Cinnamon King Cake
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
 
King Cake can be made with any number of fillings. For me and my family, cinnamon is the clear favorite!
Ingredients
  • Dough:
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • ¼ cup butter (1/2 stick)
  • 1 Tbsp active dry yeast (2 packages)
  • ⅔ cup warm water (105-110 F)
  • ½ cup plus 1 tbsp white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 5½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp vegetable oil
  • Cinnamon Filling:
  • 2½ cups packed brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • To Finish:
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp water
  • green, purple, and gold colored sugars
  • 1 plastic king cake baby
Instructions
  1. In a small pot over low heat, scald buttermilk. Remove from heat and add butter, stirring to melt. Allow to cool to room temperature.
  2. Meanwhile, in the workbowl of a stand mixer, add the yeast, warm water, and 1 tbsp of white sugar. Stir to combine and allow to stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
  3. Once yeast mixture is foamy, fit the mixer with the dough hook and add the buttermilk mixture, eggs, ½ cup sugar, and salt. Turn the mixer on low to combine.
  4. With the mixer off, add 2 cups of flour. Turn the mixer to low and allow to incorporate the flour before adding more. Turn the mixer off and add one more cup before turning back on. Continue this cycle until all of the flour is used up.
  5. With the mixer on low, allow the dough to continue forming until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, pour the oil into a large bowl, coating the inside of the bowl completely.
  6. Once ready, remove the dough from the mixer, shape into a ball, and place into the prepared bowl, turning to coat the dough. Cover with a dish towel and place in a warm spot for about 2 hours or until the dough has doubled in volume.
  7. While the dough is rising, prepare the filling by combining the brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, and butter. Mix thoroughly. Prepare two sheet pans with parchment paper.
  8. After the dough has risen, punch it down and divide in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle (about 10 x 16), stretching it and letting it rest as necessary. Sprinkle half of the filling onto the rectangle leaving about ½ inch on the bottom long side. Starting with the top long side, begin rolling the dough tightly. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
  9. Bring the ends of each roll together to form a large circle and move to the sheet pan. With a knife, cut large slits about ⅓ of the way through the dough at 1-2 inch intervals. Cover with a dish towel and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  10. Preheat oven to 375. Combine 1 egg with 1 tbsp water to make an egg wash. Brush the dough with the egg wash and bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.
  11. Combine powdered sugar and water to create a thick glaze.
  12. Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes before drizzling with icing and sprinkling with colored sugars. Push the baby into the cake from underneath so that no one knows where it is. Enjoy!
Recipe by This Cookin' Dad at https://thiscookindad.com/2015/02/cinnamon-king-cake/