🎉 Welcome to the celebration of Mardi Gras with our scrumptious Mardi Gras King Cake recipe! 🎭 This festive treat, perfect for breakfast or brunch during the carnival season, is not only delicious but also brings luck if you find the hidden plastic baby inside! Get ready to let the good times roll with this traditional delight!
🕒 Time Table:
| Preparation | Cooking | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | 20 minutes | 2 hours 20 minutes |
Ingredients:
-
For the Cake:
- 1/2 – 1 stick butter
- 1 cup fat-free evaporated milk
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 packets dry yeast
- 2/3 cup warm water
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon rind
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
-
-
For the Filling:
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
-
For the Topping:
- 1 cup granulated sugar (divided into 1/3 cup each for yellow, purple, and green)
- Food coloring (yellow, purple, green)
-
Plus:
- Plastic baby (for decoration)
- Extra butter for greasing
- Beaten egg (for brushing)
Instructions:
-
Prepare the Cake:
- In a saucepan, melt 1 stick of butter with evaporated milk, 1/3 cup of sugar, and salt. Let it cool to lukewarm.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of sugar with yeast and warm water. Allow it to foam for about 5-10 minutes.
- Beat 4 eggs into the yeast mixture, then add the cooled milk mixture along with lemon rind.
- Gradually stir in the flour, about a 1/2 cup at a time, until a dough forms. Save a cup of flour for kneading.
-
Knead and Rise:
- On a floured surface, knead the dough until smooth for about 5-10 minutes. Grease a large mixing bowl with 1 tablespoon of butter, place the dough in it, and turn it to grease the top. Cover and let it rise until doubled in size.
-
Prepare the Filling and Topping:
- Mix brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon for the filling.
- For the topping, divide the granulated sugar into three portions and tint each with food coloring to represent Mardi Gras colors: yellow, purple, and green.
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Assembly:
- Once the dough has doubled, punch it down and divide it in half. Roll out each half into a 30×15-inch rectangle.
- Brush each rectangle with melted butter and sprinkle half of the filling over them, leaving a plain 1-inch strip for sealing.
- Fold each strip lengthwise toward the center and seal them. Braid the strips into a closed circle.
- Repeat the process with the other half of the dough.
-
Final Steps:
- Place each cake on a large baking sheet and cover them with a damp kitchen towel. Let them rise until doubled in size.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Brush each cake with beaten egg and sprinkle the colored sugars on top in a creative, criss-cross fashion.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove the cakes from the pan while still hot and insert a plastic baby into each cake from below.
- Finally, tightly wrap the cakes in plastic. They can also be frozen for later enjoyment.
Indulge in the flavors of Mardi Gras with this delightful King Cake recipe, and may your festivities be filled with joy, luck, and deliciousness! 🎊🍰
