Vegan Mardi Gras King Cake with a Rich Brown Sugar Pecan Filling
Servings: 12
Calories: 524kcal
This traditional Mardi Gras King Cake is dairy free and egg free. This recipe gives many vegan replacement options. The filling is a rich brown sugar pecan center. Make this vegan king cake to enjoy your Mardi Gras celebration!
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Ingredients
The Pastry Dough
- .25 ounce Active Dry Yeast Package
- 1/3 cup warm water 100°-110°
- 1 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cashew milk or plant milk of choice
- 1/4 cup vegan butter
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacer sub flax meal
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour use 1/2 more if necessary
- A little extra melted butter to brush on the top of the baked pastry.
Brown Sugar Pecan Filling
- 1/2 cup vegan butter melted
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Colored Sugar
- 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- purple, green, and yellow food dyes
Powdered Sugar Icing
- 2 Tablespoons vegan butter melted
- 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cashew milk or plant milk of choice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cup confectioners (powdered) sugar
- pinch salt
Instructions
The Pastry Dough
- Sprinkle yeast packet on warm water. Gently stir in 1 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Let sit for about 10 minutes. Yeast mixture will be frothy and bubbly.
- While the yeast is rising, prepare the other ingredients EXCEPT for the flour.
- Melt 2 Tablespoons of vegan butter with the cashew milk in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
- Pour milk/butter mixture into a medium-large bowl. Add in the 1/3 cup granulated sugar, egg replacer (Bob's Red Mill), nutmeg, salt, and vanilla. With a hand mixture, mix till well incorporated.
- When the yeast is ready, pour all at once into the milk mixture. Stir well.
- With your hand mixer, mix in flour 1/2 cup at a time. When you have mixed in two cups, your mixer probably can't handle the rest of the flour. Incorporate the rest on the flour by hand.
- Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes. You will know your dough is ready when it is smooth and elastic. Do not over knead or your king cake will be too tough.
- Lightly oil another large bowl. I sprayed in coconut oil. Put the dough ball in and then turn so that all surfaces are oiled. Cover with a plastic wrap or damp cloth. Let rise for 2 hours in a warm spot in your kitchen.
Brown Sugar Pecan Filling
- Melt the vegan butter into a small mixing bowl.
- Add the other ingredients: packed brown sugar, ground cinnamon, pecans, flour, and salt. mix together till crumbly. Set aside
Colored Sugar
- You can make the sugar anytime during the rising/resting/baking process.
- Divide the sugar evenly into 3 baggies. Working with one color at a time, drop a couple of drops of food coloring into the baggie.
- Shake and smooth until the color incorporates. You can always add more until you have achieved the desired color.
Powdered Sugar Icing
- You can wait until your king cake has baked and you've taken it out of the oven for this step.
- Melt vegan butter into a small bowl.
- Add in the plant milk, vanilla, powdered sugar, and pinch of salt.
- Whisk together till all powdered sugar is incorporated. Set aside.
Baking and Decorating the Mardi Gras King Cake
- After the dough has risen for 2 hours, punch down.
- On a floured surface, roll your dough into a 9x12 rectangle.
- Evenly spread prepared brown sugar pecan filling on the rectangle.
- Starting at the long end roll up into a large tube.
- Place on the prepared surface of your cookie sheet in an oval ring. Place seam side down and pinch the ends together to make a complete oval.
- With a sharp knife, cut into the ring just down to the filling in one-inch intervals.
- Let rest and rise for 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350° while oval ring is resting.
- Bake for about 25-30 minutes in a 350° oven. You will know it is done when it is lightly browned on top.
- If desired, brush about 1 Tablespoon melted vegan butter on the top of the baked king cake.
- If you haven't already made the icing, make it now. See instructions above.
- Transfer the baked king cake to your serving platter. Don't forget to tuck the baby into the baked king cake!
- Pour icing on top (see directions in post for wax paper trick).
- Sprinkle colored sugar in a pattern around the ring.
- Party on! Whoever finds the baby in their slice has good luck for a year and gets to host next year's Mardi Gras party! Really! It's the rule:)
Nutrition
Calories: 524kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 375mg | Potassium: 110mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 61g | Vitamin A: 635IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1.9mg