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King Cake bars are all the things of a traditional mardi gras king cake. A classic new orleans treat during the carnival season. These dessert bars are perfect during carnival season.

King Cake Bars

a rendition of the traditional mardi gras king cake starts with a soft vanilla blondie base with swirls of cinnamon and pecans through topped with a smooth icing and colored sugar crystals.

Course Dessert

Ingredients

Base

  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp lemon juice

Filling

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Icing

  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • pinch salt
  • 1-2 tsp vanilla extract
  • colored sugar crystals for decorating

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease 8x8 pan and set aside.

  2. In a medium size mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugars. Then mix in egg and vanilla extract.

  3. add in 1 cup flour, baking powder and salt. Mix until combined. Then add last cup of flour.

  4. Finally add in lemon juice just until its mixed in.

  5. Add 2/3 of dough into greased 8x8 pan and set it aside along with 1/3 rest of dough.

  6. In a separate bowl, melt butter and then add in sugar, cinnamon, vanilla. Mix throughly. Then you can add in chopped pecans as is or use the food processor to make it into tiny bits. Add into bowl and then stir in flour.

  7. add filling on top dough in 8x8 pan and spread evenly. Then add remaining 1/3 dough on top.

  8. Bake for 30 minutes or until edges have set. Set aside to cool.

  9. While the bars are cooling, lets make the icing. In a small bowl add 1 tbsp milk and vanilla, then slowly add in powdered sugar 1/2 to 1 cup at a time mixing thoroughly. Then add the other tbsp of milk and mix. After add last 1 cup of powdered sugar and pinch of salt.

  10. Spread icing even across the top of the bars. Add colored sugars in any design you'd like and enjoy!