Description
Celebrate Mardi Gras with this Traditional King Cake Recipe, a classic New Orleans dessert! Made with soft, cinnamon-spiced dough, a rich cream cheese filling, and topped with a sweet vanilla glaze and festive purple, green, and gold sugar, this homemade King Cake is perfect for any Mardi Gras party or celebration. Serve it with friends and family and don’t forget to hide a plastic baby inside for a fun tradition!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Dough:
- 1/2 cup warm milk (110°F)
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
For the Frosting:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar
Instructions
Activate Yeast:
- In a bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, and 1 tbsp sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
Prepare the Dough:
- In a large bowl, mix flour, remaining sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
- Add eggs, melted butter, vanilla, and yeast mixture. Knead until smooth.
- Cover and let rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Make the Filling:
- In a small bowl, mix cream cheese, brown sugar, and cinnamon until smooth.
Assemble the Cake:
- Roll out dough into a large rectangle. Spread the filling evenly over the dough.
- Roll the dough into a log, then shape it into a ring and pinch the edges to seal.
- Cover and let rise for another 30 minutes.
Bake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool completely before frosting.
Decorate:
- In a bowl, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to make a smooth glaze.
- Spread glaze over the cooled cake and sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sanding sugar.
Notes
- Hide a plastic baby figurine inside before serving for an authentic Mardi Gras tradition!
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Add a dash of nutmeg or orange zest for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Rise Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: New Orleans, Mardi Gras
