Mardi Gras King Cake (Printable Version)
Festive King Cake with cream cheese filling and vibrant sanding sugars for a colorful celebration.
# What You Need:
→ Dough
01 - 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
02 - 2¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
03 - ½ cup granulated sugar
04 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
05 - ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
08 - ½ tsp almond extract
09 - 1 tsp salt
10 - ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
→ Cream Cheese Filling
11 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
12 - ½ cup powdered sugar
13 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Cinnamon Sugar
14 - ⅓ cup granulated sugar
15 - 2 tsp ground cinnamon
→ Icing
16 - 1½ cups powdered sugar
17 - 2-3 tbsp milk
18 - ½ tsp vanilla extract
→ Decoration
19 - Purple, green, and gold sanding sugars
20 - 1 plastic baby or dried bean (optional)
# How To Make It:
01 - Combine warm milk and yeast in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add sugar, melted butter, eggs, vanilla, almond extract, salt, and nutmeg. Mix until combined.
03 - Gradually add flour, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1-1½ hours until doubled.
05 - Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
06 - Mix cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl.
07 - Punch down dough and roll into a 10x24-inch rectangle on a floured surface.
08 - Spread cream cheese filling lengthwise down the center third. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
09 - Fold one long side over filling, then the other, pinching seams to seal. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheet and shape into a ring, pinching ends together.
10 - Cover and let rise for 45 minutes until puffy.
11 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
12 - Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Cool for 20 minutes.
13 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over cooled cake.
14 - Sprinkle with purple, green, and gold colored sugars in alternating sections.
15 - Once completely cool, gently insert the plastic baby or dried bean into the underside of the cake.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The cream cheese filling creates these velvety ribbons throughout that make every bite feel like a celebration
- There's something magical about watching those purple green and gold sugars transform simple dough into a party centerpiece
02 -
- The dough should feel tacky but not sticky, if it's clinging to everything add another tablespoon of flour
- Sealing the seam is crucial or cream cheese will escape during baking and create a mess on your pan
03 -
- Use a kitchen towel to help roll the dough onto your rolling pin for easier transfer to the baking sheet
- If you don't have sanding sugar, regular colored sugar works but gives a different texture