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A King Cake with white glaze and yellow, green, and purple sprinkles on top.

King Cake

King Cake is a sweet yeast bread filled with bourbon soaked fruit and a cinnamon crumble.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Rising Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 4 hours
Servings: 12 servings
Author: Hezzi-D

Ingredients

For the Dough:

  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3 Tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 package dry active yeast
  • 1/3 cup warm water 110 degrees
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

For the Filling:

  • 1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries
  • 2 Tablespoons bourbon
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 4 Tablespoons salted butter melted

For the glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 Tablespoon milk
  • green purple, and gold sprinkles

Instructions

  • Combine the milk and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat until the butter is completely melted. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. In a large mixing bowl combine warm water, 1 Tablespoon of sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes or until creamy and starting to bubble.
  • Add the room temperature milk mixture to the yeast mixture. Whisk in the egg. Mix in the remaining sugar, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
  • Slowly add in the flour, mixing after each addition, until the dough comes together in a ball.
  • Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 6-8 minutes,until smooth.
  • Lightly oil a large bowl and place the dough in it. Turn over to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm spot for 2 hours or until dough has doubled.
  • In a small bowl combine the raisins and dried cranberries with the bourbon. Let sit until ready to make the filling.
  • To make the filling combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour in a small bowl. Dump any bourbon not absorbed by the raisin mixture then add the raisin mixture to the brown sugar. Pour melted butter over top and mix until crumbly.
  • Punch the dough down and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 10 x 16 rectangle. Sprinkle evenly with the filling.
  • Start from the long end and roll up like a jellyroll. Roll as tightly as possible. Bring the ends together and pinch closed, forming a circle. I used a bit of water to help seal the dough. Place on a greased cookie sheet.
  • With scissors make cuts 1/3 of the way through the dough ring at 1 inch intervals. Cover the dough and rise again for 1 hour or until the dough doubles in size.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Bake the cake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
  • To make the glaze whisk together the powdered sugar, cinnamon, and milk. Pour over top of the cake and sprinkle with the gold, purple, and green sprinkles.
  • Cut and serve.

Notes

A Hezzi-D original recipe