This recipe for king cake with cream cheese filling makes a tender, delicious cake. Give it a go and start a new Mardi Gras tradition at your house!
Preparation Time
60 mins
Cooking Time
40 mins
Total Time
1 hr 40 mins
Calories
436 Calories
Recipe Instructions
Step 1
Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Whisk in buttermilk and heat until an instant-read thermometer reads 120 degrees F (49 degrees C). Slowly pour buttermilk mixture into beaten eggs, whisking constantly; let cool to 110 degrees F (43 degrees C).
Step 2
Beat egg mixture into flour mixture on medium-low speed until a firm, elastic dough forms, about 10 minutes. If dough doesn't separate from the sides of the mixing bowl during kneading, beat in up to 1/4 cup more flour.
Step 3
Turn dough out onto a work surface and knead for 1 minute. Shape dough into a ball and place into a buttered bowl, turning dough to lightly coat all over with butter. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
Step 4
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter the outside edge of an 8-inch cake pan.
Step 5
Make the filling: Stir cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, flour, lemon juice, vanilla, and nutmeg in a bowl until smooth.
Step 6
Punch down dough and turn out onto a lightly floured piece of parchment paper. Roll dough into a 10x28-inch rectangle. Spread filling over the rectangle, leaving a 1-inch border along each edge. Starting at one long edge of the rectangle, lift the parchment paper sheet and roll dough into a log. Pinch the seams closed to seal in the filling, keeping the roll on the parchment paper.
Step 7
Wrap the filled dough around the outer edges of the prepared cake pan and pinch the dough ends to form a ring. Use parchment paper to lift the cake and cake pan and slide a baking sheet beneath the parchment. Gently free the cake pan, leaving the ring-shaped cake.
Step 8
Bake in the preheated oven until cake is golden brown, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool, about 30 minutes.
Step 9
Meanwhile, make the icing: Stir confectioners' sugar, corn syrup, and milk together in a bowl. Mix in 1 teaspoon lemon juice, or as much as needed to thin icing to a thick but slightly runny texture.
Step 10
Drizzle icing over cooled king cake.
Step 11
To make the dough: Mix flour, sugar, yeast, and salt together in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Whisk eggs in a separate bowl.
Step 12
Whisk egg with water in a small bowl to make an egg wash; brush over cake.
Ingredients
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 (.25 ounce) package rapid rise yeast
4 teaspoons milk
3 eggs at room temperature
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese at room temperature
