Mardi Gras King Cake (Printable version)
A vibrant King Cake filled with creamy sweet cheese and topped with traditional Mardi Gras sugars.
# List of ingredients:
→ Dough
01 - 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
02 - 2¼ teaspoons 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
07 - 1 teaspoon salt
08 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
→ Cream Cheese Filling
10 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
11 - ¾ cup powdered sugar
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Topping
13 - 2 cups powdered sugar
14 - 2–3 tablespoons milk
15 - ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
16 - Purple, green, and gold colored sugars
# Directions:
01 - Combine warm milk, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add remaining sugar, melted butter, eggs, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon to yeast mixture. Mix thoroughly to combine.
03 - Gradually incorporate flour until a soft dough forms. Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm location for 1 hour until doubled in size.
05 - Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
06 - Punch down risen dough and roll out on a floured surface into a 10x20-inch rectangle.
07 - Spread cream cheese filling evenly over dough, leaving a 1-inch border around edges.
08 - Roll dough tightly from the long side, pinching seams to seal. Form into a ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet, seam side down. Pinch ends together to close the ring.
09 - Cover and let rise for 45 minutes until puffy and slightly expanded.
10 - Heat oven to 350°F.
11 - Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack.
12 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to form a thick glaze. Drizzle over cooled cake.
13 - Immediately sprinkle purple, green, and gold sugars in alternating sections over glaze.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The cream cheese filling creates an irresistible swirl that keeps everyone coming back for seconds
- That moment when you sprinkle the colored sugars feels like pure celebration
02 -
- The dough is stickier than you expect, resist adding too much extra flour or it will be tough
- Let the cake cool completely before glazing or the icing will melt right off
03 -
- If you cannot find colored sugars, mix regular granulated sugar with gel food coloring
- Hide the plastic baby in the bottom of the cake through a small slit after baking