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Benjamin

Mini King Cakes

These perfectly portioned mini king cakes capture the essence of New Orleans Mardi Gras with their buttery brioche dough, cinnamon filling, and colorful sugars. A fun, kid-friendly dessert that's easier to make at home.
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 53 minutes
Servings: 10 pieces
Course: dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

For the Dough
  • 2 1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast
  • 1 cup Warm Milk 105-115°F
  • 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar divided
  • 1/3 cup Melted Butter divided
  • 1 large Egg
  • 4 cups All-Purpose Flour plus more for dusting
For the Filling
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar packed
  • 2 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
For the Glaze
  • 2 cups Powdered Sugar sifted
  • 1/4 cup Heavy Cream
For the Topping
  • Colored Sanding Sugars purple, green, and gold

Equipment

  • Air Fryer,
  • Large bowl
  • - Whisk
  • Greased bowl
  • Rolling Pin
  • Parchment-lined baking sheet
  • Wire rack
  • Pizza Cutter

Method
 

Prepare the Dough
  1. In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until frothy.
  2. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of melted butter and the egg until well combined.
  3. Gradually add the flour and remaining sugar, stirring until a soft dough forms.
  4. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  5. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a warm cloth, and let rise for 1 hour until doubled in size.
Shape and Fill
  1. Punch down the dough and roll it into a large rectangle.
  2. Brush with remaining melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon-brown sugar mixture.
  3. Cut into strips about 1 inch wide using a pizza cutter. Roll each strip into a rope, twist, and join ends into a circle.
  4. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let rest for 20 minutes while preheating oven or air fryer to 350°F.
Bake and Glaze
  1. Bake for 15-18 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
  2. Whisk powdered sugar and heavy cream to make glaze. Drizzle over cooled cakes and top with colored sugars.

Notes

For the best results, ensure milk is warm but not hot (105-115°F) to avoid killing yeast. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for 5 days. Reheat in microwave for 10 seconds. Freeze unglazed cakes for up to a month.
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