Prutsald
Culinary Explorer
So, I was like super bored today and decided to make this Mardi Gras King Cake... It's like a party in your mouth, seriously! 
Plus, it's so easy to make, you just gotta try it.
1200×900
254.6 kB
1200×900
254.6 kB
Servings: 16
Step 1:
Gather all ingredients.
Step 2:
To prepare the dough, boil the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, for approximately five minutes, or until it steams and little bubbles start to form around the edges. Turn off the heat and mix in the butter until it melts and blends completely, which should take approximately two minutes. Give the mixture fifteen minutes or so to cool to room temperature.
Step 3:
In the meantime, combine yeast, warm water, and 1 tablespoon of sugar in a large bowl. Wait for foamy, approximately ten minutes.
Step 4:
Whisk the remaining 7 tablespoons sugar, eggs, nutmeg, cooled milk mixture, and salt into the yeast mixture until well incorporated, about 30 seconds.
Step 5:
Using an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, beat 1 cup of flour at a time into the yeast mixture on medium speed until the dough comes together, about 3 minutes.
Step 6:
Place the dough onto a surface that has been lightly dusted, and knead it for 8 to 10 minutes, adding more flour as needed, until it becomes smooth and elastic.
Step 7:
Spoon dough into a large, lightly oiled bowl and toss to coat. Put a moist cloth or plastic wrap over it and leave it in a warm place until it doubles in size, which should take around 1 1/2 hours. Punch down and divide the dough in half once it has risen.
Step 8:
Place the dough back on a lightly floured surface, and then roll each half into a rectangle measuring 10 by 16 inches. If necessary, dust the work area and rolling pin with more flour.
Step 9:
In a medium basin, mix brown sugar, pecans, flour, raisins, and cinnamon to make the filling. Drizzle with melted butter and stir until crumbly.
Step 10:
Spread the filling equally over the dough, about 1 cup for each cake, pressing it in with your hands or a spatula.
Step 11:
Each dough rectangle should be rolled into a tight log starting at one of the long ends.
Step 12:
Pinch the seams together at the ends of each roll to create two separate oval-shaped rings. Place every ring, seam side down, onto a sizable parchment-lined baking sheet. Using scissors, cut each ring 1/3 of the way through at intervals of 1 inch.
Step 13:
Place a moist towel or plastic wrap over the top and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, which should take 30 to 45 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius, or 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 14:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake both rings in the upper and lower thirds of the oven for 25 minutes, or until they are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Halfway through the baking process, turn the sheet trays 180 degrees from top to bottom to ensure even browning. As the filling bakes, some may come out.
Step 15:
After removing the cakes, carefully place one doll into the bottom of each hot cake. Allow it cool slightly, about half an hour.
Step 16:
In a small bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar and two tablespoons water to form the glaze. Adjust the consistency with the remaining tablespoon of water if necessary.
Step 17:
Spread glaze evenly over the tops of both warm cakes.
Step 18:
If desired, quickly dust the glaze with sanding sugar.
Plus, it's so easy to make, you just gotta try it.1200×900
254.6 kB
1200×900
254.6 kB
Servings: 16
Ingredients
Dough:- 1 cup whole milk
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ⅔ cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
- 2 (¼-ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
- ½ cup white sugar, divided
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 5 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- ⅔ cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup raisins
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons water
- 2 plastic baby dolls
- purple, green, and gold sanding sugar
Directions
Step 1:
Gather all ingredients.
Step 2:
To prepare the dough, boil the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, for approximately five minutes, or until it steams and little bubbles start to form around the edges. Turn off the heat and mix in the butter until it melts and blends completely, which should take approximately two minutes. Give the mixture fifteen minutes or so to cool to room temperature.
Step 3:
In the meantime, combine yeast, warm water, and 1 tablespoon of sugar in a large bowl. Wait for foamy, approximately ten minutes.
Step 4:
Whisk the remaining 7 tablespoons sugar, eggs, nutmeg, cooled milk mixture, and salt into the yeast mixture until well incorporated, about 30 seconds.
Step 5:
Using an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, beat 1 cup of flour at a time into the yeast mixture on medium speed until the dough comes together, about 3 minutes.
Step 6:
Place the dough onto a surface that has been lightly dusted, and knead it for 8 to 10 minutes, adding more flour as needed, until it becomes smooth and elastic.
Step 7:
Spoon dough into a large, lightly oiled bowl and toss to coat. Put a moist cloth or plastic wrap over it and leave it in a warm place until it doubles in size, which should take around 1 1/2 hours. Punch down and divide the dough in half once it has risen.
Step 8:
Place the dough back on a lightly floured surface, and then roll each half into a rectangle measuring 10 by 16 inches. If necessary, dust the work area and rolling pin with more flour.
Step 9:
In a medium basin, mix brown sugar, pecans, flour, raisins, and cinnamon to make the filling. Drizzle with melted butter and stir until crumbly.
Step 10:
Spread the filling equally over the dough, about 1 cup for each cake, pressing it in with your hands or a spatula.
Step 11:
Each dough rectangle should be rolled into a tight log starting at one of the long ends.
Step 12:
Pinch the seams together at the ends of each roll to create two separate oval-shaped rings. Place every ring, seam side down, onto a sizable parchment-lined baking sheet. Using scissors, cut each ring 1/3 of the way through at intervals of 1 inch.
Step 13:
Place a moist towel or plastic wrap over the top and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, which should take 30 to 45 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius, or 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 14:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake both rings in the upper and lower thirds of the oven for 25 minutes, or until they are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Halfway through the baking process, turn the sheet trays 180 degrees from top to bottom to ensure even browning. As the filling bakes, some may come out.
Step 15:
After removing the cakes, carefully place one doll into the bottom of each hot cake. Allow it cool slightly, about half an hour.
Step 16:
In a small bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar and two tablespoons water to form the glaze. Adjust the consistency with the remaining tablespoon of water if necessary.
Step 17:
Spread glaze evenly over the tops of both warm cakes.
Step 18:
If desired, quickly dust the glaze with sanding sugar.
Though, if you're up for a challenge, you could try incorporating traditional Mardi Gras colors like purple, green, and gold into the icing for a festive touch. It'll definitely add to the celebration! 
