Mardi Gras is not that popular in the Portland area, however, when I went to culinary school to get my baking degree, we made dozens of king cakes each year. These complex desserts are actually not a cake at all but sweetened bread. Inside of each king cake is a small baby. The cake is to be shared with others, each pulling apart the dessert with their hands. The person that gets the baby has to host the next year's Mardi Gras party. This is a complex recipe and directions should be followed exactly.
You Need:
- 2 pkg. active dry yeast
- 1/2 c sugar
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 5 egg yolks
- 1 c warm milk (110F exactly)
- 4-5 c flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp grated lemon zest
- vegetable oil
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 2 1/2 c powdered sugar
- juice from 1 lemon
- 2 tbs milk
- purple, green, and yellow sugar sprinkles
This recipe makes 12 servings. Oven set to 350F.
- Combine the yeast, sugar, butter, and egg yolks in a large bowl and combine using a dough hook. Add the milk. With the mixer on low, beat the mixture for approximately 4 minutes to dissolve the yeast.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, nutmeg, and lemon zest. Add this mixture to the yeast mixture. Mix on low until it lightly comes together, then increase the speed to medium and beat until the mixture pulls away from the bowl, forms a ball, and climbs slightly up the dough hook.
- Remove the dough from the bowl. Coat the dough with a light layer of vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl and turn it to oil all sides. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, set in a warm, draft-free place, and let rise until doubled in size, approximately 2 hours.
- In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, and 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Mix well and set aside.
- In Another small bowl, combine the remaining powdered sugar, lemon juice, and milk. Mix well and set aside.
- After the first dough rising, turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Roll the dough out 30 inches long and 6 inches wide. Spread the cream cheese filling across the center of the dough. Bring the two long edges together and seal all sides completely. Using your hands, shape the dough into a long cylinder and place on a greased baking sheet, seam side down. Shape the dough into a ring. Place a well-greased 2 pound coffee can in the center of the ring to maintain the shape during baking.
- After the second dough rising, Press the plastic baby toy, if you chose to include one, into the ring from the bottom so that it is completely hidden by the dough. Cover the ring with a towel and place in a warm, draft free place. Let the dough rise for about 45 minutes or until the dough is doubled in size.
- Before baking the cake, with a sharp knife, make several slits around the outside of the ring. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes at 350F. The ring should be a nice, golden brown. After baking, remove the coffee can immediately. Allow the cake to cool. Drizzle the cake with the sugar glaze that you have set aside. Sprinkle the cake with the sugar sprinkles, alternating colors.
Comments