King Cake Sweet Bread (Printable Version)

Festive ring bread with cinnamon filling, vibrant sugar decoration, and a hidden figurine tradition.

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3/4 cup warm milk (110°F)
02 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 1 tsp salt
08 - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
09 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

→ Filling

10 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
11 - 2 tsp ground cinnamon
12 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

→ Icing & Decoration

13 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
14 - 2 to 3 tbsp milk
15 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
16 - Purple, green, and gold colored sugars
17 - Plastic baby figurine (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm milk; let stand until frothy, 5 to 10 minutes.
02 - In a large bowl, mix flour, remaining sugar, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
03 - Add softened butter, eggs, and yeast mixture; blend until dough forms.
04 - Knead on floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic; place in greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled, about 1 to 1.5 hours.
05 - Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
06 - Punch down dough; roll into a 10x20-inch rectangle. Spread softened butter over surface, then evenly sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture.
07 - Roll dough tightly from long side into a log; pinch seam to seal. Form into a ring and place on parchment-lined baking sheet.
08 - Cover and let dough rise until puffed, 45 to 60 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F.
09 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack.
10 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable.
11 - Drizzle icing over cooled cake and immediately sprinkle colored sugars in purple, green, and gold bands.
12 - Optionally insert plastic baby figurine at bottom of cake before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that looks far more complicated than it actually is, which means friends will be genuinely impressed.
  • The surprise element of the hidden baby makes serving it an event, not just dessert.
  • It tastes incredible fresh from the oven but also keeps well, so you can make it ahead without stress.
02 -
  • Your milk temperature matters more than you think—too hot kills the yeast, too cold and nothing rises, so aim for that warm-to-the-touch feeling around 110°F.
  • Don't skip the complete cooling before icing, or your icing will melt and run off into a sad puddle instead of staying put.
  • If you're worried about the baby, you can always skip it and just enjoy the cake for what it is—there's no rule that says the game is mandatory.
03 -
  • Save a piece of dough before filling and bake it alongside your cake as a test—if it browns perfectly, your cake is timed right.
  • If your icing is too thick, add milk one teaspoon at a time. If it's too thin, whisk in a bit more powdered sugar until it coats the back of a spoon.
Go Back