King Cake
A King Cake is a traditional pastry associated with Mardi Gras celebrations. It is a circular cake, usually around 18 inches in diameter, that is often made with a cinnamon-flavored dough and filled with sugar and spices. The cake is then decorated with colorful sugar, icing and sometimes sprinkles or other decorations. It is usually served with a plastic baby or a bean hidden inside it, and whoever gets the piece of cake containing the baby is said to have good luck.
Servings 0
Ingredients
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 2 eggs
- 3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup melted butter
Instructions
- 1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand for 5 minutes.
- 2. Add sugar, salt, butter, eggs, and 2 cups of the flour; beat until smooth. Stir in nutmeg, cinnamon, raisins, and pecans. Add enough of the remaining flour to make a stiff dough.
- 3. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- 4. Punch dough down; turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 24-inch circle. Place on a greased baking sheet; brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar.
- 5. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.  6. If desired, decorate cake with colored sugars and icing. Insert a bean or plastic baby into the cake before serving.
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