King Cake

 

 King Cake is a delicious and festive treat that is traditionally eaten during the Mardi Gras season. It is a ring-shaped cake that is decorated with purple, green, and yellow icing, and it often contains a small plastic baby hidden inside. The person who finds the baby is said to be the "king" or "queen" for the day, and they are responsible for hosting the next Mardi Gras celebration.  

 

This King Cake recipe is easy to follow and makes a delicious and festive treat.

 

Ingredients:

 

1 package (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast

½ cup warm water (105-115°F)

¼ cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup unsalted butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Purple, green, and yellow food coloring

Powdered sugar

Instructions:

 

In a large bowl, combine the yeast, warm water, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes, or until the yeast is dissolved.

Add the egg, flour, salt, melted butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the yeast mixture. Stir until a dough forms.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.  

Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.  

Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll it out into a large rectangle, about 18 inches long and 12 inches wide.

Spread the dough with melted butter.

Sprinkle with sugar.

Roll up the dough tightly, starting from one of the long sides.

Pinch the seam closed and form the dough into a ring shape.

Place the ring on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

Bake the King Cake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.

While the cake is cooling, make the icing. In a bowl, combine 1 cup powdered sugar with 2-3 tablespoons milk. Stir until smooth.

Divide the icing into three bowls.

Add a few drops of purple food coloring to one bowl, green food coloring to another bowl, and yellow food coloring to the third bowl.

Drizzle the icing over the cooled King Cake, using a spoon or a piping bag.

Place a small plastic baby in the center of the cake.

Serve and enjoy!

Tips:

 

If you don't have any food coloring, you can use sprinkles to decorate the King Cake.

You can also add other ingredients to the cake, such as chopped nuts or dried fruit.

To make a gluten-free King Cake, use gluten-free flour and gluten-free baking powder.

Enjoy your King Cake!