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Irresistible King Cake Recipe with Easy Cinnamon Sugar Filling

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A nostalgic Southern King Cake with a soft, tender dough and a gooey cinnamon sugar filling, perfect for celebrations like Mardi Gras or family gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 ½ cups (440g) all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
  • ½ cup (120ml) warm whole milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (56g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup (150g) brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk or cream
  • Food coloring (purple, green, and gold) for traditional King Cake colors
  • Optional: plastic baby figurine or small trinket (wrapped well) for tradition

Instructions

  1. Activate the yeast by warming the milk to about 110°F (43°C). Pour into a large bowl, sprinkle yeast over the surface, add a pinch of sugar, and let sit until foamy and bubbly (about 10 minutes).
  2. Add sugar, softened butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir to combine. Gradually add flour about 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition until dough pulls away from the sides.
  3. Knead the dough by hand or with a stand mixer dough hook for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Adjust flour or water as needed to achieve slightly tacky but not sticky dough.
  4. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 to 1 ½ hours.
  5. While dough rises, mix brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and melt the butter for spreading.
  6. Punch down the risen dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a 12 x 18 inch rectangle. Brush melted butter evenly over the dough, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture generously on top.
  7. Roll the dough tightly from the long edge into a log (jelly-roll style). Pinch edges to seal, then form the log into a ring and pinch ends together to seal completely.
  8. Place the ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover lightly, and let rise until puffy again, about 30-45 minutes.
  9. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the King Cake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  10. Let the cake cool slightly. Mix powdered sugar and milk until smooth and drizzle over the cake. Quickly sprinkle colored sugar (purple, green, gold) on top. If using a baby figurine, hide it inside before the second rise or place it carefully under a section after baking.

Notes

Use warm milk at about 110°F to activate yeast properly. Knead dough until smooth and elastic for best texture. Seal edges tightly to prevent filling leaks. For gluten-free option, substitute flour with a gluten-free yeast baking blend. Use room temperature eggs and butter for easier mixing. Wrap baby figurine tightly in foil before hiding inside dough. Colored sugars can be made by mixing granulated sugar with food coloring and drying before sprinkling.

Nutrition

Keywords: King Cake, Mardi Gras, cinnamon sugar filling, Southern dessert, festive cake, cinnamon roll cake

Find it online: https://sofiaspice.com/irresistible-king-cake-recipe-with-easy-cinnamon-sugar-filling/