Description
King cake creates a festive Louisiana tradition celebrating Carnival season with rich, colorful pastry. Sweet dough swirled with cinnamon and decorated in purple, green, and gold delights carnival enthusiasts.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3.5 cups (875 ml) all-purpose flour
- 2.25 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 2 eggs
- 0.75 cup (180 ml) warm milk (110°F / 45°C)
- 0.25 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup (100 g) brown sugar
- 1.5 cups (180 g) powdered sugar
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.25 cup (57 g) unsalted butter (melted)
- 0.25 cup (57 g) unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) milk
- 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
- green colored sugar
- purple colored sugar
- gold colored sugar
- 1 small plastic baby (optional)
Instructions
- Yeast Activation: Dissolve yeast in warm milk, allowing it to bloom and become frothy for 5 minutes, releasing its full potential.
- Dough Formation: Merge dry ingredients with eggs, melted butter, and activated yeast in a large mixing bowl, kneading until a smooth, elastic dough develops. Transfer to a warm environment and let rise until doubled in volume, approximately one hour.
- Filling Preparation: Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter to create a rich, aromatic filling that will infuse the cake with depth and warmth.
- Shaping and Assembly: Roll out the risen dough into a rectangular canvas, generously spread the cinnamon mixture across its surface. Carefully roll into a cylindrical form, then shape into a circular crown, sealing the edges securely.
- Final Rise and Preheating: Allow the shaped cake to rest and expand, while simultaneously heating the oven to 350°F, creating the perfect baking environment.
- Baking and Finishing: Bake until the cake achieves a golden, luminous complexion. Once cooled, craft a silky glaze by whisking powdered sugar with milk and vanilla extract, drizzling it over the surface.
- Decorative Flourish: Embellish with traditional Mardi Gras-colored sugars in green, purple, and gold. Discretely nestle the symbolic plastic baby within the cake’s interior for an authentic touch.
Notes
- Yeast Activation Precision: Ensure milk temperature is between 100-110°F to activate yeast without killing it, creating a perfect rise.
- Dough Consistency Control: Knead until smooth and elastic, avoiding over-mixing which can make the cake tough and dense.
- Rising Environment Matters: Place dough in a warm, draft-free area around 80-85°F to guarantee optimal expansion and soft texture.
- Hidden Baby Placement: Insert the traditional plastic baby after baking to prevent melting, positioning it carefully for safe consumption.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg