Carnival Celebration King Cake

🕒 Prep: 1 hour
🔥 Cook: 30 min
🍽 Serves: 10
Be the First to Review!

The Carnival Celebration King Cake is a vibrant and fun treat that brings the spirit of Mardi Gras straight to your kitchen! With its rich, buttery dough and colorful decoration, it's perfect for any festive occasion or just when you're in the mood for something special.

Ingredients for Carnival Celebration King Cake

The base starts with whole milk, which provides a tender crumb and adds richness. Unsalted butter ensures the dough is moist and flavorful without being too salty. Using all-purpose flour gives the cake structure, while granulated sugar sweetens things up. Active dry yeast is the leavening agent that helps the dough rise, making it nice and fluffy. A touch of salt balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors. Ground cinnamon adds warmth and depth. Eggs help bind the dough and add a richer taste. The zest of an orange brings a refreshing zing, and vanilla extract adds a lovely aroma.

For the filling, brown sugar adds a hint of molasses flavor, while chopped pecans offer crunch. Raisins provide chewiness and sweetness, and melted butter helps everything stick together. The icing, made with powdered sugar and fresh orange juice, is the perfect finishing touch. Finally, colored sugars in purple, green, and gold give it that classic Mardi Gras flair.

Tips & Tricks

  • Ensure the milk is only lukewarm before adding to avoid killing the yeast.
  • Knead the dough until it's smooth and elastic; this ensures a light texture.
  • Let the dough rise in a warm spot, like near a window or on top of a warm oven.
  • If you don’t have colored sugar, you can make your own by mixing granulated sugar with a few drops of food coloring.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this King Cake with a side of fresh fruit or a dollop of whipped cream to balance the sweetness. For a true Mardi Gras experience, pair it with a classic New Orleans coffee blend or a refreshing lemon iced tea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the dough and let it rise in the fridge overnight. Let it come to room temperature before rolling it out.
What if I don't have pecans?
You can substitute with walnuts or almonds for a similar texture and flavor.
Can I add a filling?
Absolutely! Cream cheese or jam makes a delicious addition to the filling.

Carnival Celebration King Cake Recipe Walkthrough

Start by warming the milk in a small saucepan over low heat until it’s just steaming. Stir in the unsalted butter until it’s melted, then set it aside to cool to lukewarm. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, yeast, salt, and ground cinnamon. Mix these dry ingredients well.

Next, beat in the eggs, orange zest, and vanilla extract. Gradually add the lukewarm milk mixture, stirring until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm area until it doubles in size, roughly an hour.

Once risen, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Punch down the dough and roll it out into a rectangle about 10x16 inches. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, chopped pecans, and raisins. Spread melted butter over the dough rectangle, then sprinkle the sugar-nut mixture evenly on top.

Roll the dough into a log starting from the long side. Seal the edge and form it into a ring, pinching the ends together. Place it on a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Allow it to cool on a wire rack.

For the icing, mix powdered sugar and fresh orange juice until smooth. Drizzle this over the cooled cake and sprinkle with colored sugars for that festive touch.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Infused with the zestiness of fresh orange and warm cinnamon.
  • A delightful blend of textures with crunchy pecans and plump raisins.
  • Perfect for celebrations or as a show-stopping centerpiece.
  • Customizable with your favorite fillings or toppings.

Ingredients

1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 large eggs
Zest of 1 orange
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup raisins
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Colored sugars for decoration (purple, green, and gold)

Step-by-step Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, warm the milk over low heat until it is just steaming. Add the unsalted butter and stir until melted. Remove from heat and let it cool to lukewarm.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, yeast, salt, and ground cinnamon. Mix well.
3. Beat in the eggs, orange zest, and vanilla extract. Gradually add the milk mixture, stirring until a dough forms.
4. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm area until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
5. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
6. Punch down the dough and roll it into a rectangle about 10x16 inches.
7. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, chopped pecans, and raisins. Spread the melted butter over the dough rectangle, then sprinkle the sugar-nut mixture evenly on top.
8. Roll the dough into a log starting from the long side. Seal the edge and form it into a ring. Pinch the ends together and place it on a baking sheet.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Allow it to cool on a wire rack.
10. For the icing, mix powdered sugar and fresh orange juice until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake and sprinkle with colored sugars.

Ratings and Comments

Thank you for your rating!