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Mardi Gras King Cake

A Mardi Gras tradition from New Orleans, King Cake is a sweet, brioche-style pastry filled with cinnamon-sugar and topped with a colorful glaze in purple, green, and gold the colors of justice, faith, and power. Traditionally, a small trinket or plastic baby is hidden inside, and the person who finds it hosts the next Mardi Gras party.
Print Recipe
Prep Time:30 minutes
Cook Time:30 minutes
Total Time:3 hours 15 minutes

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Measuring cups and spoons or digital kitchen scale
  • Whisk and spatula
  • Stand mixer with dough hook (optional)
  • Rolling Pin
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper

Ingredients

  • For the Dough:
  • ½ cup 120ml warm water (110°F / 43°C)
  • 2 packets 4 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
  • ½ cup 100g granulated sugar, divided
  • 4 cups 500g bread flour (plus extra for kneading)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup 120ml warm milk
  • 5 tablespoons 70g unsalted butter, melted
  • 4 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the Filling:
  • ½ cup 100g brown sugar, packed
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons 57g unsalted butter, softened
  • For the Glaze:
  • 2 cups 240g powdered sugar
  • 3 –4 tablespoons 45–60ml milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Purple green, and gold sanding sugar (for decoration)

Instructions

  • Make the Dough
  • In a small bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, remaining sugar, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
  • Stir in warm milk, melted butter, eggs, vanilla, and the yeast mixture.
  • Mix until a sticky dough forms, then knead on a floured surface (or with a stand mixer and dough hook) for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  • First Rise
  • Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size about 1 to 1 ½ hours.
  • Shape and Fill
  • Punch down the dough and roll into a large rectangle (about 10x20 inches).
  • Spread softened butter over the surface, then sprinkle evenly with brown sugar and cinnamon.
  • Roll the dough tightly from the long side into a log.
  • Shape into a ring, pinching the ends together to seal. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • Second Rise
  • Cover and let rise for another 45 minutes, or until puffy.
  • Bake
  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • Let cool completely before glazing.
  • Glaze and Decorate
  • In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
  • Drizzle over cooled cake, then immediately sprinkle with alternating sections of purple, green, and gold sanding sugar.
  • If using a trinket, carefully hide it in the cake after baking and cooling.
Servings: 14 slices