King Cake

Ingredients

Dough

• 1/4 cup butter

• 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 (1/4 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1/2 cup warm water (100 to 110 degrees)
• 2 eggs
• 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

Cream Cheese Filling

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened (16 ounces total)

• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Colored Frosting

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 drops green food coloring
• 2 drops yellow food coloring
• 2 drops blue food coloring
• 2 drops red food coloring

Colored sugars

• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 drops green food coloring
• 2 drops yellow food coloring
• 2 drops red food coloring
• 2 drops blue food coloring

Directions

1. 1

   Cook first 4 ingredients in a saucepan over low heat, stirring often, until butter melts; Cool mixture to 100 degrees to 110 degrees.

2. 2

   Dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in 1/2 cup warm water in a large bowl; let stand 5 minutes; Add butter mixture, eggs, and 2 cups flour; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until smooth; Gradually stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.

3. 3

   Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes; Place in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease top; Cover and let rise in a warm place (85 degrees), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.

4. 4

   Using an electric mixer, mix cream cheese until smooth; Add egg and blend well; Add sugar, salt and vanilla and mix until smooth and creamy; Set aside.

5. 5

   Punch dough down; divide in half; Turn 1 portion out onto a lightly floured surface; roll to a 28- x 10-inch rectangle; Spread half each of cream cheese mixture on dough; Roll dough, jellyroll fashion, starting at long side; Place dough roll, seam side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet; Bring ends together to form an oval ring, moistening and punching edges together to seal; Repeat with remaining dough and cream cheese mixture.

6. 6

   Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, 20 minutes or until doubled in bulk.

7. 7

   Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden.

8. 8

   Decorate with bands of Colored Frostings, and sprinkle with Colored Sugars.

9. 9

   COLORED FROSTINGS: Stir together powdered sugar and melted butter; Add milk to reach desired consistency for drizzling; stir in vanilla; Divide frosting into 3 batches, tinting 1 green, 1 yellow, and combining red and blue food coloring for purple frosting.

10. 10

    COLORED SUGARS: Place 1/2 cup sugar and drop of green food coloring in a zip-top plastic bag; seal; Shake and squeeze vigorously to evenly mix color with sugar; Repeat procedure with 1/2 cup sugar and yellow food coloring; For purple, combine 1 drop red and 1 drop blue food coloring before adding to remaining 1/2 cup sugar.