King Cake Sweet Bread (Print Version)

A festive ring-shaped sweet bread with cinnamon filling and colorful sugar decoration.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3/4 cup warm milk (110°F)
02 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 1 tsp salt
08 - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
09 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

→ Filling

10 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
11 - 2 tsp ground cinnamon
12 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

→ Icing & Decoration

13 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
14 - 2 to 3 tbsp milk
15 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
16 - Purple, green, and gold colored sugars
17 - 1 plastic baby figurine (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm milk; let stand until frothy, 5 to 10 minutes.
02 - In a large bowl, mix flour, remaining sugar, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
03 - Add softened butter, eggs, and yeast mixture to dry ingredients; mix until a dough forms.
04 - Knead on a floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
05 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1.5 hours.
06 - Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
07 - Punch down dough and roll into a 10 by 20-inch rectangle; spread softened butter evenly over surface and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.
08 - Roll dough tightly from the long side into a log; pinch seam to seal and shape into a ring connecting the ends; place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
09 - Cover and let rise until puffed, 45 to 60 minutes; preheat oven to 350°F.
10 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown; cool completely on a rack.
11 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable.
12 - Drizzle icing over cooled ring; immediately sprinkle colored sugars in alternating bands of purple, green, and gold while icing is wet.
13 - If desired, carefully insert the plastic baby figurine into the bottom of the ring before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The dough comes together in your hands like it's been waiting to be made, soft and forgiving even if you're not a bread person.
  • Decorating it feels like you're throwing your own tiny Mardi Gras party right there in your kitchen, no beads required.
  • There's genuine excitement when someone discovers that hidden baby—it becomes an instant memory, not just dessert.
02 -
  • Temperature matters more than you'd think—warm milk, room temperature eggs, and a draft-free rising spot are non-negotiable if you want the dough to cooperate.
  • Don't skip the complete cooling step before icing; warm cake will melt the icing into a puddle instead of a glaze, and the colored sugars need that wet-but-set surface to stick.
  • If you accidentally find the baby while baking and it melts, fish it out immediately and swap it for a fresh one before serving—safety and tradition both matter.
03 -
  • Keep your colored sugars in separate small bowls and apply them section by section while the icing is still wet—it's easier than wrestling with multiple shakers and you get cleaner color bands.
  • If your kitchen is cold, turn on the oven light and crack the door open slightly to create a warm proof box for the rises—patience matters but so does not waiting three hours.
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