The Classic King Cake Recipe
King Cake has a lot of history, and class around it, it has been a standing tradition for Mardi Gras and the Carnival season. The beginning of the Carnival season is celebrated with a King’s Cake. Apart from its surrounding history, King Cake has a superb taste, lovely flavors, and a near-perfect texture. I think it had to become a tradition because of how good it tastes ‘cause who won’t be looking forward to it in the coming year. Well, let’s get right into it.
King Cake Recipe
This King Cake recipe is one of the best things I’ve tried out, as the cake comes out having a delightful taste with a rich flavor, and a moist and soft texture. Traditionally, this recipe placed a plastic baby in the cake and whoever finds the baby in their cut was deemed to have good luck. I’m going to make this recipe quite easy to follow so for the filling, we’d just stick to the traditional cinnamon filling.
How to Prepare the King Cake Recipe
Looking at the King Cake, it’s normal to think it will be hard to prepare but I’m here to help you out. I’ll make sure to make every step as simple as it can be. Here’s what you’ll need and how you’ll prepare this recipe.
Ingredients to Prepare King Cake Recipe
Here are the ingredients you need to prepare this delightful and beautiful King Cake at home.
For Dough
- 5 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 cup of whole milk
- ⅓ cup of water
- ⅓ cup of granulated sugar
- 5 tablespoons of butter, unsalted, melted
- 2¼ teaspoons of dry active yeast
- 2 teaspoons of salt
- ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- 1 large egg
- 2 egg yolks
For Filling
- ½ cup of brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons of butter, unsalted and softened
- 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon of salt
For Glaze & Topping
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup of powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons of whole milk
- ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Purple, gold, green colored sanding sugar
Instructions to Prepare the King Cake Recipe
Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to prepare the classic King Cake recipe at home.
Step 1: In a glass bowl, mix the milk and water, microwave at 20-second intervals until the milk is warm (around 115°F or 45°C).
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, add in the warm milk, yeast, and a teaspoon of granulated sugar, and mix until combined. Allow to sit for up to 10 minutes until the yeast is foamy (if it isn’t, start all over).
Step 3: Add in 2 cups of flour, the remaining granulated sugar, melted butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, egg, egg yolks, and salt. Mix until just combined.
Step 4: Gradually add in the remaining flour while mixing until the dough is well combined and sticking to itself as you mix (it should be a bit tacky when you touch it).
Step 5: Transfer the dough to a flat, floured surface, and knead for about 10 minutes until you have a smooth and elastic dough.
Step 6: Get a large bowl and lightly oil it, now, place the dough in the bowl and cover with a plastic wrap. Allow to sit for 1-2 hours in a warm, dry place until it has risen to double its size.
Prepping the Filling
Step 1: In a bowl, whisk together brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
Step 2: Now, deflate the risen dough, and transfer to a flat, floured surface. Roll into a rectangular shape about 10×20-inch. Now, cut it into two lengthwise.
Step 3: Now, spread the softened butter evenly over each rectangle, leaving a 1-inch allowance around all sides.
Step 4: Sprinkle the filling mix evenly over the butter, then roll each rectangle lengthwise into a rope-like shape, and pinch the edges to properly seal it.
Step 5: Now, take each rope-like dough and twist it to form a wreath. Transfer it to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 6: Cover with a towel, and allow to sit for about 45 minutes until it has risen to double its size.
Baking the Cake
Step 1: While waiting for the dough to rise in size, preheat your oven to 350°F (or 175°C). Prepare an egg wash by whisking 1 egg and a tiny bit of water.
Step 2: Once the dough is risen, brush over the surfaces with the egg wash. Transfer to the preheated oven, and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown. Take out of the oven and allow to cool completely.
Designing the Cake
Step 1: In a bowl, whisk together milk, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar. Make sure it has a thick but runny texture.
Step 2: Drizzle the glaze over the cooled king cake, and then decorate with some purple, gold, and green sanding sugar.
Notes:
- I am against baking the cake with the plastic baby inside so if you want it, make a cut on the cake before designing it, and hide the cake inside. Cover the hole with the cake you removed, then glaze and decorate afterward.
Classic King Cake Recipe
Equipment
- Oven
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
For Dough
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- ⅓ cup water
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 5 tablespoons butter unsalted, melted
- 2¼ teaspoons dry active yeast
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 large egg
- 2 egg yolks
For Filling
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons butter unsalted and softened
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
For Glaze & Topping
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Purple gold, green colored sanding sugar
Instructions
For Dough
- In a glass bowl, mix the milk and water, microwave at 20-second intervals until the milk is warm (around 115°F or 45°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, add in the warm milk, yeast, and a teaspoon of granulated sugar, and mix until combined. Allow to sit for up to 10 minutes until the yeast is foamy (if it isn't, start all over).
- Add in 2 cups of flour, the remaining granulated sugar, melted butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, egg, egg yolks, and salt. Mix until just combined.
- Gradually add in the remaining flour while mixing until the dough is well combined and sticking to itself as you mix (it should be a bit tacky when you touch it).
- Transfer the dough to a flat, floured surface, and knead for about 10 minutes until you have a smooth and elastic dough.
- Get a large bowl and lightly oil it, now, place the dough in the bowl and cover with a plastic wrap. Allow to sit for 1-2 hours in a warm, dry place until it has risen to double its size.
Prepping the Filling
- In a bowl, whisk together brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- Now, deflate the risen dough, and transfer to a flat, floured surface. Roll into a rectangular shape about 10x20-inch. Now, cut it into two lengthwise.
- Now, spread the softened butter evenly over each rectangle, leaving a 1-inch allowance around all sides.
- Sprinkle the filling mix evenly over the butter, then roll each rectangle lengthwise into a rope-like shape, and pinch the edges to properly seal it.
- Now, take each rope-like dough and twist it to form a wreath. Transfer it to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Cover with a towel, and allow to sit for about 45 minutes until it has risen to double its size.
Baking the Cake
- While waiting for the dough to rise in size, preheat your oven to 350°F (or 175°C). Prepare an egg wash by whisking 1 egg and a tiny bit of water.
- Once the dough is risen, brush over the surfaces with the egg wash. Transfer to the preheated oven, and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown. Take out of the oven and allow to cool completely.
Designing the Cake
- In a bowl, whisk together milk, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar. Make sure it has a thick but runny texture.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled king cake, and then decorate with some purple, gold, and green sanding sugar.
Notes
- I am against baking the cake with the plastic baby inside so if you want it, make a cut on the cake before designing it, and hide the cake inside. Cover the hole with the cake you removed, then glaze and decorate afterward.
Nutrition
Viola! Your traditional King Cake recipe is ready to be served.
This King Cake has a delicious taste with a soft texture and a simple yet elegant flavor profile, it feels so great after you get a bite. This recipe is quite simple to follow and in no time, you’ll get a hang of it. When you try out this recipe, make sure to drop a comment below sharing how much you enjoyed it.
