Royal Delight: The Most Festive King Cake Recipe Ever

Sweet aromas of cinnamon and sugar waft through kitchens during carnival season, tempting everyone with this delectable king cake recipe that captures the vibrant spirit of New Orleans.

Bakers across Louisiana cherish this traditional pastry that brings joy and celebration to every gathering.

The swirled dough, adorned with sparkling purple, green, and gold sugar, tells a story of festive tradition and culinary delight.

Each slice promises a delightful surprise with its rich, buttery texture and hint of spice.

Hidden within the tender crumb, a tiny plastic baby symbolizes luck and friendship.

This beloved dessert transforms ordinary moments into memorable celebrations that dance with flavor and cultural significance.

You’ll want to share every delicious bite with those closest to your heart.

Serving Ideas For King Cake Recipe

• Festive Party Platter: Serve this colorful king cake on a large wooden board surrounded by vibrant Mardi Gras beads and small decorative masks for an authentic New Orleans celebration.
• Sweet Brunch Companion: Pair slices with strong chicory coffee or café au lait, creating a traditional Louisiana breakfast experience that transports guests straight to the French Quarter.
• Interactive Dessert Station: Set out extra colored sugars and glaze, allowing guests to customize their cake slice and participate in the fun Mardi Gras decorating tradition.
• Sharing Ritual Centerpiece: Cut the cake with friends and family, explaining the hidden baby tradition and encouraging whoever finds it to host the next gathering or bring the next king cake.

Keep King Cake Recipe Stored Right

• Quick Cool Storage: Keep the king cake covered at room temperature for 2-3 days. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
• Refrigeration Ready: When storing longer than 3 days, refrigerate the cake. Place in a sealed container to prevent drying out, and consume within 5-7 days for best taste and texture.
• Freezing Friendly: Slice the cake before freezing for easier portioning. Wrap individual pieces in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature for soft, delicious results.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the dough one day ahead and store in the refrigerator overnight. This slow rise enhances flavor and makes day-of baking more convenient. Let the dough come to room temperature before shaping and baking.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Calories: 320 kcal

Servings: 13

Everything For King Cake Recipe

• Flour: Provides the foundational structure for the King Cake, ensuring a tender and soft texture.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps activate the yeast for perfect rising.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and controls yeast growth.
• Nutmeg, Cinnamon: Introduce warm, aromatic spices that give the cake its signature New Orleans character.
• Vanilla Extract: Brings depth and subtle sweetness to the dough.

• Eggs: Create richness and help bind ingredients together.
• Milk: Activates yeast and adds moisture to the dough.
• Butter: Provides richness, helps dough develop softness, and adds luxurious flavor.
• Yeast: Critical for making the dough rise and creating a light, airy texture.

• Brown Sugar: Creates a caramelized, sweet interior filling.
• Powdered Sugar: Forms the smooth, glossy glaze that covers the cake.
• Colored Sugar (Green, Purple, Gold): Represents traditional Mardi Gras colors, adding festive visual appeal.
• Plastic Baby: Optional traditional charm symbolizing luck and celebration.

What You’ll Use For King Cake Recipe

• Large mixing bowl: For combining dry ingredients and kneading dough.
• Small mixing bowl: To activate yeast and mix filling ingredients.
• Whisk: For blending dry ingredients smoothly.
• Rolling pin: To roll out dough into a rectangle.
• Baking sheet: For shaping and baking the king cake.
• Measuring cups and spoons: To ensure precise ingredient quantities.
• Electric mixer (optional): Can help with mixing dough if needed.
• Spatula: For spreading filling and scraping bowl.
• Cooling rack: To let cake cool evenly after baking.

Steps To Bake King Cake Recipe

• Activate the Yeast

Warm some milk and combine with yeast, letting it bubble and wake up for a few minutes until it looks frothy and alive.

• Create the Dough Base

Blend flour, sugar, spices, and vanilla in a spacious mixing bowl. Add eggs, melted butter, and your awakened yeast mixture, stirring until a soft, tender dough emerges.

• Knead and Rise

Work the dough with your hands, stretching and folding for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Cover and let it rest, growing and expanding for around an hour.

