything made with Twinkies and I’m there! I’ve never heard about the King cake tradition before but it looks like something fun to do with my daughter.
Lindsey @ Redhead Baby Mama says
Fun! When my son is older and knows to look for treats, we might do this!
Donna says
Cute idea! And my son has never eaten a Twinkie either. This is something he would think was so cool, since he’s never been to NOLA or eaten King Cake either. 🙂
Debbie Denny says
This is a cool idea. I love it.
Michelle F. says
That is such a cute idea. I love the way you wrapped the middle.
veronica says
Twinkies are so good. I haven’t had one in ages
Jody says
That is such a cute idea for kids. We have never really celebrated this, but I’ve seen so many great ideas that it makes me want to celebrate it now 😉
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
That’s so cute and fun! We don’t celebrate Mardi Gras but I would LOVE to go one year.
Jeannette says
These are so simple and cute! With the kids home from school today, we’re going to try our hand at them although I’ll have to get creative on the “baby” for the middle since we can’t get to the store!
Scott says
I’m afraid that would be a recipe for a chipped tooth in my household. The kids love Twinkies so much they’d bit right in w/o looking!
Melanie S. says
I don’t know much about Mardi Gras traditions, and we’ve never done anything to celebrate it, but this is such a cute idea!
kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says
How clever is this?!? I always want to be the one to find the baby…this may be better for me, too…so I get the prize every time!! 🙂
valerie g says
i love king cake! this is such a cute idea. i will have to try it.
Joyce Brewer (@MommyTalkShow) says
I first heard about king cakes when I lived in MS. They’re a hug deal!
Penelope says
These are so cute! My sons would love them (I would too!)
Kristin says
How fun are your kings cakes. My kids would love finding little surprises in a cake!
Debi @ Life Currents says
How funny! And fun. I bet the kids loved this!
Marina @ Mommy Snippets says
These looks soo fun! What a great idea. My kids would love this!
Kait says
Oh fun!! I love to get me a good pacztki — or two 🙂
Ann BAcciaglia says
I’ve never celebrated Mardi Gras but I would love to! I’ve seen coverage of the festivities in New Orleans and it looks so fun,.
Rosey says
Oh my gosh, that’s fun and cute. Kind of the poppers for New Year’s!
Debi says
I have never had a king cake before but it sounds like acute idea.
Raijean says
Now this is adorable, I know I’m late but i have to try this.
Camesha says
What a really cute idea. I’ve never had king cake. There’s a Mardi Gras celebration down the street every year and I still haven’t managed to sample king cake!
Andrea Kruse says
Adorable idea! I know with 3 small kids, they fight over everything! This would help. And for the record, my kids have no idea what a Twinkie is. I on the other hand was raised on them. 🙂
Vanessa: thequeenofswag says
What a great idea and I had no idea this was done for mardi gras. Such a fun surprise for kids.
Matea says
How sweet and inovative :)! I like it a lot!
Tammy says
Well I have no small kids anymore but I want to make one of these, if for no other reason than to have an excuse to eat a Twinkie 😉 The hidden figurine would be such a surprise!
Donna says
You’re so right, any excuse to have a Twinkie. 🙂
Ty says
What a super cute idea! I bet my kids would LOVE it!
HilLesha says
I don’t celebrate Mardi Gras, but that is totally original and adorable! The Hello Kitty was a nice surprise, too.
Tisha Berg | Biz Mommy says
Adorable! My kids would love the treat, but probably the idea of finding a surprise in it even more. I must say, though, I’ve never had a Twinkie either 🙂
Andrea Kruse says
Such a cute and fast idea! I can think of all sorts of exciting things I would fill our cake with. My kids would really enjoy each having their own.
Danielle @ We Have It All says
This is adorable. But oh goodness…. my 16 year old wants to go to Mardi Gais in NEW ORLEANS?!?! God help me she doesn’t need to go there. And she knows how ‘adult’ it is… she only wants to go because Ian Somerhalder is there every year.