My first King Cake

I absolutely LOVE King Cake!  For you Northeners  that have no clue what I am talking about.  King Cakes are part of Mardi Gras tradition and in New Orleans and surrounding areas.  Read more on the history on wiki here.  They typically are sold for just a couple of months during Mardi Gras season.  For a King Cake lover like myself that is not a good thing!  They are around $8 at the store!  OUCH!  I would try to squeeze in eating many King Cakes while I could get them in years past... I will shamelessly admit that on an occassion or two I would pretty much eat the whole thing myself, because I didn't like sharing, I mean the kids didn't want any... yeah that's it!

Mardi Gras King Cake

Inspired when I saw this recipe on Southern Plate yesterday... Well today I kept thinking about making one.  In Christy's Recipe she used frozen bread dough.  I pretty much make as much homemade as I can though so I made my dough in my bread machine which was easy peasy!  Now if you don't have a bread machine you can also make your dough by hand (first proofing your yeast, first 3 ingredients)  If you have any questions let me know!  For my dough recipe I altered my Easy Pizza Dough Recipe

Here is the run down:

Dough Recipe: (or use frozen bread dough, thawed of course)

• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm warm
• 2 TBS sugar
• 2 1/2 cups flour (I used bread flour but all-purpose flour would work ok too)
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 TBS Vegetable Oil

Filling Recipe:

• 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
• 2 TBS lemon juice
• 1 cup powdered sugar 

Glaze Recipe:

• 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2-3 tbs milk (add just enough to get to a pourable consistancy)
• 1 tsp vanilla  

I did my bread in the bread machine on the dough cycle.  (If you are kneading by hand work the dough to a good consistency and set in a warm draft free spot for the first rise) allow an hour or so for this

Then, turn dough to a lightly floured surface.  gently work it into a large... long rectangle shape.  (this will be your ring so get it good and long... mine was probably around 18-20" x 6" or so.  Ok... read on in the captions of the photos.  Sometimes seeing a picture is easier!

Beautiful dough :)

Use colored sugar.  You can make your own very easily by adding several drops into some sugar... Do this in a jar and shake vigorously.  I had green and yellow but needed purple.... I don't think I will ever buy colored sugar again!

This is our purple.  eh... not the best but will do! We used Blue and Red.  Next time I will try green and red and see how that goes

I shaped into a long rectangle and just patted the dough out with my fingers

Mix filling cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon juice

Slap on the cream cheese in the center  (or other filling)  I added blueberries to 1/2 that were partially frozen per eldest child's request :)  Then gently fold thetop of the dough to the center and the bottom over that.  making sure to seal the filling in

All rolled up!  Transfer to cookie sheer or baking stone carefully.  Cover with damp cloth in a warm spot for 45 minutes to an hour until doubled

Here it is all doubled up and ready to bake!  Bake on 350 F about 30-35 minutes or until golden brown

Golden brown!  I transfered mine to a glass plate to cool.

Once cooled you can hide a little plastic baby somewhere inside.  Just push it thru the underside or side, somewhere inconspicuous!  Drizzle glaze on top and sprinkle with colored sugar! 
Traditional Mardi Gras colors are Gold, Green, and Purple. 

More menu Ideas

Bread Machine YUMMY White Bread

1 cup  warm water
2 TBS sugar
2 1/4 tsp bread machine yeast
1/4 cup veg oil
3 cups bread flour
1 1/2 tsp salt

Add water, sugar, and yeast.  Allow to proof 10 minutes until foamy.  Then add oil, flour, and salt.  Select your basic setting and press start!  Mine takes about 3 hours from start to finish.  Many times I will set after lunch and run errands.  By the time the kids are home from school it is near the end of it's cooking and we have fresh bread with our dinner!

I like to add 2 tsp of garlic, & 2 tsp parsley for an Italian Bread to serve with pasta's

By the way, I was one of those people who thought a bread machine was a complete waste of money and space...  HA! Thanks to my in-laws for picking up extra's at yard sales and giving me one!  I am so hooked now! 

Amazing Yeast Rolls, bread machine

1 cup warm water
2 1/4 tsp yeast
4 TBS sugar
2 TBS Melted margarine or butter
3 Cups Bread Flour
1 tsp Salt
1/4 Cup dry powdered milk

Place ingrdients in bread machine... set to dough cycle... once complete turn to lightly floured surface...  pat dough into a rectangle shape... with a pastry cutter cut in half then cut each section into 6 squares... giving you 12 total...  you may round them slightly while moving to a cookie sheet... space them evenly apart to fill your cookie sheet. cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled...  45-60 minutes.

bake on 350° about 12-15 minutes or until browned

Depending what I am serving these with sometimes I will drizzle with honey before baking... or add 2 tsp garlic powder or minced garlic to the dough cycle.  or you can brush with butter after they come out... these are divine!

