Homemade King Cake Recipe: Everything You Need to Know

Are you planning to celebrate Mardi Gras or a Louisiana-style party? Then, you must prepare a King Cake! This delicious delicacy is a staple during the carnival season. Traditionally, it is made with a sweet yeast dough, filled with cinnamon, sugar, and pecan nuts, twisted into a long oval shape, and covered with colorful icing and sugar sprinkles. Most importantly, there is one secret – hiding a tiny plastic baby figurine inside the cake. Whoever gets the slice containing the figurine is crowned the king or queen of the party.

Making a King Cake from scratch may seem like a daunting task, but it is easier than you think. With our Homemade King Cake Recipe, you can impress your guests and create unforgettable memories. Here we go!

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

– 1/2 cup of warm milk

– 2 1/2 teaspoons of active dry yeast

– 2/3 cup of granulated sugar

– 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

– 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, melted

– 4 egg yolks

– 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

– 1 teaspoon of salt

– 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

– 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg

For the Filling:

– 1/2 cup of brown sugar

– 1/2 cup of chopped pecans

– 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon

– 1/4 cup of unsalted butter, softened

For the Icing:

– 2 cups of confectioner’s sugar

– 4 tablespoons of milk

– 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

– Food coloring (yellow, green, and purple)

For Decoration:

– Colored sugar sprinkles (yellow, green, and purple)

– A tiny plastic baby figurine

Directions:

For the Dough:

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the warm milk and yeast until the yeast dissolves.

2. Add the sugar, vanilla, melted butter, and egg yolks to the bowl and whisk again.

3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until the dough comes together.

5. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead until it becomes smooth and elastic.

6. Grease a large bowl with butter and place the dough in it.

7. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise for 1 hour in a warm place.

For the Filling:

1. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, chopped pecans, and ground cinnamon.

2. Add the softened butter and mix until it forms a paste.

For the King Cake:

1. After 1 hour of proofing, punch down the dough, and place it on a floured surface.

2. Roll out the dough into a large rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.

3. Spread the filling evenly on the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.

4. Roll up the dough lengthwise and seal the edges together.

5. Form a ring shape by joining the two ends of the roll and place it on a lined baking sheet.

6. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rise for another 45 minutes.

7. Preheat your oven to 375°F and bake the cake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.

For the Icing and Decoration:

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the confectioner’s sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.

2. Divide the icing into three separate bowls and color each one with a different food coloring.

3. Once the cake has cooled, drizzle the icing over it, alternating between the colors.

4. Sprinkle the colored sugar sprinkles on top of the icing.

5. Insert the plastic baby figurine into the cake from the bottom.

Now, your Homemade King Cake is ready to be served! Cut into slices, and let the Mardi Gras festivities begin.

Summary:

– A King Cake is a sweet yeast cake baked traditionally at Mardi Gras in Louisiana.

– Making a King Cake from scratch is easy with our Homemade King Cake Recipe.

– The dough is made with flour, yeast, sugar, melted butter, and spices.

– The filling is a mixture of brown sugar, chopped pecans, cinnamon, and softened butter.

– The cake is shaped into a ring, baked until golden brown, and drizzled with colorful icing and sugar sprinkles.

– A tiny plastic baby figurine is hidden inside the cake, and whoever gets the slice containing it is crowned the king or queen of the party.