Haydel'S King Cake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
2 (1/4 ounce) packages dry active yeast
1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
1/4 teaspoon orange extract
1/4 teaspoon vanilla, extract
1/4 teaspoon butter flavoring
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup cinnamon sugar
colored crystal sugar, in purple green and yellow

Preparation

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine sugar, salt and shortening; beat on low speed with an electric mixer unitl creamy.
Add eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition.
Dissolve yeast in milk; let stand for 5 minutes.
Stir extracts and flavorings into the milk.
Add the milk mixtue to the egg mixture and mix well to combine.
Add flour, mixing until well combined.
Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface.
Knead intp a small ball.
Sprinkle dough with flour, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and allow to rise in a warm spot for 1 1/2 hours.
Roll dough into a 16x12-inch oblong shape and brush evenly with canola oil.
Sprinkle liberally with cinnamon-sugar.
Fold dough in half lengthwise, cut into three lengthwise stips, and braid.
Starting with one end, pull braid gently to elongate it and shape it into a circle.
Place on prepared baking sheet.
Let dough rise again for approximately 1 hour, until dough is doubled in size.
Sprinkle with desired amount of colored sugar.
Preheat oven to 370\u00b0F
Bake until golden, about 12 to 15 minutes.