King Me!

My Mardi Gras King Cake!

I used the dough from my Betty Crocker bread machine cinnamon rolls recipe, and modified the filling recipe from Country Woman magazine (February/March 2012) "The King of Cakes"

DOUGH:
3/4 cup water, plus 2 tablespoons

2 tablespoons butter, softened

2 1/2 cups bread flour (I use 1/2 cup white whole wheat, 2 cups bread flour)

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon bread machine yeast

FILLING:

1 8 ounce package Neufchatel Reduced Fat cream cheese

2 tablespoons confectioner's sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 1/2 tablespoons butter, softened

5 teaspoons cinnamon and 1 teaspoon Penzeys Cake Spice, or 6 teaspoons cinnamon

ICING:

1 - 2 cups confectioner's sugar - depending if you want to drizzle or spread

1 to 2 tablespoons skim milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Yellow, Green and Purple sprinkles

Tiny plastic baby or pecan half - the lucky person who finds it in their slice becomes King (or Queen!) for the day and can expect a year of good fortune. And bring the cake for the next gathering! Insert from underneath after baking.

Use your machine's dough setting, then divide dough into four balls. Roll out approximately 14" x 4"

In small bowl, beat the cream cheese, confectioner's sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread over rolled out dough.

In another bowl, stir the brown sugar, butter and cinnamon until crumbly. Sprinkle over cream cheese.

Roll long ends together and attach ends to make a ring. Let rise in warm oven* for about 1 to 1 hour fifteen minutes or until doubled. (*my oven's lowest setting is 170, I preheat while I'm preparing the rings and then turn off)

Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes.

Mix icing ingredients together and spread over cakes. Sprinkle colored sugar on top.

Serve and enjoy while still warm (also tastes great at room temperature).

I made four 6" cakes with this recipe. A perfect size to eat one and give the others away to hungry friends! You can also make a single large one or even 2 medium size.

Filling! Ready to pop into the oven to rise --->