Home > Recipes > Desserts > Cakes > Traditional Mardi Gras King Cake
by Michelle
March 8, 2011 (updated Feb 15, 2020)
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4.68 (25 ratings)[donotprint]
Happy Fat Tuesday everyone! I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the day than by sharing a traditional king cake; king cakes are traditionally made for Mardi Gras celebrations. It’s hard to believe that the Easter season is already here, but before the fasting and sacrifices begin with the Lenten season tomorrow, there is one last day to live it up and fill up on all of your favorite treats! This king cake completes the Mardi Gras trifecta for me this year: shrimp and sausage jambalaya, homemade moon pies, and now the king cake. I have enjoyed learning more about the traditions and sharing them with you; I hope you’ve enjoyed the stories and recipes as well!
This cake is a yeasted sweet dough, spread with cinnamon-sugar filling, rolled up and shaped into a ring, very similar to a yeasted coffeecake. The dough itself is very soft and easy to work with, and although there are many components to this recipe, it is not all that difficult. It took me about four hours from start to finish to make this, but that also includes time during which the dough was rising, which is not active prep time. The resulting cake is soft, tender, flavorful and packed with a cinnamon-sugar filling. I love how colorful the cake is, and I will definitely be making it again and again!
If you observe Lent, are you giving anything up this year?
One year ago: Allspice Crumb Muffins
Two years ago: Cucidati – Italian Fig Cookies
Three years ago: Tiramisu[/donotprint]
Mardi Gras King Cake
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
Prep Time: 35 minutes mins
Cook Time: 25 minutes mins
Resting Time: 3 hours hrs
Total Time: 4 hours hrs
The perfect cake for a celebration
4.68 (25 ratings)
Print Pin Rate
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 ounces (226.8 ml) sour cream
- 5 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided into 4 tablespoons & 1 tablespoon
- Pinch of salt
- 1 package active dry yeast, 2¼ teaspoons
- ¼ cup (62.5 ml) warm water, between 100 and 110 degrees
- 1 egg
- 3 to 3½ cups (360 to 420 g) all-purpose flour
- Oil for your hands and the bowl
For the Filling:
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons of melted butter
For the Icing:
- 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 4 tablespoons whole milk
- Pinch of salt
For the Colored Sugars:
- 1½ cups (300 g) superfine sugar, not powdered sugar, separated into ½ cups
- Food coloring - Yellow, Green, Blue & Red
Instructions
1. To Make the Dough: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a small or medium saucepan over medium heat, add the butter, 4 tablespoons of the sugar and the salt; stir. Once the butter has melted, add the sour cream and heat to luke warm, about 105 degrees. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, add ¼ cup warm water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of the sugar; stir. Allow the yeast to sit for about five minutes until it bubbles and becomes active.
2. Once the yeast is active, whisk in the warm butter and sour cream mixture, the egg, and 1 cup of the flour. Whisk until smooth. Using an oiled wooden spoon, being mixing in small amounts of the remaining flour until you form a soft dough. This will take about another 2 cups of flour. You want the dough to be tacky, but not sticky.
3. Turn the dough out onto a clean surface lightly dusted with flour. With oiled hands, knead the dough until and elastic, about 5 to 10 minutes, adding more flour by the teaspoon if needed.
4. Place the ball of dough into a large, well-oiled bowl, then flip the dough so all of the surface area of the dough is oiled. Cover the bowl with oiled plastic wrap and a hand towel, then set the bowl in a warm, draft-free area and allow the dough to rise until it has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
5. While the dough is rising make the filling. Combine the melted butter, cinnamon and sugar in a medium bowl and stir to fully combine.
6. Once the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Lightly flour the dough and a rolling pin. Roll the dough into a rectangle about 18 inches long by 14 inches wide.
Spread the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the outside of the dough.
7. Roll the cake up jellyroll-style and pinch the seams shut.
Carefully move the roll to a parchment-line baking sheet, seam-side down. Bring the ends together to form an oval and press the edges together to completely seal the cake into an oval.
8. Once again, cover the cake with oiled plastic wrap and a hand towel and allow it to rise for another 30 minutes.
9. During the second rise, make the colored sugars. Place ½ cup of superfine sugar into three separate bowls. Using the food coloring, make one bowl of green sugar, one bowl of yellow sugar, and one bowl of purple sugar (by mixing the blue and red). Use the back of a spoon or a pestle, work the food coloring into the sugar by grinding it against the side of the bowl and working the coloring throughout all of the sugar. Continue this until the sugar is uniform in color and there are no clumps. I used 12 drops of food coloring total for each of the colors.
10. Once 30 minutes have passed, remove the plastic wrap and hand towel from the cake and bake in the upper third of the oven for about 25 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown. Immediately transfer the cake to a cooling rack after removing it from the oven. Allow the cake to cool for at least 20 minutes before icing the cake.
11. Once the cake has cooled for 15 minutes, make the icing. Whisk together the powdered sugar, salt, vanilla, melted butter and milk until smooth. You want the icing to be able to drizzle easily but not just run right off the cake, so if the icing is to thin, just whisk in more powdered sugar and if the icing is too thick whisk in a touch more milk. After the cake has had a chance to cool, move the cake to whatever platter you wish to serve it on. (At this point, stick a dried bean or little plastic baby into the cake through the bottom. It's tradition in Louisiana that whoever gets the baby has to spring for the next cake! Elsewhere, it's a sign of good luck.) Slide pieces of wax paper under the cake so that it can catch any icing or sugar drips.
