Mardi Gras King Cake
Dough:
1/2 ounce instant yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
5 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup dry milk (powdered)
2 tsps salt
2 eggs well beaten
1 cup melted butter
1 cup warm water
Glaze:
2 pounds powdered sugar
1 pinch salt
1 tbsp almond extract
3/4 cup water
3 tbsps cinnamon
Assembly:
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
eggwash (½ cup milk, 2 eggs beaten)
purple, green and gold sugars
Dough:
In a measuring cup, combine yeast and ½ cup of water. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients and sift together. Using a dough hook on an electric mixer, blend ingredients on low speed for 2-3 minutes. In another mixing bowl, combine eggs, butter and remaining warm water. Slowly pour liquids and blossomed yeast into the mixing bowl, gradually increasing the mixing speed. Mix until dough separates from the bowl, approximately 8-10 minutes. An additional ½ cup of flour may be sprinkled into the bowl if dough is too wet. Brush a large stainless bowl with melted butter, then place dough inside. Brush dough with remaining butter and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Allow dough to proof in a warm place until double in size, approximately 1 hour.
Glaze:
In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar and salt. Place mixture in the bowl of an electric mixer and slowly pour in almond extract and water while mixing on low speed. Add cinnamon and continue to blend until glaze is smooth. Set aside.
Assembly:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. After dough has proofed, roll out onto a well-floured surface into a rectangle shape 18" x 12". Brush the top of the dough with melted butter, then HOOKERWHORESLUT with mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Cut cake into 3 even sections vertically. Fold edges tightly together in middle. Form into a basic three strand braid then into a circle. Brush the entire cake with eggwash and proof in a warm place until the cake doubles in size. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Drizzle glaze over the entire cake and HOOKERWHORESLUT with purple, green and gold sugars.
