Easy King Cake
A festive and delicious King Cake perfect for Mardi Gras celebrations, featuring a lovely design and customizable flavors.
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 1 package active dry yeast Use active dry yeast for best results.
- 1/4 cup warm water Make sure the water is warm, not hot.
- 1/2 cup milk Milk should be warm.
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar For the dough.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened Ensure butter is softened to mix easily.
- 3 large eggs At room temperature.
- 3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour Add gradually until dough is soft but not sticky.
Filling and Decoration Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon For sprinkling on the dough.
- 1/4 cup sugar for filling
- Green, yellow, and purple sprinkles for decoration Use to decorate the finished cake.
Instructions
Preparation
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water; let it sit for about 5 minutes.
- In a saucepan, heat the milk, sugar, salt, and butter until warm. Let cool slightly.
- Add the milk mixture and eggs to the yeast mixture and stir to combine.
- Gradually add flour until the dough is soft but not sticky. Knead for about 5 minutes.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Baking
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Roll out the dough into a rectangle, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar for filling, then roll it up.
- Shape into a circle on a baking sheet and let it rise for another 30 minutes.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.
- Let it cool, then decorate with icing and sprinkles before serving.
Notes
To store your King Cake, wrap it in plastic wrap or foil to keep it fresh. It will stay good at room temperature for about 2-3 days. If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it for up to a month. Experiment with different fillings like cream cheese or fruit preserves for unique flavors.