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Mardi Gras King Cake

A festive and sweet bread with a cinnamon filling, decorated in vibrant colors for Mardi Gras celebrations.
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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Festive
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dough Ingredients
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 packet active dry yeast
  • 1/2 cup milk (heated) Heated to about 110°F (43°C)
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
Filling and Decoration
  • 1/2 cup cinnamon sugar (for filling)
  • Colored sugar for decoration purple, green, gold

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a bowl, combine warm milk and yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until frothy.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.
  3. Add the yeast mixture, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until a dough forms.
  4. Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth, about 5 minutes.
  5. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour.
Baking
  1. Once risen, punch down the dough and roll it out into a rectangle.
  2. Spread cinnamon sugar over the dough, roll it up tightly, and shape into a ring.
  3. Place on a greased baking sheet, cover, and let rise again for about 30 minutes.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake the cake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
Finishing
  1. Allow to cool slightly, then decorate with colored sugar before serving.

Notes

Store the cake at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days. For longer storage, freeze the cake, wrapped well, for up to 2 months.