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King Cake with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe

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3.8 from 12 reviews

This King Cake with Cream Cheese Filling is a classic New Orleans treat that beautifully balances traditional lemon and nutmeg flavors with a tender, rich crumb. Combining a soft, sweet dough with a luscious cream cheese filling, it’s perfect for celebrations and pairs wonderfully with coffee. Best enjoyed fresh but still delightful a day later, this recipe brings the festive spirit of Mardi Gras to your table.

Ingredients

Sweet Dough:

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, or more if needed
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 1 (0.25 ounce) package rapid rise yeast
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • ¾ cup Bulgarian-style buttermilk

Cream Cheese Filling:

  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Egg Wash:

  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup water

Icing:

  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 4 teaspoons corn syrup
  • 4 teaspoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice, or as needed

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dough mixture: Combine the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs thoroughly.
  2. Heat buttermilk and butter: Melt the butter over low heat, then whisk in the buttermilk and warm the mixture until it reaches 120°F (49°C). Slowly add this warm buttermilk mixture into the beaten eggs, whisking continuously, then allow it to cool to 110°F (43°C).
  3. Mix the dough: On medium-low speed, incorporate the egg and buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients, mixing until a firm, elastic dough forms—about 10 minutes. If the dough sticks to the sides of the bowl, add up to ¼ cup more flour to reach the right consistency.
  4. Knead the dough: Turn the dough onto a work surface and knead it by hand for 1 minute. Shape into a ball and place in a butter-coated bowl, turning once to coat all surfaces with butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm area until doubled in size, approximately 2 hours.
  5. Preheat oven and prepare pan: Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and butter the outer edge of an 8-inch cake pan.
  6. Make the cream cheese filling: In a bowl, stir together cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, flour (optional), lemon juice, vanilla extract, and nutmeg until smooth and creamy.
  7. Shape the dough and fill: Punch down the risen dough and place it on a lightly floured piece of parchment paper. Roll it out into a 10×28-inch rectangle. Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
  8. Form the cake ring: Using the parchment paper to assist, roll the dough lengthwise into a log and pinch the seam tightly to seal the filling inside. Carefully wrap the dough around the edge of the prepared cake pan forming a ring, pinching ends together to close.
  9. Apply egg wash: Whisk together 1 egg and ¼ cup water to create an egg wash and brush it evenly over the surface of the dough ring.
  10. Bake the king cake: Place the ring on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes.
  11. Prepare the icing: While the cake cools, combine confectioners’ sugar, corn syrup, and milk in a bowl. Add lemon juice gradually until the icing reaches a thick but pourable consistency.
  12. Decorate and serve: Drizzle the lemon glaze over the cooled king cake. Optionally decorate with purple, green, and gold sugar and insert a king cake baby or trinket from underneath before serving.

Notes

  • The cake is best consumed the same day but remains tasty the following day if covered properly.
  • Optional decorations include colored sugars in purple, green, and gold to honor traditional Mardi Gras colors.
  • You can safely insert a king cake baby or other small trinket into the cake from underneath the ring before decorating.
  • The 2 tablespoons of flour in the filling help to stabilize it but can be omitted if preferred.
  • If the dough is sticky during kneading, add flour gradually to avoid over-drying.

Find it online: https://lauracooks.com/king-cake-with-cream-cheese-filling-recipe/