Someone had to do something about the lack of creativity in the traditional yet incredibly amazing King Cake- someone had to? Right? I had to! Right? You see every year around this time King Cake’s adorn the isles of local bakeries and grocery stores. It is a tradition dating back to and one us fellow southerns will never get tired of. My husband being from New Orleans MUST (not just would like) but MUST have a king cake near the end of January. Before we met his favorite was always the cake from Rouses, a New Orleans family owned grocery store, but a las I have been able to woo him over with my latest creations over the past 2 years and I must say I am proud!
If you remember last year I attempted a King Cake recipe I found from an old old church cookbook and it was 100% perfect- ABSOLUTE PERFECTION! Being one not to mess with perfection I didn’t want to try a different King Cake recipe but I did want to do something different with the concept of a King Cake. That is when it hit me- King Cake Cheesecake! Now Yes from research I am aware that Copeland of New Orleans has their own amazing King Cake Cheesecake creation but with all do respect I conjured up this idea all by myself and dare I say it is better than Copeland’s? Dare I?
Seeing as how a traditional King Cake has a cream cheese filling and/or hints of cinnamon baked throughout. I decided to do a cinnamon shortbread cookie crust with the cream cheese filling. Its like the best of both worlds. The filling COULD NOT BE EASIER (why make something hard if you don’t have to) and the cinnamon shortbread crust is ARE YOU READY? GLUTEN FREE! Yep, a mixture of fine brown rice flour, tapioca flour and potato starch not only does the trick but it is honestly BETTER than if I would have used the standard AP flour. I never thought I would hear myself say this next line but “If you don’t have the gluten free flours mentioned above GO GET THEM! Of course you could just use AP flour but do me a favor and JUST GO GET THEM! They are not that expensive and they truly make the most outstanding shortbread crust. The texture is perfect and stands up nicely against the heavy cream cheese filling and lasts for days without getting soggy or falling apart.
I knew I had a winner with this one when my husband said, “It really tastes just like a King Cake”. This King Cake Cheesecake is our new favorite way to celebrate Mardi Gras and I hope it will be a hit with your family as well. If you cant’ join the Mardi Gras festivities then by all means EAT LIKE YOU ARE THERE! XO
- Crust:
- *1 cup GF FLOUR MIX
- 1 tsp xanxan gum
- 6 TBSP butter, cubed
- ½ tsp almond extract
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup sugar
- Filling:
- 2 packages of cream cheese, softened
- ⅔ cup plus 2 TBSP sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 eggs, room temp
- Icing:
- 1½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 6-8 TBSP milk
- In a food processor or with your hands plus or mix together all ingredients for the shortbread crust. The mixture should resemble a crumbly dough that when pressed together stays together. Press into a greased spring form pan and set aside.
- For the filling: Beat together the cream cheese, sugar and eggs for 2-3 minutes. Add in the vanilla extract and beat on medium low for another 2-3 minutes until the mixture is nice and smooth! Must be very smooth!
- Pour filling into the pan on top of the crust and bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Top with a piece of foil and bake for another 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool COMPLETELY.
- Meanwhile, make the icing. Mix together all ingredients until nice and smooth. Pour directly on top of the cheesecake and then using green, yellow and purple icing sugars make your design of choice. I chose to do the three colors in a circle so that when the cheesecake is sliced you still have all 3 colors on your slice. Refrigerate for 2 hours and serve cold.
this looks amazing!!! look at you coming up with these amaaaazing gluten free recipes! lady, you are awesome!
Isn’t King Cake just one of the best sweet treats on earth? What a great idea to make a King Cake cheesecake! I so want to visit New Orleans someday too!
Hope you’re doing well, I’m sorry that I have been so absent for the last few months.
I am not familiar with king cheese cake and I am pretty sure I have not seen them in stores here. But it definitely look like a crown of the king.
The is a beautiful and yummy looking king cake!
I’ve not heard of this type of cake before I saw your blog last year. The sparkles would surely be a draw for the kids. It’s great that you were able to create a version that your husband loved too!
I have never heard of king cake till your post last year. Your cheesecake looks amazing- and gluten free too!! Very cleve.
OooLaLa this look amaze. NOw I will not have to go to Thurmans yum
That is so cute!
Not only does this cake sound delicious but looks so pretty as well!!
Jessica I remember that recipe of yours..
And this one looks equally delicious!.. I am loving the hue of the colors 🙂
So pretty – I love all kinds of cheesecake.
🙂 Mandy xo
Impressive my friend! Now can you just come bake it for me?! 😉
Simply gorgeous!
Simply gorgeous! Pinning this!
What a creative and beautiful cheesecake!
This looks just like the original king cake. I LOVE IT. And it looks so darn delicious. Thanks for sharing this post 🙂
Hey girl! I have never heard of a king cake till now! Being an east coaster and now west coaster, I never got around to the traditions of the south. I love that you’re keeping up with fun traditions such as this and I’m sure your hubby is super happy as well. What a good little wife you are. I also love the color punch of your whole cheesecake. Aren’t you just a happy girl that you found a wonderful gluten-free treat and one that you actually prefer? Maybe your taste buds are telling you something. I do wish you lived a town over or down the street, so I could just stop on by for some afternoon cheesecake and tea. Wouldn’t that be the bomb?
