Best King Cake Recipes

TRADITIONAL NEW ORLEANS KING CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add 1/2 cup sugar, butter, milk, egg yolks, salt, lemon zest, nutmeg and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky)., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 16x10-in. rectangle. Combine cinnamon and remaining sugar; sprinkle over dough to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal. Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet; pinch ends together to form a ring. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Brush with egg., Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. For glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and enough water to achieve desired consistency. Spread over cake. Sprinkle with colored sugars.

LA MEXICANA'S ROSCA DE REYES (KING CAKE)

Steps:

• Combine yeast and water in a small bowl, stirring until dissolved, and set aside until yeast is proofed.
• In a large mixing bowl combine the milk, sugar, and butter, stirring until dissolved.
• Add the salt, eggs, and yeast mixture and blend thoroughly.
• Beat in 3 cups of flour to make a smooth batter Add additional flour to make a soft dough (dough will be very sticky).
• Turn out onto a floured board and knead approximately 8 minutes or until smooth and elastic, adding more flour as needed.
• Dough may be made with a standing mixer and dough hook.
• Round into a ball and place in a warm buttered bowl, turning to lightly coat top with some of the butter.
• Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled.
• Punch down the dough and divide in half.
• To prepare rings, divide dough in half and flatten into a long oval.
• Spread 1/2 can of Solo almond filling on each oval, place one bean into each oval, and roll each piece into a rope.
• Join ends together leaving large oval hole in the middle.
• Cover and let rise until double, about 1 hour.
• While the bread is rising, preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bake rings for 30 minutes in the preheated oven or until golden brown and sound hollow when thumped.
• Remove and let loaves cool on wire racks.
• Icing: Mix all the icing ingredients together until fluffy and well blended.
• To serve, frost cooled loaves with icing.
• Decorate with different colored sugars or candied fruit.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT CAKE FROM KING ARTHUR FLOUR®

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan or an 8-inch square cake pan.
• Sift together the coconut flour and baking powder, mixing to combine; set aside.
• In a large, microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter with the cocoa, stirring until well blended.
• Whisk the sugar, salt, vanilla, and eggs into the butter-cocoa mixture. Add the coconut flour and baking powder, whisking until smooth.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Let it rest for 10 minutes.
• Bake the loaf or cake until set, and a cake tester inserted into the middle comes out clean. This will take 35 to 45 minutes for the loaf pan, or 30 to 35 minutes for the square pan.
• Cool the cake in the pan for 30 minutes before turning it out onto a rack to cool completely. The cake is easiest to slice when it's completely cool.

ROSCA DE REYES - KING CAKE

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in five tablespoons lukewarm milk and let sit five minutes.
• Add the flour, sugar, eggs, melted butter, the remaining milk, salt, cinnamon, aniseed, raisins and vanilla.
• Combine and knead dough until no longer sticky.
• Grease dough with some butter, cover and let rise until the dough doubles in size.
• Grease a baking sheet.
• Punch down dough and knead lightly.
• Form dough into a ring or"rosca" about 12 inches in diameter.
• Place the dough ring on baking sheet.
• Decorate the top of the ring with the candied fruit.
• Let the dough rise again until doubled.
• Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
• Brush with the beaten egg and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
• Bake 40 minutes or until done.
• Insert the baby figurine or bean from the underside.

KING CAKE

Steps:

