Print

Authentic Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 62 reviews

This Authentic Mardi Gras King Cake recipe captures the traditional New Orleans style celebration pastry, featuring a soft, sweet, cinnamon-filled dough braided into a ring shape and decorated with colorful icing in festive Mardi Gras colors. Perfect for parties, this king cake includes a hidden plastic baby charm and is topped with vibrant green, gold, and purple sprinkling sugar to honor the festive tradition.

Ingredients

Scale

For Dough

  • 1/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees F)
  • 1 envelope active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup warm milk (105 to 115 degrees F)
  • 1/2 cup butter (softened)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs
  • Plastic baby charm

For Cinnamon Filling

  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

For Icing

  • 1 cup powdered sugar (sifted)
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
  • Colored sprinkling sugar (green, gold and purple)

Instructions

  1. Activate yeast: Place warm water in a large warm bowl, sprinkle in the yeast, and stir until dissolved completely.
  2. Prepare dough base: Add warm milk, softened butter, sugar, nutmeg, and salt to the yeast mixture; then add 1 cup of flour and blend well to combine.
  3. Add eggs and flour: Stir in the eggs, then gradually add enough of the remaining flour to create a soft dough.
  4. Knead the dough: On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease the surface of the dough.
  5. First rise: Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
  6. Punch down dough and roll out: Punch down the risen dough and transfer it to a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough into a 30-by-9-inch rectangle.
  7. Add filling: Brush the rolled dough with melted butter, then sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon evenly, leaving a half-inch border around the edges.
  8. Roll and slice: Beginning at the long end, tightly roll the dough into a jelly-roll shape and pinch the seam to seal. Use a sharp knife to cut the roll in half lengthwise.
  9. Twist and insert charm: Carefully rotate the halves so the cut sides face upward to display the filling. Twist the two halves together, keeping the cut sides up. Insert the plastic baby charm somewhere in the center of the twisted dough.
  10. Shape and second rise: Transfer the twisted dough to a greased baking sheet. Form it into a ring and pinch the ends together to seal. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 20 to 40 minutes.
  11. Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the king cake for 30 minutes or until cooked through and golden brown.
  12. Cool and prepare icing: Remove the cake from the baking sheet and let it cool on a wire rack. Mix powdered sugar, almond extract, and milk until smooth. Divide the icing into three small bowls and tint each with purple, green, and gold food coloring.
  13. Decorate: Drizzle the colored icings over the cooled cake and sprinkle with colored coarse grain sugar in Mardi Gras colors.

Notes

  • This recipe was adapted from a 1980’s recipe featured in the Times-Picayune Newspaper of New Orleans.
  • The plastic baby charm represents luck and prosperity; whoever finds it is expected to host the next King Cake celebration.
  • Ensure dough rises occur in a warm, draft-free environment for best results.
  • Use sifted powdered sugar for smooth icing texture.
  • Colored sprinkling sugar can be found in specialty baking stores or online.

Keywords: King Cake, Mardi Gras, New Orleans Dessert, Cinnamon Roll Cake, Party Cake, Southern Cuisine, Traditional King Cake

Find it online: https://messykitchenmagic.com/authentic-mardi-gras-king-cake-recipe/