Have a great day girl!
xoxo, Jackie
You have a great flair for fun and delicious food! Let the celebration begin…
Wow! This would go over even better than a traditional King’s Cake around here! What an excellent idea!!!
You are making me homesick! That looks fantastic!
How fun! I need to get on top of making something purple, yellow and green!
this looks awesome!! i think you can start selling your king cakes!!
What a beautiful King cake Cheesecake! No wonder its now your family’s new favorite. I just visited New Orleans last year and loved it!!! I agree….I can’t be there for the celebration this year, but at least I can eat like I’m there. 😉
What a great cake and in the best of New Orleans traditions.
This is absolutely a creative way to bring a new style of King Cake to the table. My hat is off to you!
Velva
This is just beautiful Jessica! Cheesecake is one of my all-time faves. I love that you adapted it for the festivities. I’m sure Copeland’s has nothing on you! The shortbread sounds to die for as well. Cinnamon shortbread! Yummmmm!!!!
i love these posts each and every year…
and i have yet to work with ANY of those flours… MUST go and get them!!!!
I need to bake now! This whet my appetite to bake ! Ah, I’ve missed your site!
You are so fabulous. King cake in cheesecake form??? BRILLIANT.
So smart! I love this idea.
This is an absolutely GENIUS creation!!! So gorgeous! I’m going to NOLA in just a few weeks so if you have any restaurant recommendations, I’m all ears!
Wow, this looks fantastic and sounds even better. You are making me so hungry at this early hour of 5am. I would love a little slice with coffee right about now.
King Cake Cheesecake? Oh my goodness, Jessica…that’s awesome! You’re truly so creative in the kitchen! Posts like this are what I missed during those months that I’ve been MIA in the blogosphere!
I WANT!
Never had king cake but I’d love to try this!!
[…] Original article found at: http://www.kitchenbelleicious.com/2013/02/04/king-cake-cheesecake/ […]
So creative and so delicious and SO pretty!!! great use of ingredients – really lovely post!
Mary x
[…] Original article found at: http://www.kitchenbelleicious.com/2013/02/04/king-cake-cheesecake/ […]
Love the festive twist on cheesecake….always a favorite for me.
Of course you had to reinvent the king cake. And this sounds like an amazing way to re-create it.
[…] Original article found at: http://www.kitchenbelleicious.com/2013/02/04/king-cake-cheesecake/ […]
What a marvelous cake Jessica! This is so festive and I LOVE IT!!! My family goes crazy when they hear “cheesecake”. They will be thrilled to see this colorful cheesecake for sure! How fun!
So beautiful! This looks absolutely stunning and I bet it tastes incredible.
I love your fabulous version of the traditional King Cake. I am so happy you are loving gluten free. I knew you would kill it! XOXO
Oh my, I’m such a sucker for cheesecake. I have never eaten King Cake, can you believe it? I’ll have to whip together this beauty.
This is the perfect recipe for my sons 20th birthday! He asked for a cheesecake and it’s king cake time here in Louisiana… so PERFECT combination!
Only thing is I am just a basic cheesecake baker, could you please tell me what I could substitute for the *1 cup Brown Rice Flour Mix & 1 tsp xanxan gum? I am so sorry I am not familiar with these although they sound like the healthy type choices.
Please help, I HAVE to make this…today.
This is awesome….I actually was googling Copeland’s King Cake Cheesecake recipe when I found this one! We are on the Northshore and it’s carnival season now. So, King Cakes are in full effect! We also love our Rouses king cakes, Praline Pecan being our fav! Just curious, I will definitely be trying this, however what if one didn’t care to have the gluten free version. Would the ingredients change that much or should I just buy the specialty ingredients And no one will be able to tell? Laissez les bons temps rouler
[…] King Cake Cheesecake […]
I have been searching his site for the Brown Rice Flour Mix
I understand ingredients are a mixture of fine brown rice flour, tapioca flour and potato starch but in what ratio ?
I want to make this recipe Gluten Free but am new to gluten free cooking and think a recipe for this flour is a must.
Thanks for any help
Dave
2 cups brown rice flour
2/3 potato starch
1/4 tapioca starch
This is the best homemade gf mix and you will be able to use in it alot of baking items. Be aware this makes 2 cups but cheesecake recipe only calls for 1 cup so I usually make a big batch of this and store it in a big container and then just scoop out the measurements as needed! Please please email me if I have confused you or if you have any more questions:)
Thank you so much
That is exactly what I needed.
When I saw the * beside the Brown Rice Flour Mix in the recipe thought is would be listed elsewhere but didn’t find it with search of your site.
Thank you for the great site wish me luck making King Cheese Cake tonight.
Dave
Ok So just printed the recipe and there was the Brown Rice flour Mix recipe at the top.
Sorry to have bothered you.’
Dave