Louisiana Style King Cake with Cinnamon Filling (Sourdough Version)
This is a simple and easy recipe for a homemade King Cake with Cinnamon filling. King Cakes are made throughout the world with a variety of shapes, fillings, and toppings. This version of the King Cake is representative of the sweet seasonal treat found in Louisiana. The King Cake originated as a celebratory dessert to serve between the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and Ash Wednesday. Including a baby Jesus in the King Cake is considered good luck for whoever finds it - but remains an optional tradition. This king cake features a soft and tangy bread with a sweet cinnamon sugar filling, topped with a light glaze and purple, green, and gold sprinkles.
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.