Celebrate the Liturgical Feast of the Epiphany by baking this traditional Louisiana King Cake with a cinnamon sugar filling and made from sourdough. This cake is a house favorite with its sweet filling and glaze and an addictive sourdough tang.
What is a King Cake?
A king cake is a circular cake, bread, or pastry with a sweet filling. Most King Canes are doughnut (or crown) shaped and are topped with an icing or glaze. Other names for King Cake are Three Kings Cake or simply Kings Cake. King Cake is traditionally served on the Feast of the Epiphany and until the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday.
King Cakes can vary widely by region or culture. Some are flat, other have cream cheese or frosting fillings, and some use fresh fruit both inside the cake and on top. The origin of King Cakes is also debated, but believed to be adapted from a secular Roman tradition. However, the baking and enjoyment of this dessert is enjoyed by many modern Catholics around the world.
As an American Catholic family we enjoy celebrating the Epiphany with a Louisiana style King Cake decked out in the festive colors of purple, green, and gold. Even within Louisiana king cake fillings will vary widely. The most popular where we live in central Louisiana are cream cheese and cinnamon sugar.
Hi there! If you’re new here, my name is Brianna. I am a catholic convert and mother of three. My family lives in Louisiana and we have a passion for celebrating the saints and bringing the traditions of the Catholic Church into our home. You can read more about me, my family, and my mission for this blog here.
My favorite king cakes have always been the ones with cinnamon filling, so that’s what I’ll be sharing with you today. Also, the recipe I am sharing with you uses a sourdough starter so this recipe is gut friendly!
Ingredients needed for a Louisiana King Cake
7 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sourdough starter
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 cup honey
Cinnamon Filling:
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
Glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pinch of salt
Colored sugar sprinkles to top
How to Make a Louisiana King Cake
Mix wet ingredients together in large bowl. Add Flour in 1/2 cup increments, stirring between additions.
When all ingredients are incorporated: knead by hand or in a stand mixer until a dough forms. This will take about 10 minutes with a stand mixer. If dough is too sticky you can add ¼ cup of flour and mix until dough holds its shape.
Form dough into a ball and transfer into a greased bowl. Cover tightly with plastic or beeswax wrap. Allow to rise overnight (8-12 hours) until dough doubles in size.
After dough has risen, transfer from the bowl to a clean workspace. Flatten the dough with a rolling pin into a rectangular shape about ¼-½ inch thick.
Mix cinnamon and brown sugar together for filling. Spread evenly over the flattened dough.
Starting with one of the long ends of the dough, roll the dough onto itself until it forms a cylindrical shape with a spiral interior.
Transfer the dough into a greased bundt pan. Cover tightly and allow to rise 4-6 hours.
After dough rises, bake in the oven 35 minutes at 400 ˚F for 35 Minutes.
Mix glaze ingredients together in a medium bowl.
Remove cake from bundt pan and allow to cool. Slowly scoop or pour glaze over the top of the cake. Glaze is very thin and will harden slightly as it sits. You can apply multiple layers of the glaze until you reach desired thickness. (I prefer about 4 layers).
While the last layer of glaze is still wet, add sugar sprinkles in desired pattern.
Cut cake and serve room temperature or slightly warmed.
Check out the printable recipe card for this Louisiana King Cake below.
Louisiana Style King Cake with Cinnamon Filling (Sourdough Version)
Equipment
- 1 Bundt Pan
- 1 Rolling Pin
- 2 Large Bowls
- 1 Medium Bowl
- Plastic or Beeswax Wrap
- Stand Mixer Optional
Ingredients
King Cake Dough
- 7 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup sourdough starter
- ½ cup melted coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ½ cup honey
Cinnamon Filling
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- ½ cup brown sugar
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
- 6 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
Additional
- sugar sprinkles for decorating (purple, gold, green)
- 1 plastic baby Jesus
Instructions
Baking the Cake
- Mix wet ingredients together in large bowl. Add Flour in 1/2 cup increments, stirring between additions.1 cup sourdough starter, ½ cup melted coconut oil, 1 tablespoon salt, ½ cup honey, 7 cups all purpose flour
- When all ingredients are incorporated: knead by hand or in a stand mixer until a dough forms. This will take about 10 minutes with a stand mixer. If dough is too sticky you can add ¼ cup of flour and mix until dough holds its shape.
- Form dough into a ball and transfer into a greased bowl. Cover tightly with plastic or beeswax wrap. Allow to rise overnight (8-12 hours) until dough doubles in size.
- After dough has risen, transfer from the bowl to a clean workspace. Flatten the dough with a rolling pin into a rectangular shape about ¼-½ inch thick.
- Mix cinnamon and brown sugar together for filling. Spread evenly over the flattened dough.2 tablespoons cinnamon, ½ cup brown sugar
- Starting with one of the long ends of the dough, roll the dough onto itself until it forms a cylindrical shape with a spiral interior.
- Transfer the dough into a greased bundt pan. Cover tightly and allow to rise 4-6 hours.
- After dough rises, bake in the oven 35 minutes at 400 °F
Decorating
- Mix glaze ingredients together in a medium bowl.2 cups powdered sugar, 6 tablespoons whole milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 pinch salt
- Remove cake from bundt pan and allow to cool. Slowly scoop or pour glaze over the top of the cake. Glaze is very thin and will harden slightly as it sits. You can apply multiple layers of the glaze until you reach desired thickness. (I prefer about 4 layers).
- While the last layer of glaze is still wet, add sugar sprinkles in desired pattern.sugar sprinkles for decorating (purple, gold, green)
- Add baby to bottom of the cake.1 plastic baby Jesus
- Cut cake and serve room temperature or slightly warmed.