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Slice of King Cake
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Scratch King Cake Recipe

A scratch version of King Cake made with sour cream.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Keyword King Cake
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 46 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 16 minutes
Servings 10 slices
Author Anna
Cost 5

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sour cream (240 grams)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (50 grams)
  • 2 tablespoons butter (28 grams)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 packet active dry yeast** (2 ¼ teaspoons)
  • ¼ cup warm water 100° to 110°
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • 3 ¼ cups bread flour 14.6 oz/408 grams
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling

  • 4 tablespoons softened butter (56 grams)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (50 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Glaze

  • 2 tablespoons butter (28 grams)
  • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar (240 grams)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • Whole milk as needed 1-2 tablespoons
  • Purple green and yellow colored sugar

Instructions

  • Heat the sour cream, sugar, butter and salt together in a small saucepan over medium heat until butter melts. Let cool to about 110 degrees F.
  • Meanwhile, stir together yeast and ¼ cup warm (115 degrees) water. Let sit for five minutes or until yeast becomes frothy.
  • Put 3 cups of flour in a stand mixer bowl. Add the cooled sour cream mixture and stir well, then stir in the egg, yeast mixture and vanilla. Beat by hand or with paddle attachment until well mixed and all flour is incorporated.
  • Set the bowl on the stand mixer and knead with the dough hook. If dough seems sticky and does not leave the sides, continue adding remaining ¼ cup flour one tablespoon at a time (I used it all). Knead until dough is smooth and elastic.
  • Rub a large bowl generously with butter and put the dough in the bowl. Turn it over to coat with butter, then cover and put in a warm place for 1 hour to rise.
  • Punch down dough and roll into a large rectangle. It should be around 22x12, though mine was more like 20x12. Spread softened butter over rectangle leaving a 1-inch border. Stir together ¼ cup sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle evenly over rectangle. This is also the point where you can put a plastic baby or a bean in it if you choose to do so. I don't recommend it because it's a choking hazard, but it's tradition.
  • Roll up in a jelly-roll fashion starting from the long side. Place dough roll, seam side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet and bring ends of roll together to form an oval ring, moistening and pinching edges together to seal.
  • Cover loosely and let rise for 20 to 30 minutes or until doubled in bulk.
  • Bake at 375° for 14 to 16 minutes or until golden. Slightly cool cake on pan on wire racks (about 10 minutes). Note: You may need to bake up to 25 minutes. If you have an instant read thermometer, it should register about 205 degrees.
  • Let cool (you can ice while warm or let cool completely) and prepare glaze.

Glaze

  • In a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup, melt the butter in the microwave. Add the sugar and stir it around until thick and powdery but still dry. Add the vanilla, then add 1 tablespoon of milk and stir well. Continue adding milk 1 teaspoon at a time until icing is a good consistency for drizzling. Pour over the cake and decorate with colored sugar.