As Mardi Gras season approaches, many people look forward to indulging in King Cake, a traditional dessert that originated in Louisiana. This cake is typically a sweet, cinnamon-filled dough that is shaped into a ring and decorated with colorful icing and sprinkles. If you want to try making your own homemade King Cake, here is an amazing recipe that will surely impress your family and friends.

Ingredients:

For the dough:

– 3 cups all-purpose flour
– 1/4 cup granulated sugar
– 1 packet active dry yeast
– 1/2 cup warm milk
– 2 large eggs, beaten
– 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
– 1 tsp salt
– 1 tsp ground cinnamon
– 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
– 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
– 1/4 tsp ground ginger

For the filling:

– 1 cup brown sugar
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 2 tsp ground cinnamon

For the glaze:

– 2 cups powdered sugar
– 3 tbsp milk
– 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
– Purple, green, and gold sprinkles for decoration

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger. Mix well and set aside.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the warm milk and beaten eggs. Add this mixture to the flour mixture and stir until well combined.

3. Add the melted butter to the dough and knead for 5-7 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.

4. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a clean cloth. Allow it to rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour or until the dough doubles in size.

5. While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. In a medium bowl, mix the brown sugar, softened butter, and cinnamon until well combined.

6. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

7. Once the dough has risen, roll it out into a large rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Spread the filling over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border at the edges.

8. Starting from the long side, roll the dough tightly into a cylinder. Pinch the edges together to seal the seam.

9. Form the cylinder into a ring, making sure that the seam is on the bottom. Transfer the cake to the prepared baking sheet.

10. Bake the cake for 25-30 minutes or until it turns golden brown. Allow it to cool for 10 minutes.

11. While the cake is cooling, prepare the glaze by mixing the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.

12. Once the cake has cooled, drizzle the glaze over the top, allowing it to drip down the sides.

13. Decorate the cake with purple, green, and gold sprinkles in the traditional Mardi Gras colors.

Summary:

– To make the dough, combine flour, sugar, yeast, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger. Add warm milk, beaten eggs, and melted butter. Knead the dough and let it rise.
– Make the filling by mixing brown sugar, softened butter, and cinnamon.
– Roll out the dough, add the filling, roll, and form into a ring. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
– Prepare the glaze by mixing powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Drizzle it over the cake and decorate with Mardi Gras colors.