Description
Mardi Gras king cake is a vibrant and festive dessert that embodies the spirit of Carnival celebrations. This delightful treat features rich, buttery dough swirled with warm cinnamon, complemented by sweet cream cheese or fruity fillings. Topped with colorful icing in traditional Mardi Gras colors—purple, green, and gold—this cake is as stunning as it is delicious. The fun tradition of hiding a small plastic baby inside adds an element of surprise; the finder is crowned ‘king’ or ‘queen’ for the day! Whether you’re celebrating Mardi Gras or simply indulging your sweet tooth, this easy recipe will add joy and festivity to your table.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Active dry yeast
- Milk
- Butter
- Cinnamon
- Brown sugar
- Powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine warm milk and active dry yeast; let sit until frothy (about 5 minutes). Add melted butter, granulated sugar, salt, eggs, and half the flour. Mix well and gradually incorporate remaining flour until a soft dough forms.
- Knead on a floured surface for about 8 minutes until smooth. Place in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm area for approximately 1 hour.
- Mix brown sugar with cinnamon for the filling while waiting for the dough to rise.
- Once risen, punch down the dough and roll it into a rectangle. Spread softened butter over it and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture before rolling tightly from one long side.
- Shape the rolled dough into an oval on a lined baking sheet. Let rise again for 30 minutes while preheating oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for about 25 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool slightly before mixing powdered sugar with milk or cream until smooth for frosting. Drizzle over cooled cake and decorate with colored sprinkles.
Notes
- Use fresh ingredients for best results.
- Customize your fillings—try cream cheese or fruit preserves!
- Monitor baking time closely as ovens can vary.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice - 80g
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg