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A slice of king cake served on a white plate with visible filling.

Traditional Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Make your own authentic Mardi Gras king cake at home with this step-by-step recipe! Soft brioche dough, cinnamon sugar filling, colorful icing, and festive sprinkles bring this Louisiana tradition to life.
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CourseCakes, Dessert
CuisineAmerican
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Servings12 slices
Calories370kcal

Ingredients

For the Dough:

  • ½ cup warm water 110°F / 43°C
  • 2¼ tsp active dry yeast
  • ½ cup granulated sugar divided
  • ½ cup warm milk
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour

For the Filling:

  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup chopped pecans optional
  • ½ cup softened butter
  • For the Glaze:
  • 1½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 –3 tbsp milk
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Decorations:

  • Purple green, and gold sugar sprinkles
  • 1 plastic king cake baby optional

Instructions

Activate the Yeast:

  • In a small bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Let it sit for 10 minutes until foamy.

Mix the Dough:

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine warm milk, melted butter, eggs, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon. Add the yeast mixture and mix well. Gradually add remaining sugar and flour, one cup at a time, until dough forms.

Knead and Let Rise:

  • Knead dough by hand or using a dough hook for 8–10 minutes until smooth. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1–1½ hours or until doubled.

Prepare the Filling:

  • Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped pecans. Set aside.

Roll and Fill:

  • After rising, punch down dough and roll into a 10x20 inch rectangle. Spread with softened butter and sprinkle the filling evenly.

Shape the Cake:

  • Roll up the dough from the long side like a jelly roll. Shape into a ring and pinch the ends to seal.

Second Rise:

  • Place on parchment-lined baking sheet, cover, and let rise for another 30–45 minutes.

Bake the Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 25–30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool completely.

Insert the Baby (Optional):

  • Once cool, make a small slit in the bottom of the cake and insert the king cake baby.

Decorate:

  • Mix powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk to make glaze. Drizzle over cooled cake, then sprinkle alternating stripes of purple, green, and gold sugar.

Notes

  • For a variation, add cream cheese, fruit jam, or chocolate spread inside.
  • If using cream cheese filling, refrigerate the cake after baking.
  • Freeze without glaze, then thaw and decorate just before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Sugar: 25g
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