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Decadent King Cake with Cream Cheese Filling

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A festive and easy-to-make King Cake featuring a tender cinnamon-spiced dough and luscious cream cheese filling, topped with colorful Mardi Gras icing.

Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour (about 4 cups / 480g)
  • Granulated sugar (1/2 cup / 100g)
  • Instant yeast (2 1/4 tsp or one packet)
  • Warm whole milk (1 cup / 240ml) – about 110°F (43°C)
  • Unsalted butter (1/2 cup / 115g), melted and cooled slightly
  • Large eggs (2), room temperature
  • Salt (1 tsp)
  • Vanilla extract (1 tsp)
  • Cream cheese (8 oz / 225g), softened
  • Granulated sugar (1/2 cup / 100g) for filling
  • Large egg yolk (1), room temperature
  • Vanilla extract (1 tsp) for filling
  • All-purpose flour (2 tbsp / 16g) for filling
  • Brown sugar (1/2 cup / 100g), packed
  • Ground cinnamon (2 tbsp)
  • Unsalted butter (1/4 cup / 57g), softened
  • Powdered sugar (1 1/2 cups / 180g)
  • Milk (2-3 tbsp / 30-45ml) or cream
  • Vanilla extract (1/2 tsp) for icing
  • Food coloring gels in purple, green, and gold
  • Colored sugar sprinkles in purple, green, and gold

Instructions

  1. Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, combine warm milk (110°F / 43°C), 1 tsp sugar, and instant yeast. Stir gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
  2. Make the dough: In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, whisk together flour, remaining sugar, and salt. Add melted butter, eggs, vanilla, and the activated yeast mixture. Mix on low speed until dough forms, then knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  3. First rise: Shape dough into a ball, place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1.5 hours until doubled in size.
  4. Prepare the cream cheese filling: Beat softened cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, vanilla, and flour together until smooth and creamy. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  5. Make the cinnamon sugar mixture: Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter until well mixed and spreadable.
  6. Shape the cake: Punch down dough and roll into a 12×18-inch rectangle. Spread cream cheese filling evenly, leaving a small border. Spread cinnamon sugar mixture over the cream cheese layer.
  7. Roll and form: Roll dough into a tight log starting from the long side. Pinch seams and ends to seal. Shape into a ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover loosely and let rise for 30-45 minutes until puffy.
  8. Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Tent with foil if top browns too fast.
  9. Prepare the icing: Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to a smooth glaze. Divide into three bowls and tint with purple, green, and gold gel colors.
  10. Decorate: Drizzle colorful icing over warm cake and immediately sprinkle with matching colored sugars. Let icing set for 20 minutes before serving.

Notes

Keep hands floured when shaping dough to prevent sticking. If filling bubbles out during baking, it means plenty of filling inside—embrace the mess. Use a kitchen thermometer to ensure milk is at 110°F for yeast activation. Tent cake with foil if browning too fast. The icing is best drizzled on warm cake to stick and set beautifully. Dough can be made the night before after first rise and refrigerated.

Nutrition

Keywords: King Cake, Cream Cheese Filling, Mardi Gras, Festive Baking, Cinnamon, Sweet Bread, Holiday Dessert

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/decadent-king-cake-with-cream-cheese-filling-easy-recipe-for-festive-baking/