• 1 cup milk
• One packet active dry yeast
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 6 Tablespoons  unsalted butter melted
• 1 large egg
• 2 large egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons table salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg optional
• 5 cups bread flour

For the filling

• ½ cup light or dark brown sugar firmly packed
• 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon table salt
• 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter softened

Glaze & topping

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoons milk, plus one more if needed
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Green, purple, and gold sanding sugar or sprinkles

• Combine milk and 1/3 cup water in a microwave safe bowl and heat in 20-second increments to reach 105-115F.
• Pour liquid into a large mixing bowl (or this recipe may be made in the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment), add yeast and a teaspoon of the granulated sugar and stir until combined. Allow to sit until yeast is foamy, 5-10 minutes. 
• Add remaining granulated sugar, melted butter, egg, egg yolks, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and just 2 cups (250g) of flour and stir until all ingredients are well-combined.
• Take the unsalted butter, egg and egg yoks, add 2 teaspoons table salt,½ teaspoon ground cinnamon,¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg,5 cups bread flour.
• Stir in additional flour until the  dough is well-combined and clinging to itself. It should be slightly tacky to the touch but not so sticky that it’s sticking to your fingers. You may not need all 5 cups of flour, or you may need more.
• Turn dough out to a clean, lightly floured surface and knead for 5-10 minutes or until you have achieved a smooth, elastic dough. Add additional flour as needed if dough is sticking to your hands (with a stand mixer you will just mix with dough hook on low speed until proper consistency is reached).
• Place dough in a clean, lightly oiled large bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Allow to rise in a warm, draft-free space until doubled in size (about 1-2 hours).

For one main cake:

• Whisk together brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt until combined. Butter should be soft enough to be spreadable, pop it in the microwave for several seconds if needed!
• ½ cup light or dark brown sugar,1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon,⅛ teaspoon table salt
• Gently deflate dough and turn out onto a clean, lightly floured surface. Roll into a neat 10×20” rectangle and then cut in half lengthwise.
• Spread softened butter evenly over the surface of each rectangle, leaving a ½” perimeter around all sides.
• Sprinkle butter evenly with filling. If using a plastic baby you would place it somewhere in the rectangle before rolling.
• Roll each rectangle lengthwise tightly into a rope and pinch the edges to make a seam.
• Twist the two ropes together to form a wreath and transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
• Cover with a towel and allow to rise until increased in size, about 45 minutes.

For mini-cakes

• Follow each step through rolling into a rope. Then cut each hand cake into 5" squares or logs. Pinch seems together and cover to rise.

For final stages

• While dough is rising, preheat oven to 350F (175C) and prepare an egg wash by whisking together 1 egg and a teaspoon of water.
• 1 large egg,1 teaspoon water
• Once dough has risen, remove towel and lightly brush all over with egg wash. Transfer to preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped, or preferably when a thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads 190F (87C). Allow to cool completely before decorating.
• Prepare glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Glaze should be thick enough that when it drizzles off your whisk it should hold its shape for several seconds before dissolving back into the rest of the glaze in the bowl (add more milk if it’s too stiff and more sugar if it’s too thin).
• 1 cup (125 g) powdered sugar,1-2 Tablespoons milk,¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Drizzle glaze all over cooled king cake then decorate immediately with colored sprinkles, alternating patches of green, purple, and yellow sugar. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

The Epiphany represents many things to many people: The Magi (often known as the three kings) bestowing their gifts upon baby Jesus, and God revealing Himself to the world through his mortal infant son. For others, it's a good reason to enjoy cake with a toy baby hidden inside.