Kitchen

[gardensla]

I've tried several recipes (and mail ordered some from what are supposed to be the best bakeries) but every one has turned out gluey and nasty.

There are a thousand recipes on the web but if anyone has one that they've actually tried and have been pleased with the results please post!!

[terrier3]

This, at least for me, has always been a case where the best recipe is a good local bakery!

[Perkup]

ITA!! Honestly, it doesn't matter where you live - I notice you're in California. I'm just outside New Orleans. The best king cakes come from bakeries. Randazzo's is probably the best, but really almost every bakery does a good job here. I can't imagine trying to bake one. You're right the recipes don't turn out well. I went to someone's home last week, who had baked her "famous"?? king cake. It was awful.

I do ask for one change when buying one. I don't like the sugar sprinkles on top, so I ask for one that has none of the sprinkles. Usually you'd think I'd asked for the moon, but if you special order, they will leave off the colored sugar. Truth be known, to me King Cake is nothing more than an overgrown cinnamon roll with icing and sugar on top, and a plastic baby buried inside somewhere. (These used to be metal before they realized plastic was cheaper!)

I love the ones filled with cream cheese!

[VaBelle35]

I've tried a bunch, too. The best, so far, has been a Taste of Home recipe from their Feb/March 2013 magazine (I am trying to find a link to the recipe!):

[VaBelle35]

Here it is:

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/festive-king-s-cake

I really wanted one with a cream cheese filling, but I tried several, including one from Emeril, and it just wasn't right.

I may try this one and do a cream cheese filling and see if it works.

[Poodlepet2]

I grew up in N'awlins with King Cake....back in the day, there were no fillings. It was basically a rich bread dough (like Challah) with a drizzle of confectioner's sugar mixed with milk and on top of that, you would sprinkle colored sugar.

Over the years, I've splurged and ordered from Gambino's, but in all truth, the filled cakes don't travel well at all. I would make one according to the outline given above. As far as cream cheese filling goes, if that's what you want, I would trying making one on the order of a cheese cake but omit some of the liquid (sour cream or cream) so that the batter is thicker than cheese cake, but spreadable.....and of course, there are all kinds of canned fillings that you could use.

Poodlepet

[sidsmom]

Yes, be sure & put the baby in there!!

[Poodlepet2]

Sidsmom, now I'm really going to date myself....I have a really early memory of a golden bean....oh, I think I'm going to go have a slice now (hubby picked up an apple King Cake at Publix last night) with a cuppa cafe au lait!

Poodlepet

[sidsmom]

Joie de vivre! Aaaaaaa EEE eeeee!

[VaBelle35]

I order from Gambino's for work. I get the cream cheese filled one. It works for me. Closest I'll ever get to the real thing