Sumo Citrus King Cake Recipe

Introduction

Sumo Citrus King Cake is a delightful twist on the classic Mardi Gras treat, bursting with bright citrus flavors and a luscious cinnamon cream cheese filling. This recipe balances zesty Sumo Citrus with sweet spices for a festive and delicious dessert perfect for celebrations or any time you want a special treat.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup Warm Water
• ¼ cup Granulated Cane Sugar
• 2 tsp Instant Yeast
• ½ cup Whole Milk
• 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter, melted
• 1 tsp Fine Sea Salt
• 1 large Egg, beaten
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 2 ¾ cups Flour
• 1 Sumo Citrus, zest and juice
• 4 oz Cream Cheese
• 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
• ¼ cup Granulated Cane Sugar
• 1 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
• Zest of 1 Sumo Citrus
• 2 cups Powdered Sugar
• 3 tbsp Milk
• 1 tbsp Melted Butter
• 1 tsp Sumo Citrus Juice, and/or zest
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• Green, Yellow, and Purple Sprinkles

Instructions

1. Step 1: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the hook attachment, combine warm water, yeast, and granulated cane sugar. Mix gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until the mixture is foamy.
2. Step 2: Add whole milk, salt, beaten egg, vanilla extract, zest, and juice of half a Sumo Citrus to the yeast mixture. Mix well to combine.
3. Step 3: Add the flour and knead with the hook attachment for 4-5 minutes until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until doubled in volume.
4. Step 4: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large rimmed baking pan with parchment paper.
5. Step 5: On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a large rectangle about 10×16 inches and 1/8 inch thick.
6. Step 6: To make the filling, combine cream cheese, brown sugar, granulated cane sugar, ground cinnamon, and zest of one Sumo Citrus in a stand mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix until smooth.
7. Step 7: Spread the filling evenly over the rolled-out dough using an offset spatula.
8. Step 8: Use a sharp knife to slice the dough lengthwise into two equal parts. Roll each part tightly into a log shape.
9. Step 9: Braid the two logs together, then form into a circle and pinch the ends firmly to seal. Place the ring on the prepared baking pan.
10. Step 10: Cover the dough circle and let it rise in a warm spot for 30-40 minutes.
11. Step 11: Lightly brush the top with egg wash or olive oil. Bake for 20-30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time, until the king cake is golden brown on top.
12. Step 12: While the cake cools slightly, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, melted butter, Sumo Citrus juice and/or zest, and vanilla extract to make the frosting.
13. Step 13: Spoon the frosting over the warm king cake and immediately decorate with green, yellow, and purple sprinkles.

Tips & Variations

• For a richer dough, replace whole milk with half-and-half or add an extra tablespoon of butter.
• If Sumo Citrus is not available, substitute with mandarins or tangerines for a similar sweet-tart flavor.
• Brush the dough with beaten egg before baking for a shiny, golden crust.
• Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the filling for added texture and flavor.

Storage

Store the king cake tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently in a low oven or microwave before serving to soften the cake and refresh the frosting.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough the night before and let it rise slowly in the refrigerator. Bring it to room temperature before rolling it out and assembling the cake.

What if I don’t have a stand mixer?

You can knead the dough by hand on a floured surface. It may take a bit longer, about 8-10 minutes, but the texture will be just as good.

Sumo Citrus King Cake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 95 reviews

A festive and flavorful Sumo Citrus King Cake featuring a tender, yeast-raised dough infused with bright Sumo Citrus zest and juice, filled with a creamy cinnamon-cream cheese mixture, braided and baked to golden perfection, then topped with a citrus vanilla glaze and colorful sprinkles—a perfect treat for celebrations.

• Author: Maya
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
• Yield: 1 king cake (approximately 8–10 servings) 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dough

• 1/3 cup Warm Water
• ¼ cup Granulated Cane Sugar
• 2 tsp Instant Yeast
• ½ cup Whole Milk
• 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter, melted
• 1 tsp Fine Sea Salt
• 1 large Egg, beaten
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 2 ¾ cups Flour
• Zest and Juice of ½ Sumo Citrus

Filling

• 4 oz Cream Cheese
• 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
• ¼ cup Granulated Cane Sugar
• 1 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
• Zest of 1 Sumo Citrus

Frosting and Decoration

• 2 cups Powdered Sugar
• 3 tbsp Milk
• 1 tbsp Melted Butter
• 1 tsp Sumo Citrus Juice and/or zest
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• Green, Yellow, and Purple Sprinkles

Instructions

1. Activate Yeast: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine warm water, instant yeast, and granulated cane sugar. Mix and allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
2. Mix Wet Ingredients: To the yeast mixture, add whole milk, melted unsalted butter, fine sea salt, beaten egg, vanilla extract, and zest and juice of half a Sumo Citrus. Mix well to combine all wet ingredients thoroughly.
3. Add Flour and Knead Dough: Gradually add the flour to the wet ingredients and knead using the dough hook attachment for 4-5 minutes until the dough pulls away cleanly from the bowl, forming a smooth and elastic texture.
4. First Rise: Cover the dough and place it in a warm environment to rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until it has doubled in volume.
5. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a large rimmed baking pan with parchment paper.
6. Roll Out Dough: On a clean, floured surface, roll the dough out into a large rectangle approximately 10 by 16 inches and about 1/8 inch thick.
7. Prepare Filling: In a stand mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, combine cream cheese, brown sugar, granulated cane sugar, ground cinnamon, and zest of one whole Sumo Citrus. Mix until smooth and creamy.
8. Spread Filling: Evenly spread the prepared filling over the rolled-out dough using an offset spatula.
9. Shape the Cake: Using a knife, slice the filled dough lengthwise into two equal parts. Roll each part tightly into a log, then braid the two logs together and shape into a circle. Pinch the ends to seal and place on the prepared baking pan.
10. Second Rise: Cover the braided dough and let it rise for 30-40 minutes in a warm spot until puffy.
11. Apply Egg Wash and Bake: Brush the risen dough lightly with egg wash or olive oil to promote browning. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking, until the cake is golden brown on top.
12. Make Frosting: In a large bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, melted butter, Sumo Citrus juice and/or zest, and vanilla extract until smooth.
13. Decorate: Spoon the frosting over the warm (but not hot) king cake. Immediately decorate with green, yellow, and purple sprinkles to celebrate the festive occasion.

Notes

• Ensure the water is warm but not hot to avoid killing the yeast during activation.
• Covering the dough during rising helps maintain warmth for optimal yeast activity.
• If you do not have a stand mixer, dough can be kneaded by hand but will take a bit longer.
• The egg wash can be substituted with olive oil for a slightly different crust texture.
• Frost the cake when it is warm to allow the frosting to set nicely but avoid frosting when piping hot to prevent melting.
• Sumo Citrus can be replaced with any large sweet citrus like mandarin or tangerine if not available.

Keywords: Sumo Citrus King Cake, King Cake Recipe, Citrus Dessert, Cream Cheese Filling, Mardi Gras Cake, Braided Cake