King Cake

[FistFullaRoux]

King Cake

It's supposedly Gambino's. Someone reportedly snuck out a handwritten copy. Had to shrink it from the 12 cake batch recipe.

It's close. Watch the nutmeg. Makes one huge cake or 2 smaller ones. Filling is added either in the crevaces with a piping bag after the 2nd rising, or can be placed inside at the point of forming the cylinder (see recipe). I like strawberry and/or bavarian creme. Chocolate creme is good too. Just plain cinnamon is the classic. Any flavor pie filling works nicely, as well.

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Cake:

• 2 packages active dry yeast
  
• 1/2 c granulated sugar
  
• 2-1/2 c flour
  
• 2 tsp salt
  
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  
• 1 tsp lemon or orange zest
  
• 1/2 c warm milk
  
• 5 egg yolks
  
• 1 stick softened butter
  
• 1 egg - beaten
  
• 1/2 T milk
  
• 1-1/2 tsp cinnamon
  

Frosting:

• 3/4 c confectioners sugar
  
• juice of 1 lemon
  
• Milk or Water
  

Cake:

Pour 1/2 cup warm water and 2 teaspoons sugar into a small bowl. Add yeast. Set bowl in a warm place, covered for 10 minutes until yeast bubbles. Combine 3 1/2 cups of flour, remaining sugar, salt, and nutmeg. Sift into a large bowl.

Stir in lemon zest, egg yolks and dry ingredient mixture until smooth.

Mix in 8 tablespoons butter slowly and continue to mix until dough can be formed into a soft ball.

Knead dough by hand on floured surface, gradually adding up to 1 cup more of flour. Knead 10 minutes more or until shiny and elstic.

Place dough in buttered bowl and cover. Allow to rise in a warm place for 90 minutes or until it doubles in volume. After the first rising, roll the dough out on a floured surface and punch down. Sprinkle with cinnamon, then pat and shape the dough into a long cylinder. Fold the cylinder in half, end to end, and pinch the ends together. Twist the dough. Form a ring with the completed twist, pinch ends together. Place the completed ring on a buttered or parchment covered baking sheet, and allow to rise for 45 minutes, covered or until it doubles in volume.

After the second rising, brush the top and sides of the cake with the egg and milk wash. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack and hide a plastic baby in the cake.

Frosting:

Combine lemon juice and confectioner's sugar. add water or milk a few drops at a time to reach desired consistency. You're looking for something that will drizzle easily.

Drizzle the frosting mix onto the cake then sprinkle with purple, yellow, and green colored granulated sugar.

Keywords: American, Dessert, French, Cake

( RG607 )