A twist on a classic king cake. These are sure to be a hit with kids (and adults)!
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1¾ cup sugar, divided
3 egg yolks
1 Tbs honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp lemon extract
2 Tbs ground cinnamon, divided
2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cream of tarter
Icing:
2 cups powdered sugar
⅓ cup warm water (may add more if needed)
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp lemon juice
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
In large bowl, cream butter, 1¼ cups sugar, and ½ Tbs ground cinnamon until light and fluffy.
Beat in the egg yolks, honey, vanilla and lemon extracts.
Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and cream of tarter and gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
In a shallow bowl or baking dish (I used an 8x8 Pyrex dish), combine remaining sugar and cinnamon. (Depending on how much you like cinnamon you may adjust your cinnamon and sugar mixture to taste.)
Shape a heaping tablespoon of dough into a 6" log and roll in the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
Loosely coil into a spiral shape and place onto greased baking sheet about 1" apart.
Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon and sugar.
Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks and cool completely.
For the icing:
Slowly add the warm water, vanilla extract, and lemon juice to the powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency.
Place the icing into a piping bag (or a sandwich bag) and cut off just the tip to pipe the icing onto the cookies.
Sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sprinkles! (decorate as desired)
Notes
These cookies are delicious without the icing and sprinkles can be added prior to baking to create a different look.
Also, next time I make these I will be adding chopped pecans in the center of the spirals prior to baking.
Recipe by NOLA Mommy at https://www.nolamommy.com/2012/01/king-cake-cookies-recipe/