King Cake Recipe
This King Cake Recipe brings sweet bread, cinnamon swirl, and colorful glaze right into your home kitchen—perfect for a Mardi Gras party or any festive dessert craving.
Ingredients
- 2¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
- ½ cup warm milk (110°F–115°F; dairy or almond milk works too)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (swap ⅓ cup for whole wheat pastry flour for nuttiness)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (plus extra for coloring)
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup brown sugar (for filling)
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon (for filling)
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar (for glaze)
- 2-3 tbsp milk or cream (for glaze consistency)
- Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar or gel food coloring
Instructions
- In a small bowl, stir yeast into warm milk with 1 tsp sugar. Let sit 5–7 minutes until frothy.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt.
- Whisk eggs, melted butter, and vanilla into the yeast mixture, then pour into dry mix and stir until a shaggy dough forms.
- On a lightly floured surface, knead 8–10 minutes until dough is smooth and slightly springy.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let it proof in a warm spot for about 1 hour, until doubled.
- Gently deflate dough, then roll into a 12x18-inch rectangle. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle evenly, leaving a ½-inch border all around.
- Starting on the long side, tightly roll into a log. Connect ends to form a ring, pinching seam to seal. Carefully transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Cover loosely and let rest 20–30 minutes until puffy. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F.
- Brush top with an egg wash for sheen. Bake 25–30 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped.
- Cool 10 minutes, then whisk confectioners’ sugar with milk until smooth. Drizzle over warm ring, immediately sprinkle colored sugar in traditional Mardi Gras stripes.
Notes
Choose a high-quality vanilla like Nielsen-Massey. If your butter is cold, pop it in the microwave for 5 seconds.
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