King Cake recipe
You are going to love this easy King Cake recipe made with Rhodes frozen dinner rolls or a loaf of frozen bread dough. It makes it incredibly easy to whip up! Once baked it is decorated with a delicious glaze that is covered with purple, green, and gold-colored sugar, and don’t forget to hide the small plastic baby inside prior to serving!
Easy King Cake
Our family loves to celebrate Mardi Gras with this easy King cake. It is a tradition that we love. Mardi Gras is a celebration that takes place on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and is known as the last day to indulge before Lent.
Mardi Gras is a huge celebration that involves music, parades, flats, and all kinds of excitement. You will see the traditional Mardi Gras colors all about and King Cake is always served! You will love this simple to make King Cake recipe to serve at your next Mardi Gras party.
What is in the middle of king cake?
King cake is a New Orleans tradition that involves placing a small plastic baby inside the cake prior to serving. The person who gets the small plastic party gets to host the next party or bring the cake to the next party.
Why do they put a baby in King Cake?
The small plastic baby represents baby Jesus. It is placed inside to symbolize Epiphany. The person who gets the piece of cake with the baby is known as the king and is granted good luck for the whole year ahead.
What color sugar should I use for the top of King Cake?
You want to be sure to stick to the traditional Mardi Gras colors when decorating this cake. Gold represents power, green is for faith, and purple is for justice. It is always shaped in a circle to symbolize a crown, it also represents unity.
How To Make King Cakes
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper, spritzed with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the raisins in a small bowl. Pour the hot water over the raisins and set them aside.
- On the prepared baking sheet, knead the dough and shape it into a 17-inch circle. Tear a hole in the middle of the dough, stretching it out to create a 5-inch opening.
- Drain the raisins.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the brown sugar, orange zest, pecans, raisins, and rum extract until combined. Spoon the mixture into the middle of the ring shape.
- Wrap the dough from the outside of the circle to the inside of the circular shape, pinching the dough together to seal it and tucking the edge under the middle.
- Place the baking sheet and a draft-free location and allow the bread to rise for 30 minutes.
- Bake the king cake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the dough is golden. Take it from the baking sheet to a wire rack to cool.
- Mix together the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla until smooth. Pour over the ring allowing some to drip down the sides. Sprinkle the frosting with the colored sugars, alternating the colors.
- Prior to serving, insert the baby somewhere under the king cake. Slice and serve.
Tips Tricks and FAQs
- It is tradition to hide a small plastic baby in the cake after you bake it, however you can use a different trinket if you prefer.
- Be sure to let your guests know that something is hidden in the cake. This gets everyone excited to see if they are King for the day granted good luck for the year.
Storage
You will want to store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
King Cake recipe
You are going to love this easy King Cake recipe made with Rhodes frozen dinner rolls or a loaf of frozen bread dough. It makes it incredibly easy to whip up! Once baked it is decorated with a delicious glaze that is covered with purple, green, and gold-colored sugar, and don’t forget to hide the small plastic baby inside prior to serving!
Ingredients
- 12 Rhodes frozen dinner rolls or one loaf frozen bread dough, thawed to room temperature
- For the filling:
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- Finely chopped zest from 1 orange
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 teaspoon rum extract
- For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Purple, green, and yellow colored sugar
- Small plastic baby
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper, spritzed with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the raisins in a small bowl. Pour the hot water over the raisins and set them aside.
- On the prepared baking sheet, knead the dough and shape it into a 17-inch circle. Tear a hole in the middle of the dough, stretching it out to create a 5-inch opening.
- Drain the raisins.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the brown sugar, orange zest, pecans, raisins, and rum extract until combined. Spoon the mixture into the middle of the ring shape.
- Wrap the dough from the outside of the circle to the inside of the circular shape, pinching the dough together to seal it and tucking the edge under the middle.
- Place the baking sheet and a draft-free location and allow the bread to rise for 30 minutes.
- Bake the king cake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the dough is golden. Take it from the baking sheet to a wire rack to cool.
- Mix together the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla until smooth. Pour over the ring allowing some to drip down the sides. Sprinkle the frosting with the colored sugars, alternating the colors.
- Prior to serving, insert the baby somewhere under the king cake. Slice and serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 631Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 1272mgCarbohydrates: 88gFiber: 6gSugar: 40gProtein: 28g
I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!
