King Cake Recipe – A Traditional Mardi Gras Dessert

 

King Cake Recipe – A Classic Mardi Gras Dessert

King Cake – It is the famous dessert eaten during Mardi Gras! It’s a sweet, cinnamon-flavored dough, formed into a ring, glazed with icing and smarted up with colorful sugar, and at times filled with cream cheese or fruit. A small plastic baby is traditionally hidden inside, and the person who finds it must host next time!

Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 1 cup  warm milk (at 110°F or 45°C)
• 2 ¼ teaspoons (1 packet) dry yeast
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for dusting)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For The Filling (Optional – Cream Cheese Or Cinnamon Sugar):

Cinnamon Sugar Filling:

• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• ⅔ cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• Cream Cheese Filling:
• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Icing:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3–4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For Decoration:

• Colored sugar or sprinkles in purple, green and gold
• (Optional) Plastic baby figurine (for tradition)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: (Prepare the Dough)

• In a large bowl, heat milk to 110°F/45°C. Stir in the yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes, until foamy.
• Add in the rest of the sugar, melted butter, eggs, salt, vanilla, and cinnamon. Stir well.
• Add flour gradually, one cup at a time, mixing until soft dough forms.
• Working on a floured countertop, knead the dough for about 8-10 min until smooth and elastic.
• Transfer the dough to a bowl coated with oil or cooking spray, cover with a damp towel, and allow it to sit in a warm area for an hour to two, until the dough has doubled.

Step 2:

(For Cinnamon Sugar Filling)

• In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.

(For Cream Cheese Filling)

• Cream together cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth.

Step 3: (Shape the King Cake)

• After the dough has risen, punch it down and on a floured surface roll it into a 10x20-inch rectangle.
• Use your selected filling on top of the dough and spread it.
• Spread from the long side and roll it up tightly, jelly-roll fashion.
• The rolled dough can then be shaped into a ring or oval by pinching the ends together.
• Transfer the ring to a baking sheet lined with parchment.

Step 4: (Second Rise & Baking)

• Cover the dough and let rise until puffy, 30 to 45 minutes more.
• The oven should be preheated to 350°F (175°C).
• Bake until golden brown, 25–30 minutes.
• Cool completely before icing.

Step 5: (Prepare the coating and apply it)

• Combine powdered sugar, milk (or cream) and vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth.
• Drizzle icing over cooled King Cake.
• As soon as the icing is applied, immediately sprinkle on purple, green and gold sugar before the icing sets.

Step 6: Optional — Disguise the baby

• Insert a small plastic baby into the cake from bottom after a cooled — if you want to be traditional.

Serving & Storage

• Slice and serve fresh!
• Keep extras at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.

King Cake Variations & Tips

• Filing-fruit: Raspberry, blueberry or apple filling add.
• Chocolatey: Spread Nutella in before rolling.
• Savory version: Omit the sugar, and stuff with cheese and ham.

Make-ahead tip: You can make the dough a day in advance and refrigerate overnight before baking.

And your homemade King Cake to get the Mardi Gras party started! 🎭💜💚💛