Description
Enjoy this traditional King Cake with a tender, lightly spiced dough filled with cinnamon sugar, topped with a sweet lemon glaze colored in festive hues.
Ingredients
2 large egg yolks
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 oz instant yeast
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground nutmeg
1 Tbsp canola oil
Filling
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
Glaze
1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 Tbsp whole milk
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
Purple, green, and gold food coloring (optional)
Purple, green, and gold sprinkles or sanding sugar (optional)
Instructions
Cake
1. In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks, sour cream, granulated sugar, melted butter, and lemon zest until combined.
2. In another bowl, whisk flour, salt, instant yeast, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
3. Gradually beat dry ingredients into the sour cream mixture using a mixer, then switch to dough hook and mix until smooth and pulling away from the bowl, about 5 minutes. Alternatively, knead dough on lightly floured surface 8-10 minutes.
4. Swirl canola oil in a large bowl, place dough in oiled bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
5. Punch down dough and roll out to 20×12 inches on floured surface.
Filling
1. Mix granulated sugar and cinnamon.
2. Spread softened butter over dough, leaving a 1-inch border.
3. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar evenly over butter.
4. Roll dough away from you lengthwise, pinch edges to seal.
5. Transfer to parchment-lined sheet, shape into circle, seam down, pinching edges.
6. Cover and let rise 45 minutes.
7. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) with rack in center.
8. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden. Cool on sheet.
Glaze
1. Whisk confectioners’ sugar, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth.
2. Adjust thickness by adding sugar or milk.
3. Divide glaze; tint with purple, green, gold food coloring.
4. Drizzle over warm cake for a thin glaze or spread on cooled cake for thicker glaze.
5. Decorate with colored sprinkles or sanding sugar while glaze is wet if desired.
Notes
Do not add additional flour during mixing; the dough will be sticky but will come together.
You can hide a pecan, bean, or token inside the cake instead of a baby figurine.
For a festive look, use purple, green, and gold in the glaze and sprinkles.
Make sure to let dough rise adequately for best texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Louisiana Creole
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 170
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 6
- Cholesterol: 110