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Cream Cheese Stuffed King Cake

A delightful twist on a classic, this Cream Cheese Stuffed King Cake features fluffy dough, rich cream cheese filling, and cinnamon sweetness, perfect for celebrations like Mardi Gras.
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Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 12 pieces
Course: Dessert, Sweet Treat
Cuisine: American, Celebration
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the dough
  • 1 cup whole milk heated to 100-110 degrees F
  • 2.5 teaspoons active dry yeast for blooming
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter melted (1 stick)
  • 0.25 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 600 grams all-purpose flour about 4.5 cups, plus more for dusting
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 zest lemon for flavoring
For the fillings
  • 0.75 cup unsalted butter softened (1.5 sticks)
  • 0.5 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 16 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
For the icing
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup purple, green, and gold sanding sugar for decorating
For brushing
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Two hours before you start, take out the eggs, butter, and cream cheese to soften.
  2. To bloom the yeast, heat the milk to 100-110 degrees F, and pour it into a stand mixer. Sprinkle yeast over warmed milk and let it sit for 10 minutes until bubbling.
  3. Grease a large bowl for the dough proofing.
Dough Making
  1. For the dough, add the eggs, melted butter, white sugar, and vanilla extract to the stand mixer. Mix with the dough hook until combined.
  2. Sprinkle in the flour, salt, cinnamon, and lemon zest. Mix until the dough forms a smooth, slightly tacky ball.
  3. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 3-5 minutes, then place it in a greased bowl. Cover and let it rise for 1 hour.
Filling Preparation
  1. For the cinnamon filling, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl.
  2. For the cream cheese filling, beat the softened cream cheese, white sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon juice until smooth and pipeable.
Forming the Cake
  1. After proofing, turn the dough onto a floured surface and cut it in half. Roll each piece into a 10 x 18 inch rectangle.
  2. Spread half of the softened butter and sprinkle half of the cinnamon mixture on each rectangle. Pipe half of the cream cheese filling along one long end of each rectangle.
  3. Roll the dough into a log, seal the seams, and stretch each roll to 24 inches. Twist the two rolls together into an oval shape and seal the ends.
  4. Cover and let it rise again for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Baking and Icing
  1. Brush with egg wash and bake for 30 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool before icing.
  2. For the icing, mix milk, lemon juice, and vanilla, then sift in powdered sugar. Pour over the cooled king cake and decorate with sanding sugar.

Notes

Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature for the best results. Don't skip the rising times; they are crucial for fluffy dough. Use colorful sanding sugar or sprinkles to make the cake festive. Experiment with different fillings like fruit or chocolate to change up the flavors.