King Cakes

I made these for the after school kids yesterday to celebrate Mardi Gras.  I made a jambalaya pasta for their main meal and these were for dessert.
 This recipe makes two cakes:

6 C. flour
1/2 C. sugar
4-1/2 tsp. rapid rise yeast
4 T. butter softened
1 C. milk
2/3 C. water
2 eggs
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg.

Mix the yeast with the liquids, butter and sugar.  Mix in the dry ingredients and knead until you have a smooth dough.  Cover and let it rise until doubled.  This could take up to two hours.

 Dump the dough on a floured surface and split in two.


Roll it into a large rectangle.

Spread it with the filling.
Sprinkle with chopped pecans.

Filling:

8 oz. block of cream cheese
2 sticks of almond paste (7 oz. each)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 C. lt. brown sugar

Mix this in a food processor until smooth.


 Roll it into a log and place it seam side down on a parchment covered cookie sheet and form it into a circle, pinching it shut.  Brush it with butter and cover it and let it rise until doubled.

 Bake it at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes until golden.  Cool on a rack.

 Make a simple icing using confectioners sugar and milk.  Drizzle it over the cakes.

 Sprinkle it with sugar in the classic Mardi Gras colors.

Green:  Faith

Gold:  Power

Purple: Justice

Comments

Rain said…
Those look so beautiful! You're so creative Joyce :)
Susan said…
AWESOME-SAUCE! What a great way to bring in Mardi Gras! By the way, I love your rolling pin!
Those cakes look delicious and a little bit toxic with those colors :-) :-)

Have a great day!

Christer.

Today blogger refuse to accept my blogname so I'll try an old blogger adress instead.
TARYTERRE said…
LOVING those festive KING CAKES. They look delicious.
Oh, aren't those adorable! Did you put a baby jesus in each one?
chickpea678 said…
Love that you knew and shared the meanings of the traditional mardi gras colors, thank you!