Description
A delightful dessert centerpiece for Mardi Gras, this Traditional Louisiana King Cake features a fluffy dough and sweet icing, perfect for celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup whole milk, warm
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups icing sugar
- Colored sprinkles (purple, green, and gold) for decoration
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit until frothy (about 5-10 minutes).
- Mix ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, melted butter, eggs, and cinnamon.
- Knead the dough: Slowly add in the yeast mixture. Knead for about 5-7 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Let it rise: Place your dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a cloth, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size (1-2 hours).
- Shape the cake: Once risen, punch down the dough and roll it out into a rectangle. Spread a layer of cinnamon and sugar and roll it up, creating a log shape.
- Form a ring: Connect the ends of the log to form a ring, pinching to seal it. Place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
- Final rise: Cover and let it rise again for about 30 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
- Ice the cake: Allow it to cool slightly before icing with the mixture of icing sugar and milk, then sprinkle with colored sugar.
Notes
For a healthier version, consider whole wheat flour or coconut sugar. To make it dairy-free, replace whole milk with almond milk and unsalted butter with coconut oil.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Louisiana
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: King Cake, Mardi Gras, Louisiana dessert, festive recipes, traditional recipes