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Classic King Cake Recipe with Creamy Cream Cheese Filling

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A festive and indulgent king cake featuring a creamy cream cheese filling, perfect for Mardi Gras or any celebration. This recipe combines flaky cinnamon-spiced dough with a luscious cream cheese center and colorful icing.

Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour – 4 cups (480 grams), sifted
  • Granulated sugar – 1/2 cup (100 grams)
  • Active dry yeast – 2 1/4 teaspoons (one packet)
  • Whole milk – 1 cup (240 ml), warmed to about 110°F (43°C)
  • Unsalted butter – 1/2 cup (115 grams), melted and cooled slightly
  • Large eggs – 2, room temperature
  • Salt – 1 teaspoon
  • Ground cinnamon – 2 teaspoons
  • Cream cheese – 8 ounces (225 grams), softened
  • Powdered sugar – 1/2 cup (60 grams) for filling
  • Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
  • Large egg yolk – 1
  • Powdered sugar – 1 cup (120 grams) for glaze
  • Milk – 2 tablespoons (30 ml), or as needed for glaze consistency
  • Food coloring – purple, green, and gold
  • Colored sanding sugar – purple, green, and gold for sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Activate the yeast by stirring warm milk (110°F/43°C) with yeast and a pinch of sugar. Let sit 5-10 minutes until foamy.
  2. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
  3. Whisk eggs and melted butter together; add the yeast mixture once ready and mix well.
  4. Slowly add wet ingredients to dry, stirring until a sticky dough forms.
  5. Knead dough 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic, adding flour if too sticky.
  6. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise 1 to 1.5 hours until doubled.
  7. Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and egg yolk until smooth for filling.
  8. Punch down dough and roll into a 12×18 inch rectangle on a floured surface.
  9. Spread cream cheese filling evenly, leaving a 1-inch border.
  10. Roll dough from long side into a tight log; pinch seams and ends to seal.
  11. Form log into a ring on parchment-lined baking sheet; pinch ends together.
  12. Cover and let rise 45 minutes to 1 hour until puffy.
  13. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake 25-30 minutes until golden and cooked through.
  14. Cool on wire rack 15 minutes.
  15. Mix powdered sugar and milk to make glaze; drizzle over cooled cake.
  16. Sprinkle purple, green, and gold sanding sugar while glaze is wet.

Notes

If dough is too sticky when rolling, chill for 15 minutes. Leave a 1-inch border when spreading filling to prevent leaks. Pinch seams tightly and chill rolled dough before shaping to help filling firm up. Start checking baking at 25 minutes to avoid over-baking. Cake should sound hollow when tapped on bottom.

Nutrition

Keywords: king cake, Mardi Gras, cream cheese filling, cinnamon, festive dessert, New Orleans, holiday cake

Find it online: https://evabake.com/classic-king-cake-recipe-with-creamy-cream-cheese-filling-easy-step-by-step-guide/