Braided Cinnamon King Cake with Purple, Green and Gold Sugar

What you need

• 240 ml (1 cup) whole milk, warmed to about 40 °C (105 °F)
• 7 g (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
• 70 g (1/3 cup) granulated sugar, for the dough
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 150 g (10 tbsp) unsalted butter, melted and cooled, 115 g for the dough and 35 g for the filling
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 lemon, zested, then juiced for the icing
• 500 g (4 cups) all-purpose flour, plus extra for the work surface
• 1 tsp neutral oil, for the rising bowl
• 100 g (1/2 cup) light brown sugar, for the filling
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 250 g (2 cups) powdered sugar, sifted, for the icing
• 150 g (3/4 cup) sanding sugar, or granulated sugar
• 9 drops gel food coloring, 3 each of purple, green and yellow
• 1 piece plastic baby figurine, or a dried bean

Method

Restated from the original video

1. 1

   Whisk the yeast into the warm milk with 1 tsp of the granulated sugar. Leave it for 5-10 min, until foamy.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, whisk the remaining granulated sugar with the eggs, 115 g of the butter, salt, vanilla, nutmeg and the lemon zest. Stir in the yeast mixture.

3. 3

   Add the flour and stir to a shaggy dough. Knead on a floured surface for 8-10 min, or 6-8 min with a dough hook, until smooth, soft and slightly tacky.

4. 4

   Put the dough in an oiled bowl, turn it once to coat and cover with a damp cloth. Let it rise in a warm spot away from drafts until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.

5. 5

   Meanwhile, divide the sanding sugar among three jars or small zip bags. Add a few drops of purple, green and yellow food coloring to one each, then shake until the color is even.

6. 6

   Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.

7. 7

   Turn the risen dough out onto a floured surface and roll it into a rectangle about 30 x 60 cm (12 x 24 in). Brush with the remaining butter and scatter the cinnamon sugar over it, leaving a 2 cm (3/4 in) strip bare along one long edge.

8. 8

   Roll the dough up from the other long edge into a tight log and pinch the seam shut.

9. 9

   Lift the log onto a parchment-lined baking sheet seam side down. Curve it into a ring and pinch the ends together firmly.

10. 10

    Cover the ring and let it rise again for 45-60 min. Heat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F) for the last 15 min.

11. 11

    Bake for 22-28 min, until deep golden and hollow-sounding when tapped. Cool on the sheet for 20 min.

12. 12

    Push the baby into the underside of the ring so it is hidden. Warn guests about it, because it is not meant to be eaten.

13. 13

    Whisk the powdered sugar with 2-3 tbsp of lemon juice until thick but pourable. Add water by the teaspoon if it is too stiff.

14. 14

    Spoon the icing over the ring, then sprinkle bands of purple, green and yellow sugar across it before the icing sets. Slice and serve, and whoever finds the baby bakes the next one.

Imported from zagleft.com. Recipe Grab pulled out what you need to cook it; the video stays where its author put it.