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Traditional King Cake

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Celebrate Mardi Gras with this Traditional King Cake, a sweet, colorful, and festive pastry featuring cinnamon-spiced dough braided and topped with vibrant sugar icing.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup warm whole milk (about 110°F)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 small plastic baby figurine (optional)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Colored sanding sugars in purple, green, and gold for decoration

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk with 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar. Let stand until foamy, about 5-10 minutes.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 1/2 cups flour, salt, and remaining sugar. Add the yeast mixture, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until a dough forms.
  3. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes, adding remaining flour as needed, until smooth and elastic.
  4. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 to 1.5 hours, until doubled in size.
  5. While dough rises, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans in a small bowl.
  6. Punch down dough and roll into a large rectangle (about 16×12 inches) on a floured surface.
  7. Spread the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the dough.
  8. Roll the dough tightly from the long edge into a log, pinch the seam to seal, then shape into a ring, sealing ends together.
  9. If using, hide the plastic baby somewhere inside the ring.
  10. Place the ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover lightly, and let rise for 30-45 minutes until puffy.
  11. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.
  12. Let cake cool completely before icing.
  13. Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to make a smooth glaze. Drizzle over the cooled cake.
  14. Immediately sprinkle colored sugars in sections over the glaze to create the traditional purple, green, and gold pattern.

Notes

For best flavor, serve the King Cake within 1-2 days. You can also add cream cheese filling for a rich variation.

Find it online: https://cubaqueen.com/traditional-king-cake-delicious-dessert/