Let The Good Times Roll With a Homemade Mardi Gras King Cake

It’s almost time to bust out your yellow, green and purple because Fat Tuesday is just around the corner! Yes, Mardi Gras season is upon us and we’re all in favor of packing in the richest and fattiest foods we can find before giving it all up for Lent on Ash Wednesday.

One of the most traditional Mardi Gras fares is that of the King Cake. The season for king cake, which is named for the biblical three kings, extends from the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas or Epiphany Day, and rolls up until the end of Mardi Gras. Bakers place a small plastic baby, a representation of baby Jesus, inside the cake and whomever has the figurine in their slice is crowned “king” or “queen” for the evening.

So, laissez les bons temps rouler (or let the good times roll for our non-French speakers!), and get to baking because who couldn’t use a little bit of extra luck this year?!

Mardi Gras King Cake

Prep Time: 30 min

Bake Time: 30 min

Completed Time: 2 hr 45 min

Ingredients:

• 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 5 egg yolks
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon multicolored candy sprinkles

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, dissolve white sugar and yeast in warm milk. Let stand for approx. 10 min. until creamy.
2. Stir egg yolks and melted butter into milk mixture.
3. In separate bowl, combine flour, salt, nutmeg, and lemon zest. When mixed, add flour mixture into milk/egg mixture 1 cup at a time.
4. When dough is mixed, lay out on lightly floured surface and knead for approx. 8 minutes until smooth. Lightly oil a large bowl and place dough in bowl. Turn dough to coat with oil. Cover dough (in bowl) with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until its doubled its size (approx. 2 hours).
5. While dough rises, combine cream cheese and ½ cup confectioners’ sugar and mix well. In another bowl, combine remaining 2 cups of confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons milk. Mix and set aside for later.
6. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
7. After dough has risen, place on floured surface and roll until a 6×30 rectangle. Spread cream cheese mixture across center of dough. Bring two long edges together and seal. Using your hands, shape the dough into a long cylinder piece and place on baking sheet (greased) with the seam down. Roll dough into a ring shape, and press the baby into the bottom of the ring so it is hidden.
8. Place a well-greased 2 pound metal coffee can at the center of dough ring to help maintain the shape while baking. Cover the ring with a towel and place in a warm room to rise for approx. 45 min.
9. Place cake in preheated oven for approx. 30 min or until golden brown. Remove coffee can and allow cooling. Drizzle cake with lemon/sugar glaze and decorate with Mardi Gras colored sprinkles.