• For the dough: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove from the heat and pour in the milk and water. The mixture should be just warm to the touch, about 110 degrees F; let cool or heat over low heat as needed. Stir in the yeast and let stand for 5 minutes, until bubbles come to the surface.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
• In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, orange zest and egg yolks. Whisk in the yeast mixture. Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients; fold with a rubber spatula until all the flour is incorporated and a slightly sticky dough forms.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and sprinkle the top with flour. Knead for 2 to 3 minutes, until the dough becomes smooth and no longer sticks to the work surface. Lightly grease a medium bowl with the canola oil and add the dough, turning to coat. Cover the bowl and let proof in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• For the filling: Add the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, orange juice, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg to a medium bowl. Mix with a hand-held mixer or rubber spatula until completely combined and smooth. Set aside.
• Bake the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
• Remove the proofed dough to a lightly floured work surface and roll into an 8-by-28-inch rectangle, about 1/4-inch thick. Spread evenly with the cream cheese filling, leaving a 2-inch border. Add the plastic baby to the filling, and then roll the dough into a 28-inch log. With the log seam-side down, bring both ends together to form a circle. Lightly brush the inside of one end with water and insert the other end inside to close the circle. Brush the seam lightly with water and pinch to seal. Place the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, making sure to form it back into a circle--it should be approximately 10-inches in diameter. Using a paring knife, make six 2- to 3-inch diagonal slits in the top of the dough (to act as vents during baking). Let the dough rise an additional 30 minutes, until puffed up and the vents have opened slightly.
• Bake the cake for 40 minutes, until the top and bottom have a deep golden-brown crust. The slits may also widen as during baking; that is normal. Remove the cake from oven and let cool for 30 minutes on the baking sheet.
• For the icing: Whisk together the confectioners' sugar, milk and orange juice until smooth. Spoon the icing over the top of the cooled cake, pushing it to either side. If some icing pools in the center or on the sides, just scoop it up and drizzle it over the cake again; you want to make sure the entire cake is covered in icing. Working quickly, so the icing doesn't set, sprinkle the yellow sanding sugar over a 2-inch section of the cake. Next to that, sprinkle the green sanding sugar, followed by the purple. Continue in this pattern until the entire cake is covered in sanding sugar.
• Transfer the cake to a cake stand and serve immediately, or hold at room temperature until ready to serve. This cake is best served the same day.

HAYDEL'S KING CAKE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine sugar, salt and shortening; beat on low speed with an electric mixer unitl creamy.
• Add eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition.
• Dissolve yeast in milk; let stand for 5 minutes.
• Stir extracts and flavorings into the milk.
• Add the milk mixtue to the egg mixture and mix well to combine.
• Add flour, mixing until well combined.
• Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface.
• Knead intp a small ball.
• Sprinkle dough with flour, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and allow to rise in a warm spot for 1 1/2 hours.
• Roll dough into a 16x12-inch oblong shape and brush evenly with canola oil.
• Sprinkle liberally with cinnamon-sugar.
• Fold dough in half lengthwise, cut into three lengthwise stips, and braid.
• Starting with one end, pull braid gently to elongate it and shape it into a circle.
• Place on prepared baking sheet.
• Let dough rise again for approximately 1 hour, until dough is doubled in size.
• Sprinkle with desired amount of colored sugar.
• Preheat oven to 370°F
• Bake until golden, about 12 to 15 minutes.

QUICK MARDI GRAS KING CAKE

Steps:

• Mix 2 1/2 cups flour and yeast in mixing bowl of stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, on low for about 30 seconds.
• Heat milk, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and milk is between 120°F to 130°F.
• With mixer on low, pour in liquids and mix until incorporated. Add eggs one at a time. Continue mixing until a shaggy dough forms. Clean off paddle and switch to dough hook. Mix in the remaining 1 cup flour a little at a time, adding more or less flour as needed to make a soft dough. Add the softened butter, a piece at a time, kneading until each piece of butter is absorbed.
• Knead for eight minutes on low. The dough should completely clear the sides of the bowl. If it is too sticky, add additional flour 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing in thoroughly before determining if more flour is needed. If the dough seems too dry, spritz with water from a spray bottle a couple of times, mixing in thoroughly before determining if more water is needed. Every 2 minutes, stop the machine, scrape the dough off the hook, and then continue kneading.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times by hand to be sure it's smooth and elastic. Form the dough into a ball. Place dough into a greased bowl. Turn once so greased surface is on top. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• While the dough is chilling, make cinnamon filling. In small bowl, combine the brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Combine butter with cinnamon mixture and mix well.
• Roll the chilled dough into a 10 x 20 inch rectangle. Spread the filling on half of the long side of the dough. Fold the dough in half covering the filling. Pat dough down firmly so the dough will stick together. Cut dough into three long strips. Press the tops of the strips together and braid the strips. Press the ends together at the bottom. Gently stretch the braid so that it measures 20 inches again. Shape it into a circle/oval and press the edges together.
• Transfer the ring to a parchment lined or greased baking sheet. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rise until doubled, about 1 hour. While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 350°. Bake the cake until it is golden brown, 20 - 35 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes on baking sheet and then place it on a cooling rack to cool completely before icing. To hide the baby in the cake, if desired, make a small slit in the bottom of the cake and put the miniature plastic baby in after the cake has cooled.
• Icing: In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth (add additional milk if mixture is too thick or powdered sugar if too thin).
• Spoon icing over top of the cake. Immediately sprinkle on colored sugar, alternating between the three colors.

KING CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and white sugar in warm milk. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Stir the egg yolks and melted butter into the milk mixture. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, nutmeg and lemon zest. Beat the flour mixture into the milk/egg mixture 1 cup at a time. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
• In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Mix well. In another small bowl, combine the remaining 2 cups confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons milk. Mix well and set aside.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Roll the dough out into a 6x30 inch rectangle. Spread the cream cheese filling across the center of the dough. Bring the two long edges together and seal completely. Using your hands shape the dough into a long cylinder and place on a greased baking sheet, seam-side down. Shape the dough into a ring press the baby into the ring from the bottom so that it is completely hidden by the dough. Place a well-greased 2 pound metal coffee can the center of the ring to maintain the shape during baking. Cover the ring with a towel and place in a warm place to rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove the coffee can and allow the bread to cool. Drizzle cooled cake with lemon/sugar glaze and decorate with candy sprinkles.

KING CAKE

Steps:

• Cook first 4 ingredients in a saucepan over low heat, stirring often, until butter melts; Cool mixture to 100 degrees to 110 degrees.
• Dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in 1/2 cup warm water in a large bowl; let stand 5 minutes; Add butter mixture, eggs, and 2 cups flour; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until smooth; Gradually stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.
• Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes; Place in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease top; Cover and let rise in a warm place (85 degrees), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.
• Using an electric mixer, mix cream cheese until smooth; Add egg and blend well; Add sugar, salt and vanilla and mix until smooth and creamy; Set aside.
• Punch dough down; divide in half; Turn 1 portion out onto a lightly floured surface; roll to a 28- x 10-inch rectangle; Spread half each of cream cheese mixture on dough; Roll dough, jellyroll fashion, starting at long side; Place dough roll, seam side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet; Bring ends together to form an oval ring, moistening and punching edges together to seal; Repeat with remaining dough and cream cheese mixture.
• Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, 20 minutes or until doubled in bulk.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden.
• Decorate with bands of Colored Frostings, and sprinkle with Colored Sugars.
• COLORED FROSTINGS: Stir together powdered sugar and melted butter; Add milk to reach desired consistency for drizzling; stir in vanilla; Divide frosting into 3 batches, tinting 1 green, 1 yellow, and combining red and blue food coloring for purple frosting.
• COLORED SUGARS: Place 1/2 cup sugar and drop of green food coloring in a zip-top plastic bag; seal; Shake and squeeze vigorously to evenly mix color with sugar; Repeat procedure with 1/2 cup sugar and yellow food coloring; For purple, combine 1 drop red and 1 drop blue food coloring before adding to remaining 1/2 cup sugar.

THE BEST CREAM CHEESE KING CAKE

Steps:

• Combine sour cream, 1/3 cup sugar, butter, and salt in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring, until butter melts, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; let mixture cool to 100 to 110 degrees F, about 15 minutes.
• Stir together water, yeast, and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in a 1-cup glass measuring cup; let stand for 5 minutes.
• Combine sour cream mixture, yeast mixture, eggs, and 2 cups of the flour in the bowl of a heavy-duty electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat at medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low; gradually add 4 more cups of flour, beating until dough comes together.
• Turn dough out onto a surface dusted with 1/4 cup of the flour. Knead, gradually adding remaining 1/2 cup flour, 2 tablespoons at a time, until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Dough should be tacky but release easily from surface.
• Place dough in a well greased bowl; turn to grease top. Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Beat cream cheese, sugars, cinnamon, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in egg.
• Gently punch dough down; divide in half. Roll 1 portion out into a 22x12-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Keep the other portion covered. Spread 1/2 of the filling over rectangle, leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup pecans. Carefully roll up, starting from a long edge.
• Place roll, seam-side down, on a large parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bring ends of roll together to form a ring. Moisten ends with water; pinch together to seal. Repeat with remaining dough, filling, and pecans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Uncover dough rings.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cakes are a deep golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes completely on wire racks, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Stir confectioners' sugar, melted butter, and vanilla extract together to make the glaze. Stir in 3 tablespoons milk. Add additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until pourable but still opaque. Pour evenly over cakes. Sprinkle with sparkling sugars, alternating colors to form bands.

