Mardi Gras King Cake
Festive New Orleans-Style King Cake with Cinnamon Swirl and Colorful Icing
Ingredients:
For the Dough:
1/2 cup warm water (110°F)
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4–5 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup warm milk
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
5 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Filling:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1/4 cup melted butter
For the Icing & Decoration:
1 cup powdered sugar
2–3 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar
Directions:
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water with a teaspoon of sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes until frothy.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture, milk, melted butter, remaining sugar, egg yolks, vanilla, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Gradually mix in flour until a soft dough forms.
Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1–2 hours or until doubled.
Roll out the dough into a large rectangle (about 10x16 inches). Mix the filling ingredients, then spread evenly over the dough.
Roll the dough up jelly-roll style and form it into a ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Pinch the ends together to seal.
Cover the ring loosely with plastic wrap and let rise again for 45 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool completely.
Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to form a glaze. Drizzle over cooled cake, then sprinkle immediately with colored sugars in alternating bands of purple, green, and gold.
Optional: Hide a plastic baby or dried bean inside after baking for tradition!
Prep Time: 2 hours | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Kcal: 325 kcal | Servings: 12 servings
#kingcake #mardigrasdessert #neworleansrecipes #bakingtraditions #holidaybaking #southernbakes #cinnamoncake #mardigrascelebration #kingcakerecipe #homebakedgoodness #colorfuldesserts #neworleansfood #bakingjoy #cakewithmeaning #mardigrasfood #festivecake #holidaytradition #yeastcake #southernsweets #celebrationdesserts
Let the good times roll! Nothing says Mardi Gras like a homemade King Cake with bright icing and a sweet cinnamon swirl inside.
Mardi Gras King Cake
Festive New Orleans-Style King Cake with Cinnamon Swirl and Colorful Icing
Ingredients:
For the Dough:
1/2 cup warm water (110°F)
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4–5 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup warm milk
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
5 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Filling:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1/4 cup melted butter
For the Icing & Decoration:
1 cup powdered sugar
2–3 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar
Directions:
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water with a teaspoon of sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes until frothy.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture, milk, melted butter, remaining sugar, egg yolks, vanilla, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Gradually mix in flour until a soft dough forms.
Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1–2 hours or until doubled.
Roll out the dough into a large rectangle (about 10x16 inches). Mix the filling ingredients, then spread evenly over the dough.
Roll the dough up jelly-roll style and form it into a ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Pinch the ends together to seal.
Cover the ring loosely with plastic wrap and let rise again for 45 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool completely.
Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to form a glaze. Drizzle over cooled cake, then sprinkle immediately with colored sugars in alternating bands of purple, green, and gold.
Optional: Hide a plastic baby or dried bean inside after baking for tradition!
Prep Time: 2 hours | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Kcal: 325 kcal | Servings: 12 servings
#kingcake #mardigrasdessert #neworleansrecipes #bakingtraditions #holidaybaking #southernbakes #cinnamoncake #mardigrascelebration #kingcakerecipe #homebakedgoodness #colorfuldesserts #neworleansfood #bakingjoy #cakewithmeaning #mardigrasfood #festivecake #holidaytradition #yeastcake #southernsweets #celebrationdesserts
Let the good times roll! Nothing says Mardi Gras like a homemade King Cake with bright icing and a sweet cinnamon swirl inside.
