Description
Traditional Mardi Gras King Cake featuring a soft, yeast-raised dough filled with either cinnamon sugar or creamy vanilla cream cheese filling, braided and baked to golden perfection. Topped with a sweet glaze and festive colored sugars, this cake is a celebratory treat perfect for sharing during Mardi Gras festivities.
Ingredients
Dough
- 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 (705g to 776g)
Cinnamon Filling
- 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)
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter (softened)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 Tablespoons milk
- 1 Tablespoon salted butter (melted)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Colored sanding sugars (purple, green, and gold) for decoration
- Plastic baby figurines (for tradition)
Instructions
- Prepare Dough: Heat milk and salted butter together in a microwave-safe bowl for 60-90 seconds until melted. Add salt and allow mixture to cool until warm, about 120° to 130°F.
- Activate Yeast: In a separate bowl, combine warm water, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, and active dry yeast. Stir and let rest for 5-10 minutes until the yeast becomes foamy.
- Mix Dough Ingredients: Once yeast is foamy, add milk-butter mixture, remaining sugar, beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and 1 cup of flour. Mix well. Gradually add remaining flour while kneading with a dough hook attachment or by hand, adding up to 5 to 5 1/2 cups total. Knead for 5 minutes with a mixer on medium speed or 8-10 minutes by hand until dough is soft and just begins to pull from bowl sides.
- First Rise: Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead a few times until smooth and round. Lightly oil a clean bowl, place dough inside turning to coat with oil, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours until doubled in size.
- Prepare Fillings: For cinnamon filling: mix brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and melted butter until combined. For cream cheese filling: beat softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, softened butter, and vanilla extract until smooth. Set fillings aside.
- Shape Dough: Punch down risen dough, divide in half (recipe yields two cakes). Roll one half into a 10x16-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Use a pizza cutter to cut lengthwise into two long rectangles.
- Fill and Roll: Spread chosen filling evenly over each dough rectangle. Roll each piece into a long cylinder like a cinnamon roll.
- Braid and Form Shape: Twist the two filled logs together into a rope braid. Transfer to baking sheet lined with parchment paper, shaping the braid into an oval and pinching ends to seal. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
- Second Rise: Cover shaped cakes loosely with plastic wrap and let rise, about 30-45 minutes, until puffy.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake cakes for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 190° to 195°F. Remove from oven and cool completely on wire rack.
- Prepare Frosting: Beat powdered sugar, milk, melted butter, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable yet thick enough to coat.
- Decorate Cakes: Insert a plastic baby figurine into each cake, embedding it to hide inside. Drizzle frosting over cakes, spreading evenly. Immediately sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sanding sugars while frosting is still wet for vibrant Mardi Gras colors.
- Serve: Slice the King Cake and serve. Tradition says whoever finds the baby in their slice is crowned king or queen for the day!
Notes
- Ensure yeast is fresh and water temperature is warm but not hot to properly bloom yeast.
- Use a digital thermometer to check dough and cake temperatures for accuracy.
- Colored sanding sugars can be purchased or made by mixing granulated sugar with food coloring.
- You can choose either cinnamon filling, cream cheese filling, or a combination for variety.
- Traditionally, a small plastic baby is hidden inside the cake for fun and celebration.
- This recipe makes two King Cakes; ingredients and fillings can be halved if making one.
- Proper kneading is key to developing gluten for a soft, tender crumb.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Cajun, Creole, Southern United States