MARDI GRAS KING CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, shortening, sugar, salt, egg and 2 cups flour. Beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky). , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Roll one portion into a 16-in. x 10-in. rectangle. Spread almond filling to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal. Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet; pinch ends together to form a ring. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. , Preheat oven to 375°. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. For glaze, combine confectioners' sugar, vanilla and enough water to achieve desired consistency. Spread over cooled cakes. Sprinkle with colored sugars.

BUTTERMILK KING CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FILLING

Steps:

• Mix 4 cups of flour, white sugar, yeast, and salt together in the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
• Whisk 3 eggs in a separate bowl. Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat and whisk buttermilk into melted butter; heat until an instant-read thermometer reads 120 degrees F (49 degrees C). Whisk buttermilk mixture into beaten eggs and cool the mixture to 110 degrees F (43 degrees C).
• Beat egg mixture into flour mixture on medium-low speed to make a firm, elastic dough, about 10 minutes. If dough doesn't separate from the sides of the mixing bowl during kneading, beat in 1/4 cup more flour.
• Turn dough out onto a work surface and knead for 1 minute; form into a ball and place into a buttered bowl, turning dough around to lightly coat with butter. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter the outer edge of an 8-inch cake pan.
• Stir cream cheese, 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and nutmeg in a bowl until filling is smooth.
• Punch down dough and turn out onto a lightly floured piece of parchment paper. Roll dough into a 10x28-inch rectangle. Spread cream cheese filling over the rectangle, leaving a 1-inch border along each edge. Lift an edge of the parchment paper sheet to roll dough into a log shape, starting at a 28-inch edge. Pinch seams closed to seal in filling, keeping roll on the parchment paper.
• Wrap the filled dough around the outside of the buttered 8-inch cake pan to form the dough into a ring; pinch the edges closed. Use parchment paper to lift the cake and cake pan and slide a baking sheet beneath the parchment. Gently free cake pan, leaving the ring-shaped cake. Whisk 1 egg with water in a small bowl; brush cake with egg wash.
• Bake king cake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Let cake cool.
• Stir 1 cup confectioners' sugar, corn syrup, and milk in a bowl; mix in 1 teaspoon lemon juice, or amount needed to thin icing to a thick but slightly runny texture. Drizzle king cake with icing.

GOLDEN VANILLA POUND CAKE - KING ARTHUR FLOUR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F Lightly grease a 9" x 5" x 2 3/4" loaf pan, or a 12" x 4" x 4" tea loaf pan. To avoid overflow, be SURE to use the correct size pan!
• In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the butter, cream cheese, salt, sugar, baking powder, vanilla extract, and almond extract until well combined.
• Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; the mixture may look slightly curdled/grainy. After you've added the final egg, beat at high speed for 3 minutes. The batter will still look a little curdled, but will have gained a bit of volume.
• Sprinkle in the flour gradually, with the mixer going at low speed. Mix just until combined. The batter will be smooth and thick (not pourable). Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.
• To make the topping, combine the sugar, vanilla, and water. Stir till the mixture is syrupy. At first it'll seem very stiff, but will become "drizzlable" as you stir.
• Drizzle the topping over the batter.
• Set the cake on a baking sheet, for easiest handling and as a precaution against potential overflow (which shouldn't happen if you use the correct size pan). Bake it for 60 to 70 minutes (for either size pan), until the cake is golden brown, and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. The center should register at least 200°F on an instant-read thermometer. If you prefer a lighter crust, tent the cake with aluminum foil for the final 10 minutes or so of baking.
• Remove the cake from the oven, and after 15 minutes loosen the edges, and turn it out of the pan to cool on a rack.

