King Cake
King cake is central to Carnival season in New Orleans, traditionally baked and eaten from Epiphany (January 6th) through Mardi Gras. Made from an enriched, cinnamon-swirled dough shaped into a ring and decorated in the traditional purple, green, and gold sugars, it's often hidden with a small plastic baby — whoever finds it in their slice is said to host the next celebration.
Ingredients
- 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup (50g) sugar, plus 1/2 cup for filling
- 3/4 cup (180ml) warm milk
- 3 3/4 cups (470g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (115g) butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon, for filling
- For the icing: 2 cups powdered sugar + 3 tbsp milk
- Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar
Instructions
- Dissolve the yeast and a pinch of sugar in the warm milk and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Mix the flour, remaining sugar, softened butter, eggs, and the yeast mixture into a soft dough. Knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Let rise in a covered bowl in a warm spot for about 1 hour, until doubled.
- Roll the dough into a large rectangle, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, then roll up tightly into a log and join the ends into a ring on a baking sheet. Let rise 30 more minutes.
- Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 20-25 minutes, until golden. Cool completely.
- Whisk the powdered sugar and milk into a thick icing, drizzle over the cake, and immediately sprinkle with alternating bands of purple, green, and gold sugar before the icing sets.
Tips
- Work quickly once the icing is drizzled — the colored sugars need to stick to wet icing.
- If hiding a small baby figurine, tuck it in from the bottom after baking, not before, for food safety.
- This dough can be made a day ahead through the first rise and refrigerated overnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the colors mean?
Purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold represents power — traditional Mardi Gras colors.
When is king cake traditionally eaten?
From Epiphany (January 6th) through Fat Tuesday, the final day before Lent.
