Mardi Gras King Cake

Mardi Gras King Cake is a sweet braided cake with cinnamon, sugar, and a little surprise inside. People eat it for fun during Mardi Gras. The cake is soft, sweet, and festive with purple, green, and gold icing if you like.

why make this recipe

• It tastes rich and cinnamon-sweet.
• You can make it at home with simple tools.
• It is a happy party cake to share with friends and family.

how to make Mardi Gras King Cake

Follow the steps below in order. Use the Ingredients and Directions sections for details.

1. Warm the milk and proof the yeast with 1 tablespoon sugar.
2. Mix yeast, eggs, and melted butter, then add flour, sugar, and salt.
3. Knead the dough until smooth. Let it rise in oil for 60 minutes.
4. Punch the dough down, roll it into a rectangle, and add butter, cinnamon, sugar, and pecans.
5. Roll the dough longways, shape into a circle, and seal the ends.
6. Let the cake rise again for 60 minutes, brush with milk, and bake until golden.
7. Cool for 15–20 minutes before adding glaze or decorations.

Ingredients :

• 1 cup warm milk
• 1 packet instant rise yeast
• 1⁄4 cup melted butter
• 1⁄4 cup granulated sugar + 1 tbsp, separated
• 2 large eggs
• 1⁄2 tsp salt
• 4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 6 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1.5 cup powdered sugar
• 1.5 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• Stand Mixer & Paddle Attachment
• Bench Scraper
• Small Bowls
• Liquid measuring cup
• Dry Measuring cups
• Fork or small whisk
• Pastry Brush
• King Cake Baby

Directions :

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
2. Remove egg from fridge and place into a bowl of warm water for 5 mins to bring it up to room temperature.
3. Add warm milk, yeast, and 1 tbsp sugar to a bowl and stir with a fork or whisk. Let it sit for 5-10 mins.
4. After 10 mins, pour yeast mixture, eggs, melted butter into the bottom of your stand mixer – or whisk by hand.
5. Mix until combined, then add flour, sugar, salt, and flour. Mix until well incorporated.
6. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead* for 5-7 mins.
7. After the dough ball is nice and smooth, place 2 tbsp olive oil in the bottom of a large bowl and place dough on top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (preferably near the oven) for 60 mins.
8. After 60 mins, punch dough down to release the air. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead once again for 1-2 mins.
9. Roll the dough out into a large rectangle, about 20 inches long.
10. Brush on softened butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Cover the entire dough. Sprinkle on pecans (this is optional).
11. Tightly roll the dough longways, in a similar fashion to a jelly roll.
12. Transfer your Mardi Gras king cake dough to a parchment-lined baking dish. Bring the two ends together in a circle or oval shape and seal with water or milk.
13. Cover and let rise for an additional 60 mins. Brush with milk before baking. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 25-30 mins or until golden brown.
14. Let the cake cool for 15-20 mins.

how to serve Mardi Gras King Cake

• Hide the King Cake Baby in a slice for a fun surprise.
• Add a simple glaze with powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.
• If you like, tint the glaze purple, green, and gold and drizzle on top.

how to store Mardi Gras King Cake

• Keep the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
• For longer storage, wrap well and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

tips to make Mardi Gras King Cake

• Use warm milk, not hot, so the yeast wakes but does not die.
• Knead until the dough is smooth and slightly elastic.
• Let the dough rise in a warm spot, around the oven or in a turned-off oven with the light on.
• Seal the ends well so the filling stays inside while baking.
• Add the baby only after the cake cools a bit to avoid melting or catching.

variation

• Add cream cheese to the filling for a richer cake.
• Use raisins, chopped candied fruit, or omit pecans for nut-free.
• Make a braided shape instead of a circle for a different look.

FAQs

Q: Can I use active dry yeast instead of instant yeast? A: Yes. If you use active dry yeast, dissolve it in the warm milk with the 1 tbsp sugar and wait until it foams before mixing with the other ingredients.

Q: Do I have to use a stand mixer? A: No. You can mix and knead by hand. A stand mixer just saves time and effort.

Q: When do I hide the King Cake Baby? A: Place the baby in the cake after it cools a little. You can also hand a baby to the person who serves the slices.

Q: My dough is sticky. What do I do? A: Add a little flour, a tablespoon at a time, while kneading until it is soft but not too sticky.

Q: The top browns too fast. Any fix? A: Cover the cake loosely with foil partway through baking until it finishes.

Conclusion

For a classic recipe and clear photos, see this Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe – Sprinkle Bakes guide. For another trusted version and tips, read Mardi Gras King Cake – Nancie McDermott.

this …

Mardi Gras King Cake

A festive, sweet braided cake with cinnamon, sugar, and a hidden surprise for Mardi Gras celebrations.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Calories: 350

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Dough ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk Use warm milk, not hot, to activate yeast.
• 1 packet instant rise yeast Can substitute with active dry yeast.
• 1/4 cup melted butter For mixing into dough.
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar Plus 1 tablespoon separated for activating yeast.
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp olive oil For greasing the bowl.

Filling and Topping ingredients

• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 6 tbsp softened unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans Optional; can omit for nut-free.
• 1.5 cups powdered sugar
• 1.5 tbsp milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Method

 

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
2. Place the egg in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes to bring it to room temperature.
3. In a bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar, then let sit for 5-10 minutes.
4. In a stand mixer or bowl, combine the yeast mixture, eggs, and melted butter. Mix until combined.
5. Add the flour, sugar, salt, and mix until well incorporated.
6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth.
7. Place the dough in a bowl greased with olive oil, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 60 minutes.

Shaping and Rising

1. Punch the dough down to release air and knead for 1-2 minutes.
2. Roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 20 inches long.
3. Brush with softened butter, and sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar over the surface. Optionally sprinkle pecans.
4. Roll the dough tightly into a jelly roll shape and seal the ends to form a circle.
5. Cover and let rise for an additional 60 minutes. Brush with milk before baking.

Baking

1. Bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
2. Let the cake cool for 15-20 minutes before adding the glaze or decorations.

Notes

To serve, hide a King Cake Baby inside the cake for fun. Make a simple glaze by mixing powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla; consider tinting the glaze for the festive colors.