Mardi Gras King Cake

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine (if using margarine, not spread or tub product)
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 5 eggs
• 2 envelopes active dry yeast
• 1/3 cup warm water
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh lemon rind
• 1 tablespoon grated orange rind
• 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 dried beans
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar (powdered)
• sliced candied citron peel, for garnish
• candy sprinkles, for garnish

Recipe

• 1 combine butter or margarine, evaporated milk, granulated sugar, and salt in a small saucepan.
• 2 heat slowly until butter is melted; cool to lukewarm.
• 3 beat four of the eggs in a large bowl with a wire whip; stir in milk mixture.
• 4 sprinkle yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar into warm water in a cup.
• 5 stir until yeast dissolves; allow to stand until mixture bubbles (approximately ten minutes).
• 6 add to egg mixture, blending well.
• 7 add lemon and orange rind.
• 8 mix flour into egg mixture, one cup at a time to make a stiff dough.
• 9 turn out onto a lightly floured pastry cloth or board; knead until smooth and elastic (about ten minutes), adding only enough extra flour to keep the dough from sticking.
• 10 place in a large greased bowl; turn dough to coat all over with shortening.
• 11 cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place until double in bulk.
• 12 punch down; knead a few times and divide in half.
• 13 using the palms of your hands, roll half into a 20" rope; lift ends and twist loosely one or two times.
• 14 place on a large greased cookie sheet in a half circle.
• 15 repeat with the other half of the dough, pinching the ends of the ropes together to form a large ring about 12 inches in diameter.
• 16 lift the ring slightly at one side and push the bean about an inch into the dough from the bottom.
• 17 cover and let rise again until double.
• 18 while the dough rises, beat remaining egg in a small bowl and brush over dough.
• 19 preheat the oven to 375f during the second rising.
• 20 bake for 30 minutes, or until a golden brown and the bread gives a hollow sound when tapped.
• 21 slide carefully from the baking sheet to a wire rack; cool thoroughly.
• 22 before serving, mix the powdered sugar slowly with water until smooth and of drizzling consistency (you should only need a couple of tablespoonsful of water).
• 23 drizzle over the ring and decorate with candied citron and sprinkles.