Overview
This Mardi Gras King Cake is a sweet, soft braided bread filled with cinnamon, brown sugar, and pecans. It has a glaze that you can color purple, green, and gold for the Mardi Gras look. You can bake it for a party or for a holiday treat. This cake is rich but easy to share, and it reminds people of New Orleans and celebration. It is similar in feel to an apple and raisin cake recipe in how it mixes warm spices and sweet dough.
introduction
This cake uses a yeast dough that rises twice. The filling is cinnamon and brown sugar with butter and nuts. You roll the dough, form a ring, and bake until golden. After it cools a bit, you glaze and add the colored sugars. A small plastic baby is often hidden inside for fun.
why make this recipe
- It feeds a group and looks festive.
- It combines simple pantry ingredients into a warm, soft bread.
- You can make it ahead and finish with a fresh glaze.
- It is a fun tradition to share at gatherings.
how to make Mardi Gras King Cake
Follow the dough, fill it, roll it tight, and form a ring. Let it rise twice and bake until golden. Cool slightly before glazing so the glaze does not melt away. Hide the King Cake baby inside after baking or tuck it in a slice when serving.
Ingredients :
- 1 cup warm milk
- 1 packet instant rise yeast
- 1⁄4 cup melted butter
- 1⁄4 cup granulated sugar + 1tbsp, 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 :
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
- Remove egg from fridge and place into a bowl of warm water for 5 mins to bring it up to room temperature.
- 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.
- After 10 mins, pour yeast mixture, eggs, melted butter into the bottom of your stand mixer – or whisk by hand.
- Mix until combined, then add flour, sugar, salt, and flour. Mix until well incorporated.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead* for 5-7 mins.
- 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.
- 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.
- Roll the dough out into a large rectangle, about 20 inches long.
- Brush on softened butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Cover the entire dough. Sprinkle on pecans (this is optional).
- Tightly roll the dough longways, in a similar fashion to a jelly roll.
- 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.
- 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.
- Let the cake cool for 15-20 mins.
how to serve Mardi Gras King Cake
- Slice the cake and place the King Cake baby in one slice if you want a surprise.
- Drizzle with the powdered sugar glaze (mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla) and sprinkle colored sugars or food-colored glaze in purple, green, and gold.
- Serve warm or at room temperature with coffee or milk.
how to store Mardi Gras King Cake
- Room temp: Keep in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Fridge: Store covered for up to 5 days; bring to room temp before serving.
- Freeze: Wrap well in plastic and foil and freeze up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then warm before serving.
tips to make Mardi Gras King Cake
- Use warm milk (not hot) to activate the yeast.
- Bring eggs to room temp to mix evenly.
- Roll the dough tight to avoid gaps in the filling.
- Let it rise twice for a soft crumb.
- Brush with milk before baking for a light crust color.
- Wait 15-20 minutes before glazing so glaze stays on the cake.
variation (if any)
- Fill with cream cheese: Spread a sweetened cream cheese layer under the cinnamon mix.
- Fruit fill: Add chopped dried fruit like raisins or apple pieces with the brown sugar.
- Nut-free: Skip pecans for a nut-free version.
- Mini cakes: Make smaller rings for individual servings.
FAQs
Q: Can I use active dry yeast instead of instant?
A: Yes. If you use active dry yeast, proof it in the warm milk with sugar for 10 mins before mixing.
Q: When do I put in the King Cake baby?
A: Many people wait until after baking and cooling to hide the baby to keep it clean. If you bake it inside, wrap the baby in foil first.
Q: How do I get the purple, green, and gold colors?
A: Mix a little food coloring into small bowls of colored sugar or into separate small glaze batches and pour them in stripes.
Q: Can I make this without a stand mixer?
A: Yes. You can mix and knead by hand on a floured surface for the same times.
Q: Why didn’t my dough rise?
A: The milk may have been too hot or the yeast old. Use warm (not hot) liquid and fresh yeast.
Mardi Gras King Cake
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A festive sweet, soft braided bread filled with cinnamon, brown sugar, and pecans, perfect for Mardi Gras celebrations.
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 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 6 tbsp softened unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1.5 cups powdered sugar
- 1.5 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
- Place egg in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes.
- Combine warm milk, yeast, and 1 tbsp sugar in a bowl; let sit for 5-10 minutes.
- Pour yeast mixture, eggs, and melted butter into stand mixer; mix until combined.
- Add flour, remaining sugar, salt, and mix until well incorporated.
- Knead dough on lightly floured surface for 5-7 minutes.
- Place dough in bowl with 2 tbsp olive oil, cover and let rise for 60 minutes.
- Punch down dough and knead again for 1-2 minutes.
- Roll out into a large rectangle, brush with butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar, and sprinkle pecans.
- Roll dough tightly and shape into a ring, sealing ends with water or milk.
- Let rise for another 60 minutes, brush with milk, and bake in a 375-degree oven for 25-30 minutes.
- Cool for 15-20 minutes before glazing.
- Slice and drizzle with glaze; sprinkle colored sugars or food coloring.
Notes
Hide the King Cake baby inside for a fun surprise or place in a slice when serving. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
