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King Cake

Cuisine
Difficulty Beginner
Time
Prep Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 40 mins Rest Time: 2 hrs Total Time: 3 hrs 20 mins
Ingredients
    The dough
  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup warm water
  • 1/2 cup warm milk
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tbsp nutmeg
  • 2 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 egg (for egg wash)
    • Filling
  • 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 2/3 cup roasted peanuts-ground
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
    • Icing
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbsp buttermilk
  • Sprinkles (purple, gold, and green)
Instructions
  1. Making the dough
    1. In a small bowl dissolve the yeast in the water. Stir in 1 teaspoon sugar and let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Or, if using instant yeast, skip to step 2.
    2. In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture, milk, sugar, butter, egg yolks, salt, and the spices.
    3. Using your hands or a spoon, mix in 1½ cups flour. Gradually add enough of the remaining flour to make a soft workable dough.
    4. On a lightly floured surface or in a mixer with a dough hook, knead the dough until smooth and springy, about 5 minutes.
    5. Place in an oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover with a kitchen towel or loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about 2 hours, or in the refrigerator overnight.
  2. The filling
    1. Chop up or using a food processor to blend the nuts.
    2. Add in the butter, cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, and cream cheese and mix or process until a paste forms.
    3. Stir in the flour.
  3. Baking
    1. Heat oven to 350. Using a clean (but not floured) surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle.
    2. Spread the filling evenly across the dough, leaving a 1-inch gap on all sides.
    3. Beginning from a long end, roll the dough up.
    4. Bring the ends together to form an oval.
    5. Place on a parchment paper-lined or greased baking sheet, seam side down. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap spritzed with cooking spray and let rise at room temperature until nearly doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
    6. Position a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
    7. Brush the dough with the egg wash.
    8. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
    9 . Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
    10. Add the token! You can bake these in but I find it just as easy to push into the bottom of the cake after it is baked.
  4. Icing the cake
    1. In a medium bowl, stir the powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, and enough buttermilk milk until smooth. You want it easy to pour.
    2. Pour the icing over the top.
    3. While the icing is still wet, decorate with sprinkles or colored sugar. Typically, the cake will be decorated with colored blocks of purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power).
Keywords: New Orleans, King Cake, Mardis Gras
Read it online: https://foodandarchaeology.com/recipe/king-cake/