King Cake with Pecan Praline Cream Cheese Filling
This King Cake has a pecan praline and cream cheese filling and is topped off with praline frosting! The brioche dough is light, buttery and incredibly moist. With a 100% whole grain option.
Did you know that King Cake isn’t just a Louisiana / Mardi Gras thing? They have King Cakes in France, Spain, Portugal, Latin American countries and some other places. But they don’t look like the Louisiana-style King Cakes we know, covered in powdered sugar glaze and green, gold, and purple sugar (you can see some pictures of international King Cakes at the bottom of this page if you’re interested!).
I’m wondering how many angry comments I’ll get on this post for not using the traditional powdered sugar glaze and colored sugar. ;) I was going to go with that, but I was feeling too lazy to dye my sugar, plus I’m not really into using food coloring and adding pure sugar on top of almost more pure sugar to my goodies.
I used the same praline frosting on my apple bundt cake. It was perfect! And so much more delicious than the traditional glaze.
I did find this article about unusual Mardi Gras King Cakes in New Orleans and figured that if their King Cakes weren’t covered in yellow, gold and purple, then my cake didn’t have to be, either. So ha! :D
This is definitely the fussiest recipe I’ve ever posted, but it’s so worth it. First, you make brioche dough and chill it overnight. If you want to skip that step, I have no idea how it’d work as I haven’t tried it. I’m thinking the overnight rest has something to do with flavors meldin,g but I could be wrong. Then you have to make praline pecan filling and cream cheese filling and praline frosting. It’s better than any bakery King Cake I’ve had – so much more flavorful, buttery and rich!
I’ve made this cake so many times, and I always make a mess out of it. The part where you take the two rolled-up ends of dough and connect them to form a circle? I can never do that. I keep messing with it and then filling comes oozing out, and it never looks good. But it always turns out okay because you’re going to cover it up with frosting, anyway! Plus, it’s so delicious that I swear, nobody will care at all about how it looks.
I waited too long to frost my King Cake, and the frosting had hardened a little too much, and you can see the frumpy result in that second picture. I contemplated not posting this King Cake recipe for about two seconds due to its appearance and then realized how insane that’d be.
The praline filling yields quite a bit. When I had only put on half the filling, I already thought it was too much and that I should stop. I also had no idea how I would be able to roll up the dough! But it worked. Don’t skimp on the filling because it’s really not all that much.
And who loves my Mardi Gras decorations?! I totally forgot to bring some back from New Orleans, and so for these pictures, I turned to using a chip bag and upside-down green and purple cupcake liners.
King Cake with Pecan Praline Cream Cheese Filling
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons warm water 115ºF / 46ºC
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar or granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) whole milk
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 large eggs 50 grams each, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups (250 grams) white whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
- 10 tablespoons (140 grams) unsalted butter cold, cut into very small pieces
- 1 egg white beaten with 1 tablespoon water for the eggwash
For the cream cheese filling:
- 8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) raw sugar or granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch salt
For the praline filling:
- 1/4 cup (56 grams) unsalted butter softened
- 2 large egg yolks room temp
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) coconut sugar or brown sugar, firmly packed
- pinch salt
- 1/4 teaspoon maple extract or vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (55 grams) pecans chopped and toasted
For the frosting:
- 6 tablespoons (75 grams) coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons (42 grams) unsalted butter
- 2 1/2 teaspoons whole milk
- pinch salt
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 9 tablespoons (65 grams) powdered sugar
For decoration:
- 1 plastic baby trinket
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup pecans chopped
Instructions
For the dough:
- Dissolve yeast with the water in the bowl of a stand mixer which has been fitted with the dough hook. Let stand 10 minutes until frothy. Meanwhile, dissolve the salt, sugar, milk and orange zest in a small bowl and add to the yeast mixture after the 10 minute waiting period.2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast, 2 tablespoons warm water, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons coconut sugar, 1/4 cup (60 ml) whole milk, 1 tablespoon orange zest
- With the mixer on low, add the 2 eggs, cinnamon, and then gradually add the flour. You may not need the full 2 cups – the dough should be a little tacky but not sticky (it shouldn’t stick to your hand when you touch it). Knead on low speed for 10 minutes, or until a smooth elastic dough is formed. It may be that you need to add a little more flour. While still on low, add the butter until incorporated, a little at a time.2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 2 cups (250 grams) white whole wheat flour, 10 tablespoons (140 grams) unsalted butter
- Put the dough into an oiled bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap and let it rise for 1 hour in a warm spot. Once the dough has doubled in bulk, punch it down, cover and place in the refrigerator overnight.
- The next morning, prepare the fillings. For the praline filling, stir the butter, egg yolks, sugar and salt together in a medium saucepan over medium heat. While stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Continue stirring for another 3-5 minutes or until it's thickened and pulls away from the side of the pan. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the maple extract and chopped nuts. Let cool about 20 minutes and then place in the refrigerator for about an hour.1/4 cup (56 grams) unsalted butter, 2 large egg yolks, 1/2 cup (100 grams) coconut sugar, pinch salt, 1/4 teaspoon maple extract, 1/2 cup (55 grams) pecans
- For the cream cheese filling, beat the cream cheese and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and salt and beat until combined. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese, 1/4 cup (50 grams) raw sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, pinch salt
- After the praline filling has chilled, take out the dough of the refrigerator and flour a clean surface. I like to use a large sheet of parchment paper so that I don’t have to worry about transferring the rolled up dough. Roll the dough out to a 8″x18″ rectangle. Make sure to flour your parchment paper very well so that the dough doesn’t stick. It warms up pretty quickly and it will stick if you don’t flour the paper enough.
