Sweet Dough

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1. Sprinkle yeast in warm water. Mix. Let soften. Stir, then let sit about 5 minutes, until light and bubbly.
2. Scald milk. Remove from stove. Melt butter in warm milk.
3. In large bowl beat eggs.
4. Add sugar, salt and dissolved yeast to eggs.
5. Add milk mixture. Beat well.
6. Stir in flour. Beat well. Dough will be soft.
7. Place dough into large butter bowl. Cover with a towel, put in a draft-free place and let rise until double in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
8. Turn dough out on floured board and knead 10-12 times.
9. Roll dough out 24 x 10 inches.
10. Brush with melted butter.
11. If desired, top with your favorite filling (optional - see cream cheese filling recipe below).
12. Roll dough with filling like a jelly roll. (The roll should be 24 inches long.)
13. Seal edges with egg wash (see egg wash below)
14. Place on a large cookie sheet that has been sprayed with Pam.
15. Press ends together to seal
16. Brush King's Cake with egg wash.
17. Cover with towel, put in warm place to rise until double in size - about 45 minutes.
18. Bake in middle of preheated oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
19. Remove from oven and cool.
20. Top with frosting (see frosting recipe below)
21. Sprinkle colored sugar (purple, green and gold) over top of cake.
22. If desired, press a small, plastic baby in the underside of the cake so that it is hidden from view. According to New Orleans tradition, the person who gets the baby in their slice is responsible for bringing the king cake to the next party.

Egg Wash

Beat together 1 egg and one tablespoon water

Frosting for King Cake

In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Blend until smooth. Add more milk, a few drops at a time, until mixture is at a spreading consistency, or drizzling consistency. TIP: Fruit juices may be substituted for milk.

Cream Cheese Filling for King Cake

Combine all ingredients using electric mixer until well blended. As an alternative, you may buy filling at cake decoration stores, or you may use peach or apple pie filling in place of, or along with, cream cheese filling.