Mardi Gras King Cake

Servings: 1
Ingredients:

1 pk Yeast
1/4 c  Warm water
6 ts Milk, scalded and cooled
4 c  Flour (to 5 cups)
1/2 lb Butter
3/4 c  Sugar
1/4 ts Salt
4    Eggs
2 ts Melted butter
Small plastic doll (or bean)
Light corn syrup for topping
Granulated sugar for topping
- green, yellow, purp

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk and about 1/2 cup of flour. In a
large bowl, blend butter, sugar, salt and eggs. Add yeast dough and mix
thoroughly. Gradually, add 2 1/2 cups flour to make a medium dough. Place
in a greased bowl and brush with melted butter. Cover with a damp cloth and
allow to rise until double in volume, about 3 hours. Use 1 cup or more
flour to knead dough and roll into a 4 to 5 foot long rope. Form into a
oval on a 14 x 17′ greased cookie sheet, connecting ends of the rope with a
few drops of water. Press the doll (or bean) into the dough from
underneath. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until double in volume,
about 1 hour. Bake @ 325 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes or until lightly
browned. Brush top of cake with corn syrup and sprinkle with alternating
bands of colored sugar. Cake freezes well.