apple filled king cake
This Apple Filled King Cake is very popular and so easy to make at home. Of course, it can be made without the filling for a delicious cinnamon roll flavored cake. The tradition of having King Cake Parties has evolved over time, and the one who "gets the baby" hosts the next King Cake party. Today's King Cakes are have evolved into a festive rich danish dough, some with fillings, and a plastic baby hidden inside. The top of the ring or oval cake is then covered with a sugar glaze and granulated sugar toppings in the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
Two of our favorite things about Mardi Gras are beads and King Cake. Using frozen bread dough takes the stress and time out of making homemade dough. Once baked, the bread is very soft. The warm cinnamon apple pie filling is drool-worthy. A must-make for Mardi Gras. Try some of the other combinations Donna suggests... they sound amazing!
Ingredients For apple filled king cake
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1loaf frozen bread dough (or your own homemade bread dough)
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1 stickbutter, melted or very soft
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1/2 csugar
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1/4 ccinnamon
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1 canapple pie filling
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1 cpowdered sugar
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few drops milk or water
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colored sugars; purple, green, yellow
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plastic baby
How To Make apple filled king cake
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1Place frozen bread doughs into an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap until thawed out.
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2Roll out on a floured surface into a large rectangle, at least 10 x 18 or as large as you can without tearing the dough. Gently brush with melted or very soft butter leaving a 1-inch border around edges.
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3Combine cinnamon and sugar. Sprinkle evenly over dough, avoiding edges so that ends will seal.
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4Spread most of the apple pie filling along the center of the dough, longways, stopping at least an inch from then ends.
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5*(See Note) Take one end of the dough and fold it all the way over to the other side of the dough. Seal edges with wet fingers. Gently roll the dough from the center where the filling is, rolling towards the sealed edge, making a long tube and keeping the filling from coming out of the ends.
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6Place on a parchment-lined pan, seam down with ends of roll meeting to form a circle or oval. Pinch the ends together. Use water if necessary to make the ends stick together.
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7Spray the top of bread lightly with cooking spray and cover with plastic wrap for about 45 minutes or until it has doubled in size. I put a butter or Cool Whip tub to keep the hole open while it rises, otherwise, it will completely close up while it's baking. (You can skip the rising step if you're in a hurry, but the King Cake won't get as light and fluffy.)
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8Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes. Hide the baby from underneath after baking.
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9Combine powdered sugar with just enough milk or water to make a thick icing that's just thin enough to spread.
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10Quickly pour or spread icing over hot King Cake then sprinkle sections with purple, green, and yellow sugar before the icing dries. You can buy pre-colored decorating sugar or make your own by shaking granulated sugar with a few of drops of liquid food color in a mason jar.
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11*NOTES: For unfilled King Cakes, some bakeries braid their bread dough or make two long ropes and twist the two together then form a circle or oval before baking. You can cut the bread dough into two or three long strips, then spread with cinnamon sugar before rolling, twisting, or braiding if desired.
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12FILLED KING CAKES: Instead of, or in addition to, the cinnamon sugar, spread one of these fillings over the plain bread dough and roll-up. Bake as shown above. Cream Cheese Filled: 2 (8 oz) blocks cream cheese, softened 1 cup powdered sugar 2 tsp vanilla Combine with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Spread down the long edge of plain bread dough and roll-up. Bake as directed above. Decorate as directed above. Chocolate Filled: 1/2 cup vegetable shortening (Crisco) 8 oz. unsalted butter (softened) 1 cup cocoa powder 4 cups powdered sugar (sifted) 7 Tbsp heavy cream Cream all ingredients together and spread along the long edge and roll up from the filled edge. Bake as directed above. Decorate as directed above. Fruit Filled: 1 (16 oz) can of Apple, Cherry, Peach, Lemon, Strawberry, Raspberry, or Blueberry Pie Filling 1 tsp vanilla (Apple, Cherry, Peach) 1 tsp cinnamon (Apple, Cherry, Peach) 1/2 cup sugar (Cherry) 1 Tablespoons cornstarch (Cherry) Spread filling down the long edge of bread dough and roll up from fruit filling side. Bake as directed above. Decorate as directed above.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!