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New Orleans King Cake

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New Orleans King Cake is a festive, sweet pastry traditionally served during Mardi Gras. Made with soft brioche-style dough and filled with cinnamon sugar or cream cheese, it’s baked in a ring shape and topped with icing and colorful purple, green, and gold sugar for a vibrant and celebratory treat.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour (plus more as needed)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm milk (110°F/45°C)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened (optional)
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar (for cream cheese filling)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups powdered sugar (for glaze)
  • 2–4 tablespoons milk (for glaze)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for glaze)
  • Purple, green, and gold colored sanding sugar
  • Plastic baby figurine (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, and a pinch of sugar. Let sit until foamy, about 5–10 minutes.
  2. Add eggs, melted butter, remaining granulated sugar, salt, and 2 cups of flour. Mix until combined, then gradually add the remaining flour until a soft dough forms.
  3. Knead dough for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1–1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
  4. Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in one bowl. If using cream cheese filling, beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla until smooth in another bowl.
  5. Once risen, punch down the dough and roll into a large rectangle (about 10×20 inches).
  6. Spread cinnamon sugar over the dough, or layer cream cheese mixture followed by cinnamon sugar.
  7. Roll dough lengthwise into a log and shape into a ring, pinching ends to seal. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet, cover, and let rise again for 30–45 minutes.
  8. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 25–30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely.
  9. For the glaze, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over cooled cake.
  10. Decorate with purple, green, and gold sanding sugar in alternating sections. Insert baby figurine underneath the cake from the bottom if desired.

Notes

To save time, you can use store-bought brioche dough or crescent roll dough.Cream cheese filling is optional but adds richness and moisture.To color sugar at home, mix granulated sugar with food coloring and let dry before use.Store at room temperature or refrigerate to extend freshness.Traditionally, the person who finds the baby in their slice hosts the next party or provides the next cake.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookibly.com/new-orleans-king-cake/