TWELFTH NIGHT CAKE OR KING CAKE(GALETTE DES ROIS)

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1 block of puff pastry to form a 10-inch square. Using a sharp knife, cut out a 10-inch round, using a dinner plate as a guide.
• Repeat this step with the second block of puff pastry.
• To make the filling, combine milk, butter, sugar, vanilla and cornstarch. Add the three lightly beaten eggs and mix until well blended.
• Cook in a pot at low heat stirring continually until it thickens or prepare this in the microwave stopping from time to time to stir it (I prefer to prepare this in the microwave).
• Now take from the heat away, add grated lemon zest, rum and ground almonds.
• Stir all together well.
• To assemble, place the undecorated round of pastry on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Spread almond filling over the circle, leaving a 1-inch border. Using a pastry brush, glaze the border with lightly beaten egg.
• Place a trinket or dried bean in the filling.
• Place the second round of pastry over the filling, pressing the edges to seal.
• Using a sharp paring knife, decorate one round with "s" cuts, like swirly spokes going from the centre to the edge of the round or make some cuts "v" shaped cuts with scissors.
• Glaze the top with lightly beaten egg.
• Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Remove and bake for 30 minutes, or until the pastry has puffed up and is golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Decorate with the gold paper crown.
• Note: if it is your first time observing this tradition, don't forget to warn everyone about the hidden charm or bean!

GIANT KING CAKE BURGER

Steps:

• Line a 10-inch round cake pan with plastic wrap.
• Mix ground beef, onion, steak sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Press beef mixture firmly into prepared cake pan to form a giant beef patty. Cover pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Lightly oil a pizza peel. Remove plastic wrap from top of beef patty and invert pan on top of pizza peel to release patty from the pan. Remove remaining plastic wrap. Use a grill spatula and a slight shaking motion to gently slide the patty from the pizza peel onto the preheated grill.
• Cook beef patty on the preheated grill until browned on one side, 7 to 10 minutes. Use the grill spatula and pizza peel to carefully flip the patty. Place cheese and bacon slices on top of the burger and cook until burger is firm and no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).
• Place the bottom half of the king cake on a serving platter. Place the burger on top of the bottom king cake 'bun' and place the top half of the king cake on the burger. Spread reserved icing over the top 'bun' and sprinkle purple, yellow, and green decorating sugars over the top.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE BY KING ARTHUR FLOUR- WITH CHOCOLATE GL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Lightly grease an 8" round cake pan; cut a piece of parchment or waxed paper to fit, grease it, and lay it in the bottom of pan (I sprayed the whole pan with flour Pam).
• To make cake; heat the chocolate and butter in microwave, stirring until mixture is melted and smooth.
• Add the sugar, salt and espresso powder.
• Add eggs, beating briefly until smooth.
• Add cocoa powder and mix just to combine.
• Spoon batter into prepared pan.
• Bake cake for 25 minutes; the top will have formed a thn crust.
• Remove from oven and cool in the pan for 5 minutes.
• Loosen the edges of the cake from the pan, and turn it out onto a serving plate.
• Allow cake to cool completely before glazing.
• GLAZE.
• Heat chocolate and cream in microwave, stirring until chocolate melst and mixture is completely smooth.
• Spoon glaze over the cake, spreading it to drip over the sides a bit.
• Garnish with toasted almonds if desired.
• Allow glaze to set for several hours before serving cake.

KING CAKE IN A BREAD MACHINE

Steps:

• Place the warm water, salt, softened butter, egg, sour cream, 3 1/2 tablespoons of sugar, flour, and yeast into a bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer, select the dough cycle, and start the machine. Check the dough after about 5 minutes of mixing, and add 1 to 2 more tablespoons of water or flour if the dough is too dry or wet.
• Mix 1/4 cup of sugar, the cinnamon, 2 1/2 tablespoons of melted butter together in a bowl. Grease a baking sheet, and set aside.
• When the dough cycle is finished, remove the dough and roll out to a 10x28-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Spread the cinnamon-butter mixture over the dough, and sprinkle on an even layer of pecans. Pick up one of the long edges, and roll the dough into a 28-inch long log.
• Place the rolled dough onto the prepared baking sheet, seam side down, and form the dough into a ring. Moisten the ends of the dough with a little water; pinch the two ends together to seal. Cover the dough ring with a cloth or greased plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake the cake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Mix the confectioners' sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons of melted butter, vanilla extract, and just enough milk to make a smooth but not thin glaze.
• Remove the cake from the oven, and cool for about 10 minutes on a wire rack. While the cake is still warm, spoon the glaze onto the cake, allowing drips of glaze to dribble down the sides of the cake. Immediately sprinkle the cake with alternating bands of purple, green, and yellow colored sugar. Allow the cake to cool completely before serving.

