Mardi Gras Cream Cheese filled King Cake

By cdboss

Ingredients

• Filling:
• 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast or 1 package instant yeast
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter softened (1/2 stick)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• grated zest of one lemon (1 tablespoon)
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 10 oz. cream cheese
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Icing:
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• colored sugars (green, purple and yellow)

Details

Servings 4
Preparation time 90mins
Cooking time 110mins
Adapted from gourmetgirl1.blogspot.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Heat milk to 105-110 degrees in a small saucepan over low heat. Place milk in the bowl of a standing mixer, add yeast and stir to combine. Allow milk mixture to rest for about 10 minutes or until frothy.

2. Beat the egg in a small bowl and add to milk mixture. Then add 2 1/2 cups flour, butter, sugar, salt, nutmeg and lemon zest. With the dough hook on low speed, mix until dough comes together. The dough will be slightly sticky, not too wet. If the dough seems very moist you may add up to 1/2 cup additional flour 1 tablespoon at a time. (having made my dough twice using both amounts of flour, I found less flour worked best as I incorporated a little extra flour when kneading it by hand).

3. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for a few minutes until dough is soft and smooth. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a towel or plastic wrap. Allow dough to rise in a warm and draft-free place for about an hour, or until doubled in size. (Since it is quite a cold day today and my house is a little drafty I turned on the oven and sat the bowl on the range).

4. Make filling by beating the cream cheese, vanilla, and sugar together with a mixer until fluffy then set aside.

5. Lay dough on lightly floured surface, punch down and roll into a 20" by 10" rectangle. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly on one half of the dough, then fold other half over to cover. Pinch dough together to seal in cream cheese. Make a ring and pinch ends together, the ring can be a circle or oval. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet, cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rose for 45 minutes.

6. In 375 degree oven bake king cake for 20 minutes or until slightly browned. Remove from oven and set a side to cool. I add the bean at this point by making a small slit underneath the cake with a paring knife.

7. Mix icing ingredients together and whisk until smooth. Drizzle icing heavily over king cake, and while still wet, sprinkle with colored sugars.