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Traditional King Cake

Freshly prepared Traditional King Cake on white plate
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Traditional King Cake is a festive, rich yeast cake decorated in vibrant purple, green, and gold sugar, enjoyed especially during Mardi Gras celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup warm whole milk (110°F/45°C)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup colored sanding sugars (purple, green, and gold)
  • 1 plastic baby figurine (optional)
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk or water (for glaze)

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let stand 5-10 minutes until foamy.
  2. Add melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract to the yeast mixture and mix well.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and cinnamon.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until a soft dough forms.
  5. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  6. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until doubled in size.
  7. Punch down the dough and roll it out into a 12×18 inch rectangle.
  8. Roll the dough up jelly-roll style and pinch the seams to seal.
  9. Form the rolled dough into a ring and place on a greased baking sheet.
  10. If using, hide a clean plastic baby figurine inside the dough ring.
  11. Cover and let the ring rise again for 45 minutes.
  12. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the King Cake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
  13. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
  14. Mix powdered sugar with milk or water to make a glaze and drizzle over the cooled cake.
  15. Sprinkle the colored sanding sugars in traditional Mardi Gras colors on top of the glaze.

Notes

For a fun tradition, hide a tiny plastic baby inside the cake; the person who finds it is said to host next year’s party.

Find it online: https://carmenwausa.com/traditional-king-cake-delight/