my favorite king cake recipe
I started making King Cake about 10 years ago and every year my husband's office requests one. It is a very easy recipe and will gather many compliments. The use of nutmeg in the dough gives it the traditional flavor and the filling of raisins, brown sugar and pecans melts into the dough. You press a plastic baby into the bottom of the cake after it is baked. The person who gets the baby will have good luck and has the honor of hosting the next year's Mardi Gras and providing the King Cake. You can find the plastic baby at most cake supply stores.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
King Cake is a must-make during Mardi Gras. This cake has a tender bread texture with a hint of nutmeg. Its filling is full of flavor with cinnamon, pecans, and a raisin swirl. The dough recipe takes a few steps but is simple to make. Sprinkled with colored sugar - gold (representing power), green (faith), and purple (justice) - this cake is fun and festive. Laissez les bons temps rouler friends!
Ingredients
- PASTRY:
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 ounce active dry yeast (2 - .25 oz pkgs)
- 2/3 cup water, warm (110 degrees)
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 cups egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- FILLING:
- 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon, ground
- 2/3 cup pecans, chopped
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup raisins, light or dark or a mix of both
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- FROSTING:
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar (powdered sugar)
- 1 tablespoon water
- DECORATING:
- 1 package green colored decorating sugar
- 1 package gold/yellow colored decorating sugar
- 1 package purple colored decorating sugar
- 1 - small plastic baby (available at cake supply stores)
How To Make my favorite king cake recipe
-
Step 1Scald milk. -
Step 2Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup of butter. Allow mixture to cool to room temp.
-
Step 3In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in the warm water with 1 tablespoon of the white sugar. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
-
Step 4When yeast mixture is bubbling, add the cooled milk mixture.
-
Step 5Whisk in the eggs.
-
Step 6Stir in the remaining white sugar, salt, and nutmeg.
-
Step 7Beat the flour into the milk/egg mixture 1 cup at a time.
-
Step 8When the dough has pulled together, turn it onto a lightly floured surface.
-
Step 9Knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.
-
Step 10Lightly oil a large bowl. Place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil.
-
Step 11Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap (I prefer plastic wrap).
-
Step 12Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
-
Step 13When risen, punch down and divide the dough in half.
-
Step 14Separate dough into two balls.
-
Step 15Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 cookie sheets or line them with parchment paper.
-
Step 16TO MAKE THE FILLING: Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, chopped pecans, 1/2 cup flour, and 1/2 cup raisins.
-
Step 17Pour 1/2 cup melted butter over the cinnamon mixture.
-
Step 18Mix until crumbly.
-
Step 19Roll dough halves out into large rectangles (approx. 10x16 inches or so).
-
Step 20Sprinkle the filling evenly over the two halves of dough leaving about 1/2 inch border all around. Roll up each half tightly like a jelly roll starting at the wide side.
-
Step 21Bring the ends of each roll together to form two oval-shaped rings.
-
Step 22Place each ring on a prepared cookie sheet. With a clean pair of scissors make cuts 1/3 of the way through the rings and 1-inch intervals.
-
Step 23Let the rings rest and allow them to rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
-
Step 24Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.
-
Step 25Push the doll into the bottom of the cake.
-
Step 26Allow to cool a bit and frost the cake while still warm with the confectioners' sugar blended with 1 or 2 tablespoons of water.
-
Step 27Sprinkle the colored sugars on the cake in sections of green, gold, and purple around the rings.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
