King Cake Recipe
Description: This delightful King Cake, inspired by a recipe from Southern Living, has become a staple at various celebrations, from Mardi Gras parties to birthdays and even baseball’s opening day. The rich dough is easy to work with, while the cream cheese filling offers a wonderful surprise. For a festive touch, the frosting is typically all yellow, with sugars colored in the traditional Mardi Gras shades of purple, green, and gold. Feel free to adjust the intensity of the colors to suit your preference. Don’t forget the plastic baby, hidden beneath the cake for a fun surprise!
Recipe Details
| Category | Yeast Breads |
|---|---|
| Total Time | 2 hours |
| Prep Time | 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Cook Time | 15 minutes |
| Servings | 28 |
| Yield | 2 cakes |
| Rating | 5 (50 reviews) |
Nutritional Information (per serving)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 354 |
| Total Fat | 12.7 g |
| Saturated Fat | 7.2 g |
| Cholesterol | 54.5 mg |
| Sodium | 194.4 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 55.4 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.9 g |
| Sugars | 32.7 g |
| Protein | 5.3 g |
Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1/4 | butter |
| 1 | sour cream |
| 1/3 | sugar |
| 1 | salt |
| 2 | active dry yeast |
| 1 | white sugar |
| 1/2 | warm water |
| 2 | eggs |
| 6 1/2 | all-purpose flour |
| 2 | cream cheese |
| 1 | egg |
| 3/4 | sugar |
| 1/8 | salt |
| 2 | vanilla |
| 3 | powdered sugar |
| 2 | butter |
| 2 | milk |
| 1 | vanilla extract |
| 2 | white sugar |
Instructions
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In a saucepan over low heat, combine the first four ingredients—butter, sour cream, sugar, and salt—stirring frequently until the butter melts. Allow the mixture to cool until it reaches a temperature between 100°F and 110°F.
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In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar in 1/2 cup of warm water. Let it stand for 5 minutes. Afterward, add the cooled butter mixture, eggs, and 2 cups of flour. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes, or until the mixture is smooth. Gradually stir in enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough.
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Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for approximately 10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a well-greased bowl, turning it to grease the top. Cover and let it rise in a warm, draft-free location for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
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While the dough is rising, prepare the cream cheese filling. Using an electric mixer, blend the cream cheese until smooth. Incorporate the egg, followed by the sugar, salt, and vanilla, mixing until everything is creamy and well combined. Set this filling aside.
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Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll one portion into a rectangle measuring 28 x 10 inches. Spread half of the cream cheese mixture over the dough, then roll it up jelly-roll style from the long side. Place the rolled dough, seam side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet, and bring the ends together to form an oval ring, moistening and pinching the edges to seal. Repeat this process with the second portion of dough and the remaining cream cheese filling.
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Cover the formed cakes and allow them to rise again in a warm place, free from drafts, for about 20 minutes, or until they have doubled in bulk.
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Preheat your oven to 375°F. Bake the cakes for 15 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
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For decoration, create colored frostings by stirring together powdered sugar and melted butter, adding milk until you reach your desired consistency for drizzling, and mixing in vanilla. Divide the frosting into three batches, tinting one green, one yellow, and mixing red and blue food coloring for the purple frosting.
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For the colored sugars, place 1/2 cup of sugar with a drop of green food coloring in a zip-top plastic bag. Seal and shake vigorously to mix the color. Repeat with another 1/2 cup of sugar and yellow food coloring. For purple, combine one drop of red and one drop of blue food coloring before adding to the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar.
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Once the cakes have cooled slightly, decorate them with bands of the colored frostings and sprinkle generously with the colored sugars.
Enjoy your homemade King Cake, a delicious centerpiece for any celebration, bursting with flavors and festive colors!
