why make this recipe
Mardi Gras King Cake brings fun, color, and rich flavor to your table. It makes a large, shareable dessert for parties and holidays. You will enjoy the warm cinnamon dough, sweet cream cheese filling, and the bright sugar glaze. This cake wins smiles and fits simple home baking.
introduction
This Mardi Gras King Cake recipe is a classic, soft braided cake with a cinnamon filling and cream cheese center. It uses common pantry items and a step-by-step method that is easy to follow. If you love simple baking guides, you might also like a clear cherry chip cake guide for another sweet idea.
how to make Mardi Gras King Cake
- Warm the milk and melt the butter. Mix warm milk, melted butter, warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit until foamy.
- Add beaten eggs, vanilla, salt, and most of the flour. Knead to make a soft dough. Add flour until dough is smooth and slightly sticky.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.
- Make the filling: mix brown sugar, granulated sugar, 1/2 cup flour, and cinnamon. Stir in melted butter to make a paste.
- For the cream cheese layer, beat softened cream cheese with 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons softened butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth.
- Roll the dough into a large rectangle. Spread the cinnamon filling and then the cream cheese mixture in a strip down the middle.
- Fold and braid the dough to hide the filling. Shape into a ring and seal the ends.
- Let the ring rise until puffy, then bake until golden and cooked through.
- Cool slightly, then brush with the glaze made from 2 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
- Sprinkle colored sugar in purple, green, and gold stripes while glaze is tacky.
If you like trying other quick breads on a different day, check this simple banana bread with pancake mix recipe for a fast treat.
Ingredients :
1 cup milk, 1/4 cup salted butter, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2/3 cup warm water, 1/2 cup granulated sugar (divided), 1 Tablespoon active dry yeast, 2 large eggs (beaten), 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 5 to 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled (705g to 776g)), 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour ((68g)), 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 4 tablespoons salted butter (melted), 8 ounces cream cheese (softened), 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 Tablespoons salted butter (softened), 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 cups powdered sugar, 3 Tablespoons milk, 1 Tablespoon salted butter (melted), 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions :
Dough: Mix warm milk, melted butter, warm water, 1/4 cup sugar, and yeast. Add eggs, vanilla, salt, and most flour. Knead until smooth. Let rise until doubled.
Filling: Combine brown sugar, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour, and cinnamon. Stir in 4 tablespoons melted butter.
Assembly: Roll dough into a rectangle. Spread filling and cream cheese mix in a center strip. Fold sides over filling, braid, and form a ring. Let rise.
Frosting: Mix 2 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Spread on warm cake and add purple, green, and gold sugar.
how to serve Mardi Gras King Cake
Serve warm or at room temperature. Cut into wedges or slices. Traditionally you hide a small plastic baby in the cake; the person who finds it gets bragging rights and may host the next party. Offer coffee, milk, or a simple tea with the cake.
how to store Mardi Gras King Cake
Wrap cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. Keep at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate up to 5 days — bring to room temperature before serving. You can freeze slices wrapped well for up to 1 month; thaw in the fridge overnight.
tips to make Mardi Gras King Cake
- Use warm, not hot, liquids so yeast stays active.
- Measure flour by spooning and leveling to avoid a dry dough.
- Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place for best texture.
- If the filling leaks while baking, place a tray under the cake to catch drips.
- For bright sugar stripes, apply the glaze and then sprinkle colored sugar while glaze is still tacky.
- To explore other unique recipe ideas and cooking tips, look at these chicken hearts recipes and tips for inspiration.
variation (if any)
- Add orange or lemon zest to the cream cheese for a citrus touch.
- Use almond extract instead of vanilla for a nutty note.
- Swap the cream cheese filling for a praline or pecan filling.
- Make smaller individual rings instead of one large cake.
FAQs
Q: Can I make the dough in a stand mixer?
A: Yes. Use the dough hook and mix until smooth. Knead on low for 5–7 minutes.
Q: What do I do if the cake browns too fast?
A: Tent it with foil halfway through baking to prevent over-browning.
Q: Can I skip the cream cheese filling?
A: Yes. You can use only the cinnamon filling or add jam or nuts instead.
Q: How do I color the sugar?
A: Mix granulated sugar with a drop of food coloring and spread on a sheet to dry before sprinkling.
Q: Can I freeze the unbaked ring?
A: You can freeze a shaped, unbaked ring. Wrap well and freeze. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then let rise and bake.
Mardi Gras King Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Mix warm milk, melted butter, warm water, 1/4 cup sugar, and yeast. Let sit until foamy.
- Add beaten eggs, vanilla, salt, and most of the flour. Knead until smooth.
- Let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
- Combine brown sugar, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup flour, and cinnamon. Stir in 4 tablespoons melted butter.
- Roll dough into a rectangle. Spread filling and cream cheese mixture in a center strip.
- Fold sides over filling, braid, and form a ring.
- Let rise until puffy, then bake until golden.
- Mix 2 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth.
- Spread on warm cake and add purple, green, and gold sugar.