- Dollop spoonfuls of the cream cheese filling in the middle of the rectangle along the whole length, leaving about 1 1/2 inch on each side. Spoon the pecan filling over the cream cheese filling.
- Fold the dough over the filling lengthwise and pinch the two sides together. Transfer the roll to a parchment lined baking sheet. If you rolled out your dough on a piece of parchment paper, just continue to the next step.
- Flip the dough over so that the seam is on the bottom. Turn the roll into an oval, and put one end into the other end to hide the seam. Seal the circle by pinching the dough together. Loosely cover (I spray plastic wrap with PAM so that it doesn’t stick) and let rise until doubled in bulk, which could take anywhere from 45 – 60 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350ºF (177ºC). After the dough has doubled in bulk, brush all over with egg wash, and then bake for 20 – 30 minutes until golden brown.1 egg white
- When the cake has cooled, prepare the frosting. In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix together the coconut sugar, butter, milk and salt. Whisking continuously, bring to a boil and continue boiling, while whisking continuously, for 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Gradually whisk in the powdered sugar and mix until totally smooth. Stir occasionally for about 3 minutes or until the frosting has slightly thickened. Immediately pour over the cooled King cake. If you wait until the frosting is too cool, it’ll make glazing the cake more difficult (which you can see in my pictures). If it’s thickened too much, place back on the heat for a few moments until it’s more liquid. Immediately sprinkle the chopped pecans over the top.6 tablespoons (75 grams) coconut sugar, 3 tablespoons (42 grams) unsalted butter, 2 1/2 teaspoons whole milk, pinch salt, 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, 9 tablespoons (65 grams) powdered sugar, 1/2 to 3/4 cup pecans
- Hide the baby somewhere in the cake and serve! Keeps well at room temperature for 1 day or refrigerated for up to 5 days. Reheats well in the microwave at half-power.
Notes
- The nutrition information provided is calculated as a courtesy and is only an estimate. I am not a licensed nutritionist or dietitian. For the most accurate nutritional data, consult a professional or use your preferred calculator.
- Dough adapted from King Cake Recipe on NOLA Cuisine and the pecan filling was adapted from Praline Filling from Wilton.
I’ve never had King Cake….but I’ve also never had a dessert with pecan praline that I have not liked…. so I can’t wait to try this one. Looks yummy!
Thanks a bunch! And you should totally get on changing that. ;)
I haven’t even heard of King Cakes before! It sure looks tasty :) I’m glad your not using artificial food dye – natural is so much better! It’s quite the project but I bet it’s SO worth it!!
I knew you’d appreciate the lack of food coloring. ;) And King Cake is a Mardi Gras thing!
hahaha no angry comment for me. Ok maybe because you didn’t invite me for a bite.
That would have been fun! Next time. :)
I love King Cakes! I think a praline cream cheese filling idea and that luscious frosting is a fun version (how could anyone be mad!?!). Just how to get a piece to enjoy this morning with my cappuccino? :)
It’s all gone now – otherwise I would have shared! ;)
I had no idea that King Cake was an international proposition. I really appreciate your use of Brioche as a basis for this cake. Nice!
Neither did I until I started writing this post. ;)
I’m so glad you decided to post this (even if it’s not as pretty as you had hoped). To me, it looks amazing and my mouth is seriously drooling at that pecan praline cream cheese filling! PINNING!!!
Thanks a ton for pinning! :)
I have never had king cake before, but I have to tell you, yours looks os much better than with all those crazy colors on it! Love this cake!
Haha. I know you certainly don’t mind the lack of food coloring! ;)
King cakes are the best, and I love this variation! What a great idea! It’s all about the celebration, not the exact recipe. I sure would hope no one would get upset about this!
Aww. That’s a nice way to think about it! Thanks. :)
I’m embarrassed to say Ive never heard of a King Cake before nor have I tried it, but man it looks heavenly! Seriously that praline filling is outrageous!
Thanks so much! I’m happy to have introduced the two of you. ;)
Let me be your first angry comment………kidding!!!!!!! This is awesome and I love your twist on it! Always wanted to try a King Cake and no better time than now :)
Haha. :D And I agree – it’s time to try one!
I love king cake and your recipe looks fabulous. I’m trying it this year
I hope you will!
I love normal King Cake but I think that I might love your King Cake even more! The topping on yours just looks fantastic! I wish that I had some of that praline frosting right now!
Same here! We ate this thing way too quickly.
I love your topping, and the cake looks worth every bit of trouble. But that filling!!! Give me alllllll the filling :)
Hahaha. No! But we can share. ;)
I grew up in New Orleans and you can find King Cakes year round without the traditional colors. I happen to love the praline cream-cheese filled ones and yours looks fantastic!
Really?! I had no idea. I googled it and only found one store where they have them year-round. It must be a local secret! ;)
This looks so yummy! I want to make this asap!
I hope you will! :)
This sounds so amazing! I’ve never had a King Cake but now I really want to try one!
Oh! You have to try. Starting with this one! ;)
Wow! I never realized how much work goes into making a king cake! :) And I like it without all the colored sugars, lol. It looks perfect!
Haha. It’s such a pain but worth it in the end. ;)
It looks tasty but is a little involved. I didn’t realize they were yeast breads. I thought just a regular cake.
It is indeed involved! But seriously, so worth it. ;)
That Mardi Gras Cake looks amazing!!!
Thanks, Becky!
That is one good looking cake! And honestly, as pretty as Mardi Gras king cakes are to look at, I’d take your non-dyed version anytime.
Aww! I figured you’d appreciate that. :) Thanks!