Description
Delicious Mardi Gras King Cake: A Fun Family Tradition
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 8 tablespoons white sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 6 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 cup sanding sugar (purple, green, and gold)
Instructions
- Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until steaming. Remove from heat and stir in the butter until melted, then allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Mix together the warm water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in a large bowl. Let this mixture stand until it becomes foamy, about 10 minutes.
- Combine the cooled milk mixture, eggs, salt, nutmeg, and the remaining 7 tablespoons of sugar into the yeast mixture. Whisk until everything is well combined.
- Add the flour to the yeast mixture, 1 cup at a time, using an electric mixer on medium speed until the dough starts to come together, which should take about 3 minutes.
- Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it’s smooth and elastic, taking about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, which should take around 1 ½ hours.
- Once risen, punch down and divide the dough in half.
- Roll each half out into a 10×16-inch rectangle.
- Prepare the filling by combining brown sugar, pecans, flour, raisins, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Drizzle the melted butter on top and mix until crumbly.
- Sprinkle the filling evenly over the dough rectangles and press it gently into the surface.
- Roll each dough rectangle tightly from one of the long edges. Bring the ends together to form two individual oval-shaped rings and transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Make cuts into the rings about 1/3 of the way through at 1-inch intervals. Cover the dough and let it rise until doubled, which should take around 30 to 45 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Bake the rings in the oven for about 25 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean; rotate the baking sheets halfway through.
- Insert one plastic baby doll into the bottom of each warm cake and let them cool slightly.
- Whisk the confectioners’ sugar and 2 tablespoons of water in a bowl until smooth.
- Spread the glaze evenly over the tops of both warm cakes.
- Sprinkle the colorful sanding sugar over the glaze immediately if desired to add that festive touch.
Notes
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: Mardi Gras King Cake, King Cake, Mardi Gras dessert