King Cake (Mardi Gras Special)

[Guest guest]

King Cake

 

Recipe Courtesy of Emeril Lagasse

 

 

 

2 packages dry active yeast

1/2 cup sugar

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

5 egg yolks

1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F)

4 to 5 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Vegetable oil

8 ounces cream cheese

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Juice of one lemon

2 tablespoons milk

Purple, green and gold sugar sprinkles

Plastic baby toy

 

Preheat the oven 350 degrees F. Combine the yeast, sugar, butter, and egg yolks

in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the milk. With

the mixer on low speed, beat the mixture for about 4 minutes to dissolve the

yeast. If the yeast mixture doesn't begin to foam after a few minutes, it means

it's not active and will have to be replaced. In a separate large mixing bowl,

combine the flour, salt, nutmeg, and lemon zest. Add this mixture to the yeast

mixture. Mix on low speed until it lightly comes together, then increase the

speed to medium and beat until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the

bowl, forms a ball, and climbs slightly up the dough hook. Remove the dough from

the bowl. Coat the dough with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl and

turn it to oil all sides. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, set in a warm,

draft-free place, and let rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours. Meanwhile,

in a small bowl, combine the cream cheese and 1/2!

cup powdered sugar. Mix well. In another small bowl, combine the remaining

powdered sugar, lemon juice and milk. Mix well and set aside. Turn the dough out

onto a floured surface. Roll the dough out 30 inches long and 6 inches in

diameter. Spread the cream cheese filling across the center of the dough. Bring

the two long edges together and seal all sides completely. Using your hands

shape the dough into a long cylinder and place on a greased baking sheet, seam

side down. Shape the dough into a ring. Place a well-greased 2 pound coffee can

or shortening can in the center of the ring to maintain the shape during baking.

Press the plastic baby toy into the ring from the bottom so that it is

completely hidden by the dough. Cover the ring with a towel and place in a warm,

draft free place. Let the dough rise for about 45 minutes or until the dough

doubles in size. With a sharp knife, make several slits around the top of the

ring. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or unt!

il golden brown. After baking remove the coffee can immediately. Allow the cake

to cool. Drizzle the cake with the sugar glaze. Sprinkle the cake with

sprinkles, alternating colors. Cut the cake into individual pieces and serve.