King Cake Sweet Bread (Printable)

Festive ring-shaped sweet bread decorated with purple, green, and gold sugars, featuring a hidden surprise inside.

# What You'll 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 light brown sugar, packed
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 - 1 plastic baby figurine (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm milk; let stand until frothy, 5 to 10 minutes.
02 - Combine flour, remaining sugar, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add softened butter, eggs, and yeast mixture; mix until dough forms.
03 - Knead dough on floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl; cover and let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1.5 hours.
04 - Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
05 - Punch down dough and roll into 10 by 20-inch rectangle. Spread softened butter over surface and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.
06 - Roll dough tightly from long side into log; pinch seam to seal. Shape into ring, connecting ends, and place on parchment-lined baking sheet.
07 - Cover dough and let rise until puffed, 45 to 60 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F.
08 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack.
09 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and pourable; drizzle over cooled ring.
10 - Sprinkle colored sugars in alternating bands of purple, green, and gold while icing is wet.
11 - Optionally, carefully place plastic baby figurine inside bottom of ring before serving.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • It looks absolutely showstopping with those jewel-toned sugars, but it's actually forgiving enough for home bakers to nail it.
  • The hidden baby inside creates this genuine moment of suspense and laughter when someone discovers it—dessert becomes an event.
  • The warm spices in the dough remind you of comfort while the bright icing feels celebratory, even if you're not throwing a party.
02 -
  • Your dough temperature matters enormously—if your kitchen is cold, proof it in a turned-off oven with the light on, which creates a gentle warmth that helps it rise without overdrying.
  • Don't skip the cooling step before glazing; warm cake will make the icing melt right off, and you'll lose all those beautiful colors.
  • The person who finds the baby inside is traditionally supposed to host next year's celebration—so think carefully about whether you want to hide it well or not.
03 -
  • Mix your dry ingredients the night before so your morning assembly is faster and you're less likely to make mistakes when you're still reaching for coffee.
  • If your dough seems sticky during kneading, resist the urge to add more flour—sometimes a slightly sticky dough creates a more tender crumb once it's baked.
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