KING ARTHUR FLOUR CAKE PAN CAKE

Steps:

• 1. preheat oven to 350°. Measure all the dry ingredients into an 8 inch or 9 inch round or square baking pan. If you use an 8 inch pan, make sure it is at least 2 inches deep. Blend the ingredients together thoroughly with a fork or whisk and scoop out three holes or indentations.
• 2. Pour vanilla into the first hole, the vinegar into the second and the vegetable oil into the third. Take the cup of cold liquid, water coffee milk etc., and pour it directly over everything in the pan. Note: if you used espresso powder, adding coffee will make this a mocha cake. Stir all ingredients together with your fork until they are well blended.
• 3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Serve at once. Makes 12 to 16 servings.

KING CAKE WITH BANANA CARAMEL PECAN FILLING

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the caramel sauce for the filling. In the top of a double boiler, pour in the condensed milk, place over the bottom portion of boiling water, cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thick and caramel-colored, about 2½ hours. Cool 20 minutes before using. 2. Prepare the cake. In a bowl, whisk milk with sugar, yeast and 1 heaping tablespoon flour until smooth and the yeast is dissolved. Let rest until the mixture gets bubbly, then whisk in butter, egg yolks, vanilla, and orange zest. 3. In a separate bowl, mix remaining flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Fold this mixture into the wet ingredients with a rubber spatula. Once combined and the dough begins to pull away from the bowl, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand until smooth, about 20 minutes of kneading. Form into a ball and place in a clean bowl, covered with plastic wrap, and allow it to rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours. 4. Preheat the oven to 375 F. 5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Using your fingers pat it out into a rectangle about 30 inches long and 6 inches wide. Spoon and spread some caramel sauce across the bottom lengthwise half of the dough rectangle then sprinkle the pecan bits and banana pieces on top. Flip the top half over the filling. Seal the edges, pinching the dough together. Shape the dough into a ring and pinch the ends together so there isn't a seam. 6. Carefully transfer the ring to the prepared baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap allowing the dough to rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Bake until light golden brown, about 20 minutes. (Be careful not to overcook!) Remove and allow to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating. Gently lift up the edge of the cake, and hide the plastic baby somewhere through the bottom. Decorate with icing in alternating colors of Green, Purple and Gold.

MARDI GRAS KING CAKE

Steps:

• Combine butter or margarine, evaporated milk, granulated sugar, and salt in a small saucepan.
• Heat slowly until butter is melted; cool to lukewarm.
• Beat four of the eggs in a large bowl with a wire whip; stir in milk mixture.
• Sprinkle yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar into warm water in a cup.
• Stir until yeast dissolves; allow to stand until mixture bubbles (approximately ten minutes).
• Add to egg mixture, blending well.
• Add lemon and orange rind.
• Mix flour into egg mixture, one cup at a time to make a stiff dough.
• Turn out onto a lightly floured pastry cloth or board; knead until smooth and elastic (about ten minutes), adding only enough extra flour to keep the dough from sticking.
• Place in a large greased bowl; turn dough to coat all over with shortening.
• Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place until double in bulk.
• Punch down; knead a few times and divide in half.
• Using the palms of your hands, roll half into a 20" rope; lift ends and twist loosely one or two times.
• Place on a large greased cookie sheet in a half circle.
• Repeat with the other half of the dough, pinching the ends of the ropes together to form a large ring about 12 inches in diameter.
• Lift the ring slightly at one side and push the bean about an inch into the dough from the bottom.
• Cover and let rise again until double.
• While the dough rises, beat remaining egg in a small bowl and brush over dough.
• Preheat the oven to 375F during the second rising.
• Bake for 30 minutes, or until a golden brown and the bread gives a hollow sound when tapped.
• Slide carefully from the baking sheet to a wire rack; cool thoroughly.
• Before serving, mix the powdered sugar slowly with water until smooth and of drizzling consistency (you should only need a couple of tablespoonsful of water).
• Drizzle over the ring and decorate with candied citron and sprinkles.