King Cake

• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 (.25 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1/2 cup warm water (100 to 110 degrees F.)
• 2 eggs
• 6-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
• Colored Frostings (see below)
• Colored Sugars (see below)
• Dried pea, bean, or 1-inch tall plastic or ceramic baby (optional, see Note)

  Frosting:

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Colored sugars:
• 1-1/2 cups white sugar

Directions

1. Cook butter or margarine, sour cream, sugar, and salt in a saucepan over low heat, stirring often, until butter melts.
   Cool mixture to 100 degrees to 110 degrees F.
   
   
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. 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. Stir together 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon; set aside.
   
   
5. Punch dough down; divide in half
   .
   
6. Turn 1 portion out onto a lightly floured surface; roll to a 28- x 10-inch rectangle.
   Spread half each of cinnamon mixture and softened butter 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 pinching edges together to seal.
   Repeat with remaining dough, cinnamon mixture, and butter.
   
   
7. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, 20 minutes or until doubled in bulk.
   
   
8. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden.
   Decorate with bands of Colored Frostings, and sprinkle with Colored Sugars.
   
   
9. Frosting:
10. Stir together powdered sugar and melted butter.
    Add milk to reach desired consistency for drizzling; stir in vanilla.
    
    
11. Colored Sugars:
    
    
12. Place 1/2 cup sugar and drop of green food coloring in a jar or zip-top plastic bag; seal.
    Shake 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.

Recipe Compliments of:
In Our Kitchen
in-our-kitchen.com