Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe

If you’ve ever wanted to bring a little New Orleans flair into your kitchen, this Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe is an absolute must-try. I’ve made this recipe several times, and it never fails to impress with its soft, sweet dough, rich fillings, and that iconic colorful sugar topping. Whether you’re celebrating Carnival season or just craving a decadent treat, you’ll find that this recipe is both fun to make and even more fun to eat!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Each ingredient in this Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe works together to create that perfect balance of soft bread and sweet filling. When shopping, try to get fresh, good-quality butter and cream cheese—it really makes a difference in flavor and texture!

• Milk: Warm milk helps activate the yeast and keeps the dough soft.
• Salted Butter: Adds richness and flavor to both dough and fillings.
• Salt: Enhances all the sweet flavors in the dough.
• Warm Water: Essential for proofing the yeast.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the dough and feeds the yeast.
• Active Dry Yeast: The magic ingredient that makes your dough rise beautifully.
• Eggs: Provide structure and moisture for a tender crumb.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, aromatic notes to the dough and frosting.
• All-Purpose Flour: The base of your soft dough—use spooned and leveled flour for accuracy.
• Brown Sugar: Brings depth and moisture to the cinnamon filling.
• Ground Cinnamon: The star spice of the cinnamon filling, use good quality for best flavor.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and smooths the cream cheese filling and frosting.
• Cream Cheese: The secret to a rich, tangy filling that balances the sweetness.
• Lemon Juice: Adds a slight tang to the frosting to cut through sweetness.

Variations

I love experimenting with this Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe because it’s so forgiving. Feel free to swap out fillings or tweak the sugar colors to match your celebration — it’s your cake, your way!

• Fruit Filling: I once tried adding a layer of cherry pie filling along with the cream cheese, and it added such a delicious pop of flavor—my family went crazy for that one!
• Alternative Sweeteners: If you want to cut back on refined sugar, try using maple syrup or honey in the dough, but keep in mind it changes the texture slightly.
• Gluten-Free: Using a gluten-free flour blend can work here, but you’ll want to add a binder like xanthan gum and expect a slightly denser cake.
• Overnight Dough Rise: For convenience, refrigerate the dough overnight — I discovered this trick when I was short on time, and it actually enhances the flavor!

How to Make Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Dough Base

Start by heating milk and butter together until just melted—about 60 to 90 seconds in the microwave works well. This warm mixture helps activate the yeast without killing it. Add salt, stir, then let it cool until it’s warm to the touch (think cozy bath temperature around 120°–130°F). This step is crucial because too hot or too cold can mess with the yeast’s rise.

Step 2: Activate the Yeast

While your milk cools, mix warm water, a tablespoon of sugar, and active dry yeast in a bowl. Let this sit 5-10 minutes until it’s bubbly and foamy—that’s the yeast waking up! If yours doesn’t foam, double-check your yeast’s expiration date or temperature of the liquid.

Step 3: Mix and Knead the Dough

Add the yeast mixture to the milk mixture, followed by the rest of the sugar, eggs, vanilla, and one cup of flour. Stir well, then gradually add the rest of the flour while kneading—either with a dough hook on medium speed or by hand. The goal is a very soft dough that just starts to pull away from the bowl. Don’t panic if it feels sticky; this is typical for tender dough. You can add a little extra flour if it’s too sticky to handle, but be careful not to add too much or it will get tough.

Step 4: First Rise

Turn your dough onto a floured surface, knead a few times to smooth it out, then place it in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size—usually 1 to 2 hours. This rise makes the dough light and airy, trust me, it’s worth the wait!

Step 5: Prepare Your Filling

While your dough rises, you can prep the fillings. For cinnamon lovers, just mix brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and melted butter. The mixture should be crumbly and easy to spread. If cream cheese is your thing, beat together softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, and a splash of vanilla until silky smooth. Both fillings are rich but so different—you really can’t go wrong.

Step 6: Shape and Fill Your King Cake

If you’ve got two cakes worth, divide your dough in half. Roll one half into a rough rectangle, then cut the dough lengthwise into two long strips. Spread your chosen filling on each strip, then roll them up like cinnamon rolls into tight cylinders. Next, twist both rolls together into a braid, shape into an oval, and pinch the ends to seal. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Repeat with the other half. Let the shaped cakes rise an additional 30-45 minutes—they’ll get nice and puffy.

Step 7: Bake Until Golden Perfection

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Bake each King Cake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. If you have a digital thermometer, aim for 190°-195°F internal temp for perfect doneness. Remove and cool completely before frosting—this helps the frosting stay beautiful and not melt off.

Step 8: Frost and Decorate

Mix powdered sugar, milk, melted butter, lemon juice, and vanilla to make a thick but pourable frosting. Don’t be shy here—the frosting is what adds that festive Mardi Gras vibe! Drop one tiny plastic baby figurine into each cake (the fun tradition), then drizzle the frosting over the top. While it’s still wet, sprinkle generously with purple, green, and gold colored sugar. I usually line a tray under to catch the extra sugar—easy to reuse!

How to Serve Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe

Garnishes

I like to keep it traditional with the colored sugar and tiny plastic baby hidden inside. Sometimes, I add edible gold shimmer on the frosting for an extra festive sparkle—because why not?

Side Dishes

This cake pairs beautifully with a hot cup of coffee or spiced tea. For brunch gatherings, I’ve served it alongside fresh fruit and creamy yogurt, which balances the sweetness perfectly.

Creative Ways to Present

One fun idea I tried was serving mini king cakes as individual portions, wrapping each in a colorful cellophane bag tied with Mardi Gras ribbons. It was perfect for party favors! You can also set the cake on a big, festive serving platter surrounded by flowers or beads to really capture that Carnival spirit.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After baking, I usually keep leftovers covered tightly with plastic wrap at room temperature for 2-3 days. The cake actually tastes great even the next day or two—and if you refrigerate it, it will last about a week but lose a bit of softness.

Freezing

I’ve found wrapping the entire cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap, then placing it in an airtight container is the best way to freeze it for up to 2-3 months. Just thaw on the counter for a few hours before you want to serve.

Reheating

To warm up leftovers, I gently microwave slices for 10-15 seconds or pop them in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes covered with foil. This helps keep the cake soft without drying it out.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe has become a holiday staple in my house because it turns out beautifully every time—soft, flavorful, and bursting with tradition. I love how it brings friends and family together, sharing not just a delicious treat but a little piece of Mardi Gras magic. You really can’t go wrong making this, so go ahead, dive in, and enjoy that first sweet, colorful slice with your favorite cup of coffee. You’re going to impress everyone, I promise!

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