Mardi Gras King Cake (Print View)
Tender brioche-style cake with cinnamon swirl and colorful icing, ideal for festive gatherings and celebrations.
# Ingredient List:
→ Dough
01 - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup whole milk, lukewarm
03 - 1/4 cup warm water
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
08 - 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
09 - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
10 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Cinnamon Swirl Filling
11 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
12 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
13 - 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
→ Icing & Decoration
14 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
15 - 2-3 tbsp milk
16 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
17 - Purple, green, and gold colored sanding sugar
# How to Make:
01 - Combine warm water, a pinch of sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Let stand until foamy, approximately 5 minutes.
02 - Whisk together milk, eggs, softened butter, sugar, salt, nutmeg, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Add the foamy yeast mixture and combine thoroughly.
03 - Gradually incorporate flour until a soft dough forms. Knead by hand or with a dough hook for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm area until doubled in size, approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.
05 - Punch down dough and turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 10x20 inch rectangle.
06 - Mix brown sugar and cinnamon. Brush the dough rectangle with melted butter, then evenly sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture across the surface.
07 - Roll tightly from the long side to create a log. Pinch the seam firmly to seal.
08 - Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and form into a ring, pinching ends together securely. If following tradition, insert a plastic baby or bean from underneath.
09 - Cover and let rise until puffy, approximately 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F.
10 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack.
11 - Stir powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable consistency is achieved.
12 - Drizzle icing over cooled cake. Immediately sprinkle colored sugars in sections to create traditional Mardi Gras presentation.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The brioche dough is impossibly tender, like something from a French bakery
- That cinnamon ribbon running through creates such beautiful swirls when you slice it
- Watching people hunt for the baby in their slice never gets old
02 -
- The dough rising time can vary wildly depending on your kitchen temperature, so watch the dough not the clock
- Rolling too thin makes the cinnamon layer disappear, while too thick makes it hard to shape into a ring
- Completely cool the cake before icing or all that beautiful work will melt right off
03 -
- Brush the baked ring with a simple syrup before icing to keep it moist for days
- If you can't find colored sugars, mix a few drops of food coloring into coarse sugar and let it dry overnight