King Cake Cinnamon Babka Loaf (Print View)

Sweet, yeasted loaf with cinnamon, cream cheese, and vibrant glaze for festive gatherings.

# Components:

→ Dough

01 - 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 2/3 cup whole milk, lukewarm
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened

→ Cinnamon Filling

09 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
10 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
11 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

→ Cream Cheese Filling

12 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
13 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
14 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Glaze and Decoration

15 - 1 cup powdered sugar
16 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
17 - Purple, green, and gold sanding sugars for decoration
18 - Plastic King Cake baby or almond, optional

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
02 - Whisk together lukewarm milk, eggs, and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
03 - Beat in softened butter until dough is smooth and elastic, approximately 8 to 10 minutes.
04 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled, approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.
05 - Mix brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir in softened butter until combined.
06 - Beat cream cheese with sugar and vanilla until smooth.
07 - Punch down risen dough. Roll out on a floured surface into a 16 by 12-inch rectangle.
08 - Spread cream cheese filling over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Spread cinnamon filling evenly on top.
09 - Starting from the long side, roll dough tightly into a log.
10 - Slice the log lengthwise in half. Twist the two strands together, keeping cut sides up, and form into a loaf shape.
11 - Place twisted loaf into a greased 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Cover and let rise until puffy, approximately 45 minutes.
12 - Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
13 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. If browning too quickly, tent with aluminum foil.
14 - Cool loaf in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
15 - Whisk powdered sugar with milk to make a thick glaze. Drizzle over cooled loaf.
16 - Sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sanding sugars. Insert King Cake baby or almond if desired before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cream cheese and cinnamon layers create a texture contrast that feels luxurious without being heavy, like butter melting into warm bread.
  • It's impressive enough for a celebration but forgiving enough that small mistakes won't derail you, which honestly took some experimenting to achieve.
  • Those purple, green, and gold sugars transform an already beautiful loaf into something that photographs like it came from a bakery window.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are not a suggestion—they're the difference between a dough that incorporates butter smoothly and one that feels greasy and separates.
  • Don't skip the cream cheese filling even if you're tempted; it's what prevents this from tasting like an ordinary cinnamon roll and gives it that special richness that makes people ask for seconds.
  • The twist is the secret weapon—those exposed cut sides caramelize slightly and create texture, plus they're visually striking in a way a simple spiral never achieves.
03 -
  • Add a teaspoon of orange zest to the dough for extra festive flavor that plays beautifully with the cinnamon without overwhelming it.
  • If your kitchen runs cold, create a warm rise spot by turning on your oven light and closing the door—this simple trick has saved more yeasted baking than any fancy proofing box.
  • Substitute mascarpone for cream cheese if you want an even richer, slightly less tangy filling that some people find more approachable.
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