Classic Mardi Gras King Cake

Name: Classic Mardi Gras King Cake
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: Creole
Ingredients: 1 cup whole milk, warmed to 110°F; 1/4 cup granulated sugar, divided; 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet); 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled; 2 eggs; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1 tsp ground nutmeg; 1 tsp lemon zest; 4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup packed brown sugar; 2 tbsp ground cinnamon; 6 tbsp unsalted butter, very soft, for filling; 1 small plastic baby or dried bean (optional, tucked in after baking); 2 cups powdered sugar; 3–4 tbsp milk or cream; 1 tsp vanilla extract; purple, green, and gold decorating sugars

A braided cinnamon brioche ring glazed and covered in purple, green, and gold sugar, the centerpiece of Carnival season in New Orleans.

⏱ Prep 45m🔥 Cook 25m🕒 Total 70m🍽 12 servings

#nola#mardi gras

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Ingredients

1 cupwhole milk, warmed to 110°F
1/4 cupgranulated sugar, divided
2 1/4 tspactive dry yeast (1 packet)
1/3 cupunsalted butter, melted and cooled
2eggs
1 tspkosher salt
1 tspground nutmeg
1 tsplemon zest
4 1/4 cupsall-purpose flour
3/4 cuppacked brown sugar
2 tbspground cinnamon
6 tbspunsalted butter, very soft, for filling
1small plastic baby or dried bean (optional, tucked in after baking)
2 cupspowdered sugar
3–4 tbspmilk or cream
1 tspvanilla extract
purple, green, and gold decorating sugars

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Method

1
Whisk warm milk, 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar, and the yeast together; let stand 5 minutes until foamy.
2
Whisk in the remaining granulated sugar, melted butter, eggs, salt, nutmeg, and lemon zest. Stir in the flour a cup at a time to form a soft, slightly sticky dough. Knead 8–10 minutes by hand or 6 minutes with a dough hook, until smooth and elastic.
3
Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until doubled.
4
Punch down the dough and roll into a large rectangle, about 24 by 10 inches. Spread the very soft butter over the surface, then sprinkle evenly with the brown sugar and cinnamon mixed together.
5
Roll up tightly from the long edge into a log, pinch the seam to seal, and shape into a ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet, pinching the ends together. Cover and let rise 45 minutes, until puffy.
6
Bake at 375°F for 22–28 minutes, until deep golden brown and it sounds hollow when tapped. Cool completely on a rack.
7
Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla into a pourable glaze. Drizzle over the cooled cake.
8
While the glaze is still wet, sprinkle bands of purple, green, and gold sugar around the ring. Tuck a plastic baby into the underside of the cake after baking, if using, and let tradition dictate who finds the slice with it. That person hosts next year's king cake.