Soft Pretzels

makes 8 large pretzels

1 Cup Warm Water
1/4 Cup sugar
2 1/4 tsp yeast
1 tsp salt
1 egg
2 TBS softened margarine or butter
3 1/4 Cups all purpose flour

put ingredients in bread machine on dough cycle.  Once finished turn out to a floured surface.  Divide dough in half... then cut each half into 4 sections.   Roll into 8 long ropes.  then shape as pretzels or cut for nuggets...  place on a greased cookie sheet, cover with damp towel, let rise in a warm spot until doubled... about 30 minutes.

preheat oven to 400°

once they have risen boil some water in a shallow pot... at boil add some baking soda...  i didn't measure... somewhere around 1/4 cup though...  cook about a minute on each side and remove each pretzel with a slotted spatula back to the cookie sheets.  Bake about 15 minutes until browned.

if you like you can add course salt before baking...  or my kids like these brushed with butter and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar...  do that after baking :)

Sweet Honey French Bread

1 Cup water
1 TBS honey
1 TBS olive oil
1 tsp Salt
2 tsp sugar
3 Cups bread flour
2 1/4 tsp yeast

Put in bread machine in order listed...  when it gets to the bake cycle you can also drizzle on more honey if you'd like... and I think you will like :)

Cinnamon Rolls OMG!

1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup water (warmed together)
2 eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup margarine
4 1/2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

Filling
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/2 stick margarine

Ooey Gooey Topping
3 ounces cream cheese softened... (*do not use fat free of any sort... trust me... it will be a yucky chunky mess... why they even sell it is beyond me :-)
1/4 cup margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt


Place all ingredients in bread machine in order recommended by manufacturer. Select DOUGH cycle press Start. My dough cycle takes about 1 1/2 hours... I usually stop it at 30 minutes though... of course you can also knead by hand... or I have also used my kitchen aid mixer with dough hook... either way you will want to make them... if doing by hand proof your yeast first (warm milk, water, add white sugar and yeas... let sit 5 minutes or so til foamy)

In separate bowl soften margarine.. then add cinnamon and brown sugar. Mix well with a rubber spatula...

Now to the good part... if you want to make dough ahead or find you need to stop you can pop your dough in the fridge at this point... cover in bowl with saran wrap sprayed with nonstick spray.

Next turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and roll into a 16x24 rectangle. Spread dough with margarine/brown sugar mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in lightly greased 9x13 pan. Cover and let rise until almost doubled (depending on temp 30 min 1 hour). Have patience.... these are well worth it! At this point you can also flash freeze for baking later... I am experimenting with this so will update...

Preheat oven to 400°F

Bake rolls for 20-30 minutes. Time may vary based on your baking dish used. I have only baked in a deep dish and it requires close to 30 minutes... just watch them when they start to brown on top pull them out... if you baking dish is more shallow the baking time will be less than 30 :-)

Optional Topping.....
Mix softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on rolls hot out out the oven. If you have picky children like I do you can just cover 1/2 with the topping.... all the better for MY HALF... enjoy

Italian French Bread Machine

2 ¼ tsp yeast, active dry
7/8 cups warm water
1 TBS Brown Sugar
4 Cups flour

1½ tsp salt
1 TBS Olive Oil 

cornmeal to sprinkle on baking sheet

Put ingredients in Bread Machine.  I do mine in the order listed... You may refer to your bread machine for what they recommend as well..  Select "Dough" cycle and start.  My dough cycle is about 1 hour 30 minutes.

After the dough is done... punch down on a lightly floured surface.  Cut in half and form 2 loaves... Shape about 18 inches long... I like to twist mine then lay on my baking stone that is sprinkled with cornmeal.  Cover with a damp towel and let rise 45 min-1 hour or until doubled.


Preheat oven 375 degrees.


You may do an egg wash here... I never do but if you want a shiny look go for it :) Mix egg white with a little water and brush on.  You can also make "slits" in the loaves if you like... I don't bother with it either... Call me a lazy bread maker!

Place in oven.
Bake about 30-35 minutes until golden brown and loaves sound hollow when you tap them.
ENJOY!

Easy Pizza Dough

2 tsp active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tbs olive oil
2 ½ cup bread flour

I've tried many different pizza crust recipes and this one is not only our favorite, it's also one of the quickest to make. The pizza, from start to finish, can be ready to pop in the oven in less than 15 minutes.
(*Update* I now do this pizza dough in my bread machine and it works great!  You can do it by hand as well :)

Dissolve the yeast in the water. Add the rest of the ingredients in and mix.
Dump onto a floured surface
Knead into a smooth dough (five minutes or so).

Roll out and press down onto a greased pizza pan.
This can also be used to make Calzone or Stromboli
Add toppings. (Have fun and be creative with this! Our favorite  is pepperoni with pineapple :)


bake at 450 F. for around 12-15 minutes until the crust looks crispy and lightly browned.