Mardi Gras King Cake (Printable)

A festive brioche-style cake with cream cheese filling and vibrant sugar topping for Mardi Gras celebrations.

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 1/2 cup whole milk, warm (110°F)
02 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
03 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
04 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
05 - 1/2 tsp salt
06 - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
07 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
08 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
09 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
10 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Cream Cheese Filling

11 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
12 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
13 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ Glaze & Decoration

14 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
15 - 2–3 tbsp milk
16 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
17 - Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar

# How-To:

01 - Whisk warm milk and 1 tablespoon sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle yeast over the top and let stand until foamy, about 5–10 minutes.
02 - Combine flour, remaining sugar, salt, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Add melted butter, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, and yeast mixture. Mix until a sticky dough forms.
03 - Knead dough by hand or mixer with dough hook for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1–1.5 hours.
04 - Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy while dough rises.
05 - Punch down risen dough and roll into a 10x20 inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Spread cream cheese filling along one long edge, leaving a 1-inch border. Roll up tightly jelly-roll style, pinch seam to seal, then shape into a ring pinching ends together.
06 - Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet seam side down. Cover and let rise until puffy, about 45–60 minutes.
07 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack.
08 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over cooled cake and immediately sprinkle with colored sugars in alternating sections.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The brioche dough creates an incredibly tender crumb that stays fresh for days unlike other yeast breads that dry out
  • Cream cheese filling adds a luxurious tang that perfectly balances the sweet dough and glaze
  • The stunning purple green and gold sugars transform your kitchen into a festive celebration before anyone takes a bite
02 -
  • Insert a small plastic baby or dried bean into the bottom of the cake after baking through an inconspicuous cut then warn your guests before serving
  • The dough is naturally sticky which means do not keep adding flour or your cake will turn tough and dry
  • Colored sugars must be applied immediately after glazing or they will not stick properly
03 -
  • Brush the risen dough with an egg wash before baking for an extra golden shiny finish
  • Place a small oven safe bowl in the center of the ring while baking to help maintain the oval shape
  • If the glaze is too thick add just 1 teaspoon of milk at a time until it pours easily
  • Store colored sugars in separate small containers to keep the colors vibrant and unmixed

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