Authentic King Cake
Authentic King Cake is a vibrant, braided pastry that captures the essence of Mardi Gras with its delightful sweetness and festive colors. Each slice reveals a soft cinnamon filling, topped with rich icing and colorful sprinkles. This cake is perfect for celebrations or as a special treat to brighten any day, making it an irresistible centerpiece for gatherings.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- For the Topping: 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp milk
- Purple, green, and gold food coloring
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, and sugar; let sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
- Add melted butter and eggs; mix well. Gradually whisk in flour until a soft dough forms.
- Knead on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour.
- Roll out risen dough into a rectangle; spread softened butter over it and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar before rolling tightly.
- Shape into a ring by pinching ends together; place on parchment-lined baking sheet and preheat oven to 375°F.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Cool slightly before icing with powdered sugar mixed with milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 of cake (105g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 70mg