Description
This Authentic Mardi Gras King Cake recipe offers a deliciously soft and sweet yeast-raised bread filled with cinnamon and brown sugar, traditionally enjoyed during Mardi Gras celebrations. The cake is shaped into a ring, baked to golden perfection, and decorated with colorful green, gold, and purple sanding sugars, making it festive and visually appealing. A classic plastic baby figurine can be hidden inside to continue the beloved tradition.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- ¼ cup warm water (105°F to 115°F)
- 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast
- ½ cup warm milk (105°F to 115°F)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
Filling
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
Icing and Decoration
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
- ½ tsp almond extract (or vanilla extract)
- 2-3 tbsp milk (adjust for desired consistency)
- Green, gold, and purple sanding sugars
- 1 plastic baby figurine (optional, for tradition)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: Dissolve the active dry yeast in warm water (105°F to 115°F) in a large mixing bowl. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Combine Dough Ingredients: Add warm milk, softened butter, granulated sugar, ground nutmeg, and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir well to combine all the ingredients evenly.
- Mix Flour and Eggs: Stir in 1 cup of the all-purpose flour until the mixture is smooth. Then, add the eggs followed by the remaining flour gradually, forming a soft dough that holds together without being too sticky.
- Knead Dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic, which develops the gluten for a tender texture.
- First Rise: Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
- Prepare Filling: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, packed light brown sugar, and ground cinnamon thoroughly to make the cinnamon filling.
- Roll Dough: Once risen, roll the dough out into a 30 by 9-inch rectangle on a flat surface, ready for filling.
- Spread Filling: Evenly spread the cinnamon filling over the rolled dough, leaving a small border around the edges to prevent spillage when rolling.
- Roll Dough: Roll the dough tightly from the long edge, carefully sealing the seam by pinching it together to keep the filling inside.
- Cut Lengthwise: Using a sharp knife, cut the roll in half lengthwise, keeping the cut sides facing up to expose the filling layers for twisting.
- Form Ring: Twist the two halves around each other, then shape the twisted dough into a ring on a greased baking sheet. Pinch the ends together firmly to seal the ring.
- Second Rise: Cover the shaped dough and allow it to rise for another 20 to 40 minutes until it becomes puffy and ready to bake.
- Preheat Oven: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the king cake.
- Bake: Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the cake is golden brown on top and fully cooked through.
- Cool: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely before adding icing, which helps the icing set properly.
- Make Icing: Whisk together the sifted powdered sugar, almond extract, and milk until you achieve a smooth, pourable consistency suitable for drizzling.
- Decorate: Drizzle the icing evenly over the cooled king cake. Immediately sprinkle the green, gold, and purple sanding sugars in alternating sections for the traditional Mardi Gras colors.
- Insert Figurine: If using a plastic baby figurine, insert it discreetly into the cake before serving to uphold the traditional surprise element.
Notes
- Ensure the water and milk are warm but not hot to avoid killing the yeast.
- Use fresh active dry yeast for the best rise.
- Kneading develops gluten which is key for a fluffy texture.
- The cinnamon filling can be adjusted to taste with more or less sugar or cinnamon.
- When inserting the plastic baby figurine, consider wrapping it in plastic wrap for hygiene.
- Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- Traditionally, the person who finds the baby is expected to host next year’s party or bring the next cake.