• Build the Flavor Layer

Whip together brown sugar, cinnamon, and soft butter to create a delectable filling. Roll out your dough into a wide rectangle and generously spread the sweet mixture across the surface.

• Shape and Prepare

Roll the dough into a beautiful log, then curve it into a festive oval on your baking sheet. Seal the edges and let it rise again, preparing for its golden transformation.

• Bake to Perfection

Heat your oven and slide in the cake, watching it turn a stunning golden brown in about 25-30 minutes. Allow it to cool and settle.

• Decorate with Flair

Craft a silky glaze using powdered sugar and a splash of milk. Drizzle it dramatically over the cake and shower it with vibrant green, purple, and gold sugars for a true Mardi Gras celebration.

Sweet Tips For King Cake Recipe

• Foolproof Rising Technique: Cover the dough with a damp kitchen towel during rising to prevent the surface from drying out and ensure a soft, fluffy texture.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the dough the night before and refrigerate overnight for a slower, more developed flavor and easier morning preparation.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap traditional flour with a gluten-free blend and add 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum to maintain the cake's structure and texture.
• Flavor Twist Options: Experiment with alternate fillings like cream cheese, almond paste, or chocolate chips to create unique flavor profiles that still honor the traditional King Cake spirit.
• Dairy-Free Modification: Replace milk with almond milk or coconut milk, and use dairy-free butter alternatives to make the recipe suitable for those with lactose intolerance.

Festive King Cake Recipe

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• Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Louisiana’s king cake blends sweet dough, cinnamon, and festive spirit in a circular masterpiece. New Orleans bakers embrace this carnival tradition, delighting carnival revelers with each colorful, sugar-dusted slice.

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Ingredients

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• 3.5 cups (875 ml) all-purpose flour
• 2.25 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 2 eggs
• 0.75 cup (180 ml) warm milk (110°F / 45°C)
• 0.5 cup brown sugar
• 0.25 cup (57 g) unsalted butter (softened)
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1.5 cups powdered sugar
• 0.25 cup (57 g) unsalted butter (melted)
• 0.25 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsps milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Green, purple, and gold colored sugar
• 1 small plastic baby (optional)

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Instructions

1. Yeast Activation: Combine yeast with warm milk in a small container, allowing the mixture to become frothy and bubbly for 5 minutes.
2. Dry Ingredient Preparation: Mix flour, sugar, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl, ensuring a uniform blend.
3. Dough Formation: Merge eggs, melted butter, and activated yeast into the dry ingredients, creating a cohesive, slightly tacky dough through thorough mixing.
4. Dough Development: Knead the dough on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes, transforming it into a smooth, elastic texture that springs back when touched.
5. First Rise: Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it expand in a warm space until volume doubles, roughly one hour.
6. Filling Creation: Combine brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and softened butter into a rich, spreadable mixture.
7. Dough Shaping: Roll the risen dough into a rectangular shape, maintaining an even thickness of 10-20 inches.
8. Filling Application: Spread the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly across the dough, leaving a small margin around the edges.
9. Rolling and Forming: Roll the dough lengthwise into a compact log, then shape into an oval on a prepared baking sheet, pinching ends to seal.
10. Final Rise and Baking: Allow the shaped cake to rise for 30 minutes, then bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding.
11. Cooling and Glazing: Remove from oven, cool completely on a wire rack, then create a smooth glaze by whisking powdered sugar with milk and vanilla extract.
12. Decoration: Drizzle glaze over the cooled cake, then sprinkle with traditional Mardi Gras colors – green, purple, and gold. Optionally, hide a plastic baby figurine within the cake.

Notes

• Activate Yeast Precisely: Ensure milk is warm (not hot) around 110°F to prevent killing yeast, creating perfect frothy activation.
• Knead Dough Strategically: Push and fold dough with consistent pressure, developing gluten for soft, elastic texture without overworking.
• Control Rising Environment: Place dough in draft-free, warm spot around 80-85°F, covering with damp cloth to maintain moisture and prevent surface drying.
• Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free blend, use dairy-free milk alternative, and replace butter with coconut oil for adaptable version.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Cajun/Creole

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 27 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 49 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg