Description
Bring the spirit of Mardi Gras to your kitchen with this Classic King Cake! A soft, sweet yeast dough filled with cinnamon-sugar goodness, baked to perfection, and topped with a rich vanilla glaze and festive sprinkles in purple, green, and gold. Whether you’re celebrating New Orleans-style or just indulging in a traditional treat, this homemade king cake is a must for any Mardi Gras party!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Dough:
- 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Filling:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup melted butter
For the Glaze:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Purple, green, and gold sprinkles
Instructions
- Activate the Yeast: In a bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
- Make the Dough: Add flour, salt, nutmeg, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla. Mix and knead until smooth and elastic (about 8 minutes). Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Prepare the Filling: Mix brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll out dough into a large rectangle and brush with melted butter. Sprinkle the filling evenly over the dough.
- Shape the Cake: Roll the dough into a log, then form it into a ring, pinching the ends together. Place on a baking sheet, cover, and let rise for another 30 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool.
- Decorate: Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to make a glaze. Drizzle over the cooled cake and sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sugar for the perfect Mardi Gras look!
Notes
- For extra flavor, add cream cheese or pecans to the filling.
- Traditionally, a small plastic baby is hidden inside the cake—whoever finds it hosts next year’s Mardi Gras party!
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
