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King Cake on brown paper with Mardi Gras decoration
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4.67 from 3 votes

Mardi Gras King Cake

Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 536kcal
Author Stacey Little

Ingredients

Pastry

  • 1 (16-ounce) box Pillsbury Hot Roll Mix
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 cup hot water (120 to 130 degrees)
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons butter (softened)
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Filling

  • 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese (softened)
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Icing

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons butter (melted)
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
  • purple, green, and yellow sugar sprinkles

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the mix and yeast packet from the hot roll mix with 2 tablespoons sugar.  Add hot water, egg, and butter and stir until combined and the dough starts pulling away from the sides.
  • Turn dough out onto floured surface and form into a ball with floured hands.  Knead the dough for 5 minutes turning frequently. You may need to add additional flour to keep the dough from sticking.
  • Reshape the dough into a ball and cover with a large bowl. Let it rest for 5 minutes.
  • While it is resting make your filling by combining the cream cheese,  powdered sugar, and vanilla in a bowl. Stir until smooth.
  • Once the dough has rested, flour a large area and roll the dough out in a large rectangle sized about 12″X20″.
  • Sprinkle the cinnamon over the dough.
  • Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the dough.
  • Roll the dough up in jelly-roll fashion from the longest side, going across.
  • Transfer the roll to a greased baking sheet or a baking sheet covered with parchment or a silicone baking mat.  Form the roll into an oval shape and pinch the seams and ends together.  Cover with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and let rise for 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • Once the dough has risen, bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool completely.
  • Make the icing by combining 2 cups powdered sugar, melted butter, lemon juice, vanilla, and 2 tablespoons milk.  Icing should be thick, but just pourable.  Add more sugar to thicken it or additional milk to thin.    
  • Drizzle icing over the top when the king cake is cooled and sprinkle with the traditional colored sprinkles - purple, yellow, and green.  

Nutrition

Calories: 536kcal | Carbohydrates: 103g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 475mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 65g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 3mg


* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste.

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