KING CAKE
Source of Recipe
Rosemary
Recipe Introduction
Tradition holds that if a man finds the surprise in the King's cake, he's named the King of the Krewe. the club that oganizes Mari Gras balls and builds the elaborate floats for the parade. Ia a woman finds it, she usually provides the place for the next party, while the King provides the food. Please warn diners, especially children, that there is a hard object in the cake to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
List of Ingredients
1/2 cup warm water
2 packages active dry yeast
3 1/2 - 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon greated lemon rind
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup soft butter
1 egg lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon milk
1 coin, dried bean, or miniature doll
FOR THE ICING:
3 cups powder (confectioner's) sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 Tablespoon water or more
Green, Purple and yellow sugars*
Available in specialty baking shops. Green, purple, and yellow icing may be sustituted
Recipe
Proof yeast in water for 10 minutes. Combine the flour, sugar, nutmeg, salt and lemon rind in a large bowl. Make a well in the center. Add the yeast mixture, milk, eggs, egg yolks, and combine completely. Beat in the butter until the dough forms a ball. Place on a floured board, incorporating more flour if necessary. Knead until smooth and elastic. Stir dough in well buttered bowl and turn so all surfaces are buttered. Cover with towel and let rise 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in bulk. Brush a baking sheet with butter. Punch the dough down on a lightly floured board. Knead, then roll into a 14 inch cylinder. Place on baking sheet and form into a large ring. Press the trinket into the dough so that it is hidden. Set aside, covered with a towel, to rise 1 1/2 hours. Before baking, brush the top with the egg and milk mixture.
Bake in preheated oven 375 derees for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Beat the icing ingredients until smooth. Spread over top of cake, letting drip down the sides. Immediately sprinkle sugars over icing in 2" wide stripes of purple, green, and yellow strips.
Makes one cake to serve 8 to 12.
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