King's Cake Recipe - Cooking Tips

King's Cake

• 1/4 cup butter
• 16 ounces sour cream
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 envelopes active dry yeast
• 1 tbsp. granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 large eggs
• 6 cups flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup butter, softened

Preparing the Cake

• Cook butter, sour cream, sugar and salt in saucepan over low heat until butter melts. Stir often.
  
  
• Dissolve both packets of years into 1/2 cup warm water and 1 tablespoon sugar. Let stand 5 minutes or until the yeast starts to bubble.
  
  
• Add the butter mixture, eggs, and 2 cups of flour; beat with a mixer for two minutes or until it becomes smooth. Gradually add enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough.
  
  
• Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. This will take approximately 10 minutes.
  
  
• Place dough in a greased bowl. Turn the dough so that the grease covers all sides of it. Cover and let rest in a warm place for approximately one hour or until it doubles in size.
  
  
• Stir 1/2 cup of sugar and cinnamon and set aside for later.
  
  
• After the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it in half.
  
  
• Place one portion on a lightly floured surface and roll it with a rolling pin into a rectangle approximately 10x22.
  
  
• Spread half of the butter over the surface of the dough with a spatula; then sprinkle half of the cinnamon and sugar mixture over it.
  
  
• Start on the long side of the dough and roll it like a jelly roll. Place the roll seam side down on a greased baking sheet and bring the ends together to form an oval ring. Pinch ends together to seal.
  
  
• Repeat with remaining dough.
  
  
• Cover and let rise for 20 minutes or until it doubles in size again.
  
  
• Bake at 375º for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

• When cake is cool, decorate with powdered sugar frosting and sprinkle with bands of colored sugars in purple, yellow and green.

• After decorating with the colored sugar your King's Cake is ready for your Mardi Gras celebration.