Vanilla and Chocolate King Cake

A different kind of King Cake, perfect for those who don't like dried fruit or almonds and nuts. A vanilla cake filled with chocolate.

A delicious alternative to the traditional King Cake, perfect for any special occasion. This soft bread, flavored with vanilla and filled with chocolate paste, is irresistible!

This King Cake has some added benefits - it helps balance hormones. Who doesn't need that right now?!

Why add the Hormone Balance blend?

Our blend is specially formulated to support women's well-being, with adaptogenic ingredients that help to:

• Reducing stress: Ingredients like ashwagandha promote relaxation.
• Balancing hormones: Ideal for maintaining health during times of increased activity, such as Christmas.
• Boost your energy: A natural boost to make the most of the holiday season.

Ingredients

Mass

• 500 ml of lukewarm milk (not hot, so as not to "kill" the yeast)
• 1 vanilla bean (scrape out the seeds)
• 50g of fresh yeast (2 packets) or 2 packets of dry baker's yeast
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• 200 g of brown sugar
• 250 g of quark or cream
• 100 g of unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• 1.5 kg of all-purpose flour (type 65)

Filling

• 200 g of cooking chocolate (chopped)
• 50 g of brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons of the Hormonal Balance mixture
• 1 generous pinch of salt (optional: fleur de sel)
• 40 g of unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• Zest of ½ orange (optional)

For brushing

• 1 egg beaten with 2 tablespoons of heavy cream
• Brown sugar (optional, for sprinkling)

Preparation Method

Preparing the Dough

1. Heat the milk with the vanilla bean and seeds. Let it steep for at least 10 minutes. Remove the pod.
2. Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk and let it sit for 5 minutes, until it foams. This indicates that the yeast is active.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the milk, sugar, salt, and quark or heavy cream.
4. Add the flour alternately with the butter, beating well between each addition. Continue until you obtain a soft and moist dough that does not stick to the sides of the bowl. Be careful not to add too much flour, as this can make the bread dry and hard.
5. Cover the dough with a damp tea towel and let it rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Preparing the Filling

1. Chop the chocolate and place it in a food processor. Grind until you obtain a mixture of larger pieces and powder.
2. Add the sugar, hormone balance mix, and salt, then process again to combine.
3. Add the butter and beat until a smooth paste forms. If desired, stir in the orange zest for a citrus touch. Set aside.

To assemble

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and roll it out into a long rectangle.
3. Spread the chocolate paste evenly over the dough.
4. Roll the dough lengthwise to form a cylinder. Pinch the edges to seal well.
5. Using a sharp knife, cut the cylinder in half lengthwise. Braid the two pieces together, keeping the filling visible. Pinch the ends to seal.
6. Place the braid on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper that has been greased with butter and dusted with flour.
7. Brush with the egg and cream mixture. Sprinkle with brown sugar, if desired.

Cook

1. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and cooked through.
2. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.

This Chocolate-Filled Vanilla Bread is perfect for sharing with family and friends, and its irresistible aroma will be a hit at any festive table! Try it and impress everyone!