King Cake Recipe

Quick Mardi Gras King Cake

Laissez les bons temps rouler—let the good times roll—with these braided and buttery, cinnamon-filled cakes that are festively decorated with vibrant colors.

Prep: 1

Total: 3h30min

Yield: 12

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 350 , Carbohydrate 56 g, Cholesterol 60 mg, Fat 2 , Fiber 1 g, Protein 6 g, Saturated Fat 7 g, servingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 220 mg, Sugar 27 g, Trans Fat 0 g

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
• 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) Rapid Rise yeast
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, cut into 12 pieces
• 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• Dark green, purple, and yellow or gold sugars, if desired
• Miniature plastic baby, if desired

Instruction:

1. Mix 2 1/2 cups flour and yeast in mixing bowl of stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, on low for about 30 seconds.
2. Heat milk, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and milk is between 120°F to 130°F.
3. With mixer on low, pour in liquids and mix until incorporated. Add eggs one at a time. Continue mixing until a shaggy dough forms. Clean off paddle and switch to dough hook. Mix in the remaining 1 cup flour a little at a time, adding more or less flour as needed to make a soft dough. Add the softened butter, a piece at a time, kneading until each piece of butter is absorbed.
4. Knead for eight minutes on low. The dough should completely clear the sides of the bowl. If it is too sticky, add additional flour 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing in thoroughly before determining if more flour is needed. If the dough seems too dry, spritz with water from a spray bottle a couple of times, mixing in thoroughly before determining if more water is needed. Every 2 minutes, stop the machine, scrape the dough off the hook, and then continue kneading.
5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times by hand to be sure it’s smooth and elastic. Form the dough into a ball. Place dough into a greased bowl. Turn once so greased surface is on top. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
6. While the dough is chilling, make cinnamon filling. In small bowl, combine the brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Combine butter with cinnamon mixture and mix well.
7. Roll the chilled dough into a 10 x 20 inch rectangle. Spread the filling on half of the long side of the dough. Fold the dough in half covering the filling. Pat dough down firmly so the dough will stick together. Cut dough into three long strips. Press the tops of the strips together and braid the strips. Press the ends together at the bottom. Gently stretch the braid so that it measures 20 inches again. Shape it into a circle/oval and press the edges together.
8. Transfer the ring to a parchment lined or greased baking sheet. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rise until doubled, about 1 hour. While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 350°. Bake the cake until it is golden brown, 20 – 35 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes on baking sheet and then place it on a cooling rack to cool completely before icing. To hide the baby in the cake, if desired, make a small slit in the bottom of the cake and put the miniature plastic baby in after the cake has cooled.
9. Icing: In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth (add additional milk if mixture is too thick or powdered sugar if too thin).
10. Spoon icing over top of the cake. Immediately sprinkle on colored sugar, alternating between the three colors.

Mardi Gras King Cake

Enjoy this delicious homemade Mardi Gras King Cake this year and let the good times roll! Made with a sweet brioche dough and a cinnamon or cream cheese filling, this is the best king cake recipe and 1,000x better than anything you’ll find in a grocery store or bakery! Heads up that this recipe makes TWO regular sized king cakes so you can enjoy one now and freeze one for later or share with friends.

Prep: 30min

Total: 235min

Yield: 20

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 307 kcal, Carbohydrate 57 g, Protein 5 g, Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 4 g, Trans Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 31 mg, Sodium 236 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 28 g, unSaturated Fat 3 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup salted butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar, (divided)
• 1 Tablespoon active dry yeast
• 2 large eggs, (beaten)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 5 to 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled (705g to 776g))
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour ((68g))
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons salted butter, (melted)
• 8 ounces cream cheese, (softened)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 Tablespoons salted butter, (softened)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 Tablespoons milk
• 1 Tablespoon salted butter, (melted)
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instruction:

1. Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead a few times by hand until a smooth, round ball forms. Clean and lightly oil the bowl, then return the dough to the bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.
2. For the cream cheese filling, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, softened butter, and vanilla in a bowl. Beat well until smooth. Set aside. Only use half of the amounts if you are only filling one king cake with this filling.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F while the king cake is rising. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and baked through. The cake should be done when it reaches 190° to 195°F on a digital thermometer inserted into the center of each loaf. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.
4. Slice and serve. Whoever gets the slice with the baby gets to be king or queen for the day!

Traditional New Orleans King Cake

Get in on the fun of traditional king cake by hiding a little toy baby in the cake. Whoever finds it has one year of good luck! —Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah

Prep: 40min

Total: 01h05min

Yield: 1 cake (12 pieces).

Nutrition Facts: calories 321 calories, Fat 9g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 73mg cholesterol, Sodium 313mg sodium, Carbohydrate 55g carbohydrate (28g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 5g protein.

Ingredients:

• 2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
• 3/4 cup sugar, divided
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup warm 2% milk (110° to 115°)
• 2 large egg yolks, room temperature
• 1-1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3-1/4 to 3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 large egg, beaten
• GLAZE:
• 1-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 to 3 tablespoons water
• Green, purple and yellow sugars

Instruction:

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add 1/2 cup sugar, butter, milk, egg yolks, salt, lemon zest, nutmeg and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky)., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 16×10-in. rectangle. Combine cinnamon and remaining sugar; sprinkle over dough to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal. Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet; pinch ends together to form a ring. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Brush with egg., Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. For glaze, combine the confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice and enough water to achieve desired consistency. Spread over cake. Sprinkle with colored sugars.

Amazing King Cake Recipe!

FAQ

What is traditionally in a king cake?

What are traditional Kings cake made of?

What is the most popular King cake filling?

• 1) Cream Cheese. Cream cheese has been a popular king cake filling since most people can remember, and it still holds up as one of the top choices enjoyed by Mardi Gras revelers today. …
• 2) Pecan Praline. …
• 3) Cinnamon. …
• 4) Fruit.

What gives king cake its flavor?