Easy King Cake
This warm, buttery treat captures the joyful spirit of Mardi Gras, perfect for parties or cozy weekend baking.
Ingredients
Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 packet active dry yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet ingredients
- 1/2 cup milk (warm) Should be warm, not hot.
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (cut into pieces)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping & finishing
- 1/4 cup colored sugar (purple, green, yellow) For decoration.
- 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk (for icing)
Instructions
Preparation
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
- In a saucepan, heat milk and butter until warm. Add to the dry ingredients.
- Beat in eggs and vanilla. Mix until a dough forms.
- Knead on a floured surface for about 5 minutes. Let it rise for 1 hour.
Baking
- Roll out the dough and shape into a ring.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes.
- Once cooled, mix icing sugar and milk to make the icing, then drizzle over the cake.
- Decorate with colored sugar.
Notes
Warm liquids properly to avoid killing the yeast. Dough should be slightly tacky but manageable. Cover with a damp towel while rising to prevent drying out.