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King Cake Recipe

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King Cake is a festive and delicious New Orleans-style Mardi Gras dessert, featuring a soft, sweet brioche dough swirled with cinnamon and topped with a colorful sugar glaze. Traditionally, a small plastic baby is hidden inside, symbolizing luck and prosperity for the person who finds it!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Dough:

  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
  • ¾ cup warm milk (110°F / 45°C)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted)

For the Filling:

  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter (softened)

For the Glaze:

  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For Decoration:

  • Green, purple, and gold colored sugar
  • 1 small plastic baby (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough

  1. In a small bowl, mix warm milk and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
  3. Add eggs, melted butter, and the yeast mixture. Mix until a dough forms.
  4. Knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth. Cover and let rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

2. Make the Filling & Shape the Cake

  1. Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter in a small bowl.
  2. Roll out the dough into a 10×20-inch rectangle.
  3. Spread the cinnamon filling evenly over the dough.
  4. Roll the dough lengthwise into a log, then shape it into an oval on a baking sheet.
  5. Pinch the ends together to seal. Cover and let rise again for 30 minutes.

3. Bake the King Cake

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool before glazing.

4. Glaze & Decorate

  1. Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to make a smooth glaze.
  2. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake.
  3. Sprinkle with green, purple, and gold sugar for the classic Mardi Gras look.
  4. Hide the plastic baby inside the cake (optional).

5. Serve & Enjoy!

  1. Slice and enjoy! The person who finds the baby is responsible for bringing the next King Cake.

Notes

  • Shortcut Version: Use store-bought cinnamon roll dough and shape it into a ring.
  • Want more flavor? Add cream cheese filling for an extra decadent cake.
  • Storage: Cover and keep at room temperature for 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.