Celebrate Mardi Gras with this traditional King Cake recipe! A sweet, cinnamon-filled delight decorated in festive colors, perfect for any Mardi Gras party.
Colored sugarspurple, green, and gold for decoration
Instructions
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm milk. Let sit until frothy, about 10 minutes.
Add 2 cups flour, eggs, ½ cup sugar, melted butter, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix until smooth.
Gradually add more flour until a soft dough forms.
Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
For the filling, mix cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and cinnamon until smooth.
Roll out dough into a large rectangle, spread the filling evenly over the dough, then roll up tightly like a jelly roll.
Form the roll into a circle on a baking sheet, sealing the ends together. Cover and let rise again for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake the cake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool slightly and hide the plastic baby or bean in the cake.
Decorate with colored sugars and serve.
Notes
Ensure the milk is warm (not hot) to activate the yeast without killing it.
• Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free area to ensure a fluffy texture.
• Roll the dough tightly to prevent the filling from leaking.
• Hide a small plastic baby or bean inside the cake after baking for tradition. Whoever finds it has to make next year's cake!
• Decorate with colored sugars (purple, green, and gold) to represent justice, faith, and power.