The History of King Cake
King Cake is eaten in many countries worldwide, particularly in predominantly Catholic countries. Depending on where you are, king cakes look and taste different.
The name king cake comes from the cake being traditionally eaten on January 6th (the twelfth night). This day represents the day that the three magi (kings) visited baby Jesus to give him gifts. This is also why a plastic baby is hidden in most king cakes.
In Louisiana, King Cake is enjoyed from January 6th through Mardi Gras Day. For Catholics, this period starts with the Epiphany and ends on Ash Wednesday.
In New Orleans, king cake is more than a Catholic tradition; it’s essential to the Mardi Gras celebration, and as a Cajun, I always lookforward to the season because of king cake!
Mardi Gras king cakes consist of a cake-like bread dough flavored with cinnamon and vanilla and topped with icing and sprinkles. Usually, the cake is shaped in a braided circular pattern to mimic the shape of a king’s crown.
Mardi Gras Cheesecake Chia Pudding Recipe
Every year, in mid-January, my Instagram feed becomes a feed of just king cakes. This always leaves me wanting some Mardi Gras king cake, of course.
Now, I will be eating my fair share of homemade sourdough king cake… but the other night, when I really wanted king cake, I wasn’t about to bake one. So I decided to try this idea for Mardi Gras cheesecake chia pudding!
Looking for Gluten-Free King Cake? Try Out This Healthy Chia Pudding!
If you want to try baking your king cake, you should! But if you’re lazy on the weekends and crave king cake or king cake cheesecake, this ridiculously easy recipe hits the spot.
People often ask this question a lot when I post new chia pudding recipes: “where are those cute jars from?” So I’m just going to go ahead and tell you. These are 6-ounce weck jars that I bought off Amazon.
Mardi Gras Cheesecake Chia Pudding
I make the cream layer in this pudding very similar to how I make vegan cheesecake, so this recipe has a lot of Mardi Gras cheesecake vibes.
This recipe is also 100% gluten-free and vegan, making it perfect for mardi gras parties with people with dietary restrictions.
Mardi Gras Cheesecake Chia Pudding
I call this Mardi Gras Cheesecake Chia pudding! You may not find a king cake baby in this healthy dessert, but you will find loads of delicious gluten free king cake flavor. Enjoy this lightly sweet, nutritious vegan king cake chia pudding for a snack or dessert.
- Prep: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
Cinnamon Chia Pudding Layer
- 1/4 Cup Chia Seeds
- 1 Cup Milk (plant-based or regular)
- 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
- 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/8 Teaspoon Sea Salt
Mardi Gras Cheesecake Layer
- 1 Cup Raw Cashews (soaked for one hour in hot water and drained)
- 3/4 Cup Milk (plant-based or regular)
- 3 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
- 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Toppings
- Vanilla Granola
- Crushed Pistachios
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Mix all the chia pudding layer ingredients in a bowl. Whisk together for about a minute until everything is evenly combined.
- Place the chia pudding mixture in the fridge and let it set for 1 hour (or overnight if you want).
- Ensure you soaked your cashews for 30 minutes in boiling water, then drain.
- Combine all of the Mardi Gras cheesecake layer ingredients in your blender and blend on high until evenly combined and silky smooth.
- Evenly split the chia pudding mixture into three small jars (6-ounce jars are pictured here).
- Pour the Mardi Gras cheesecake layer on top of the cinnamon chia pudding layer.
- Top with granola, pistachios, and Mardi Gras colored sprinkles
- Place the jars in the fridge to set for 2 hours before eating.
I can’t tolerate soy. Would this work with oatmilk?
yes! Oat milk works perfectly in this recipe.
When you say to soak the cashews in boiling water for 30 minutes-1 hour, do you pour boiling water over them and let them set (with the water eventually cooling off as it sits) or do you boil the cashews in a pot of water for the full 30 minutes?
Just pour boiling hot water over them in a bowl and then let them soak.