This authentic king cake recipe features soft sweet yeast dough filled with cinnamon sugar and pecans, topped with glaze and festive purple, green, and gold sugar for Mardi Gras.
Sweet Dough:
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 packets active dry yeast
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Filling:
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup melted butter
Glaze:
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2–3 tablespoons water
Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar
1 plastic baby
1. Warm milk and melt butter together, then cool slightly.
2. Activate yeast in warm water with sugar until foamy.
3. Combine wet ingredients and gradually mix in flour to form dough.
4. Knead until smooth and let rise until doubled.
5. Roll dough into rectangle and spread filling evenly.
6. Roll into log and shape into ring.
7. Allow second rise until puffy.
8. Bake at 375°F for about 25–30 minutes until golden brown.
9. Insert baby into bottom of cake after baking.
10. Drizzle glaze over warm cake and decorate with colored sugar immediately.
Do not roll the dough too tightly.
Apply sanding sugar before glaze sets.
Store covered at room temperature for up to three days.
Freeze unfrosted cake for longer storage.
Find it online: https://www.broodrecipes.com/king-cake-recipe/