Mardi Gras King Cake
Celebrate the vibrant spirit of Mardi Gras with this show-stopping King Cake, a sweet, buttery ring of soft, cinnamon-swirled dough adorned with festive green, purple, and gold sugar sprinkles. This traditional New Orleans dessert is the ultimate centerpiece for your Fat Tuesday festivities, combining a tender, homemade brioche dough with a rich cinnamon-sugar filling. Topped with a luscious vanilla icing, the King Cake is not only delicious but also steeped in tradition, often featuring a hidden plastic baby symbolizing luck and prosperity. With simple step-by-step instructions, this recipe will guide you through crafting your own Mardi Gras masterpiece to share with friends and family. Perfectly sweet, eye-catching, and bursting with festive flavor, this King Cake is sure to become a cherished tradition!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup Whole milk
- 0.25 cup Granulated sugar
- 2.25 teaspoons Active dry yeast
- 0.5 cup Unsalted butter
- 3 Large eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 4.5 cups All-purpose flour
- 0.5 cup Brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Ground cinnamon
- 2 cups Powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons Milk (for icing)
- as needed Green, purple, and yellow sugar sprinkles
- 1 Plastic baby figurine (optional)
Instructions
Warm the milk to about 110°F (43°C). Stir in the granulated sugar and yeast, and let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes, until frothy.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk mixture, melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and salt. Gradually add the flour, one cup at a time, and mix until a sticky dough forms.
Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for about 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Alternatively, use a stand mixer with a dough hook for approximately 5 minutes.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm area for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and ground cinnamon to create the filling. Set aside.
Once the dough has risen, punch it down and turn it out onto a floured surface. Roll it into a large rectangle, about 16x10 inches.
Spread softened butter evenly over the surface of the dough. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the top.
Roll the dough tightly from the long side into a log. Pinch the seam to seal.
Shape the log into a circle, pinching the ends together to form a ring. Transfer it to a parchment-lined baking sheet. If using a plastic baby figurine, insert it into the dough at this stage.
Cover the ring with a kitchen towel and let it rise for another 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Once risen, bake the King Cake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack.
To make the icing, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Drizzle or spread the icing over the cooled cake.
Sprinkle the icing with green, purple, and yellow sugar sprinkles to decorate the King Cake in traditional Mardi Gras colors.
Slice, serve, and enjoy your Mardi Gras King Cake. Remember to warn guests about the hidden figurine if included!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
413 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 10.5 g | 14% | |
| Saturated Fat | 6.1 g | 30% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 71 mg | 24% | |
| Sodium | 113 mg | 5% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 72.1 g | 26% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.7 g | 6% | |
| Total Sugars | 35.8 g | ||
| Protein | 7.5 g | 15% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.7 mcg | 3% | |
| Calcium | 58 mg | 4% | |
| Iron | 2.2 mg | 12% | |
| Potassium | 133 mg | 3% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