12. Drizzle the icing evenly over the cake and allow it ooze down the sides. Before the icing has a chance to set, sprinkle on rotating strips of colored sugar. Slide the wax paper pieces out from under the cake and discard. King cake can be served warm or at room temperature.
Calories: 676kcal, Carbohydrates: 125g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 62mg, Sodium: 94mg, Potassium: 118mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 88g, Vitamin A: 525IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 56mg, Iron: 2.4mg
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
Author: Michelle
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Process Photos:
Originally published March 8, 2011 — (last updated February 15, 2020)
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67 Comments on “Traditional Mardi Gras King Cake”
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Mary Celedonia — Reply
Delicious…dough rolled with ease…
I did increase the filling mixture…
took a bit longer to bake than the recommended time
This will be my go to recipe when I want sweet bread including nut roll. -
Kristeen — Reply
I let mine rise 30 mins longer the first rise, added a little flower to it as needed while mixing the initial dough, and added some powdered sugar to the glaze to thicken it up, but it came out great! Thank you. Used for a 5th grade Louisiana state project!!!
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Bethany — Reply
I have a question about step 2..it says it use an oiled wooden spoon to incorporate a remaining 2 cups of flour – but no where else have you incorporated flour at all and the ingredient lists 3 – 3.5 cups of flour…I just wonder if you meant to add one cup first and then another two? What am I missing ? Looking forward to making this..:)
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Bethany — Reply
My bad…I just re read ….thanks !!
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Bethany —
I made this yesterday and it turned out great. My husband and I moved to Texas from New Orleans so each year when carnival season begins I make King Cakes…this is my new recipe. Thanks for a great recipe and for the detailed instructions. Very easy to make and the result was just what I was looking for :) I won’t be changing a thing.
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Virginia Parnell — Reply
Made
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Kara — Reply
I am so glad I found this recipe! After buying a terrible king cake at the grocery store, I was resolved to bake one. Tried a different recipe last year, and that didn’t work at all, so I was hesitant to try again. I used your recipe for the dough and icing, storebought colored sugars, and since our favorite filling is cream cheese, grabbed that filling recipe from another bloggers’ website. The result was heaven! I was surprised at how easy this was to bake, and I will do it again next year.
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Zoe — Reply
This was the best King Cake ever! Just so amazing! We ate it a little bit warm and it tasted so good! You got the texture perfect! Thank you so much for this great recipe!
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R — Reply
This is a great recipe! I have made it many times. Now, my family is gluten-free, so I’m going to give it a whirl with some gluten free flour. Will report back as to how it turns out…
Thank you for the delicious inspiration!-
R — Reply
Hi there! Just wondering if you tried this with gf flour or not?
Thank you!
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Sasha — Reply
So good! Made this for my french class and they loved it. Do this to a t it is worth it.
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M from Portland — Reply
I’ve made this twice and it’s delicious! The second time I filled it with a praline cream cheese filling from a Southern Living recipe (no offense Brown Eyed Baker!), and that was pretty tasty too. Both times I didn’t make my ring big enough (although, I measured my rollout to the specifications) and during baking it expanded so much there was no center opening any more… Not that it affected the flavor, but I’d like to get that part right. A couple of notes/hacks: 1. I used my oven for rising the dough, so I didn’t preheat right away, I turned on the light when I started getting ready to make the dough; that seemed to create the warmth the dough needed to rise. And 2. I have small containers I used to make the colored sugar – shaking vigourously with the lid on worked great to distribute color, next time though, I’d mix the red/blue prior to adding to the sugar. I found that 3 tablespoons of sugar + 6 drops of dye for each color was plenty (I still threw some away).
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Ana — Reply
Made this king cake recipe for the Super Bowl this weekend and it turned out so well! Your instructions were spot on. Thanks for the recipe!
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kesha — Reply
I would love to make this but I am lactose intolerant Are there any substitutions for the sour cream and milk
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Michelle — Reply
Hi Kesha, Unfortunately I’ve never done any dairy substitutes in yeast cakes like this. So sorry!
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Veritable Southeast Alaska Lodge — Reply
Thanks SO much for the recipe I can make myself! I love making the King’s cakes and this is a great version . It is a popular dessert whenever I bring it for a crowd.
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Jennifer Intrieri — Reply
Can I make ahead, if so, should I wait until the day I serve it to pit the icing and sugar on it?
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Michelle — Reply
Hi Jennifer, You can, but I wouldn’t recommend more than a day in advance. It would probably store best if you wait to do the icing the day you serve it.
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Rebecca — Reply
I’ve been wanting to make this recipe the past year or so and finally did it last night. It was soo good! Thanks for sharing. Your recipes you post/share never fail me!
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Vee — Reply
I made this today, I didn’t have purple sugar so I used pink. My lent goal is to limit processed foods. And artificial sweeteners.
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Cheryl — Reply
Try a savarin pan or a Trois Freres tin for your lovely yeast cake. I will use your recipe for the new pans I just bought. And we have Carnival this weekend – Greatest Show on Earth!
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Suzi — Reply
I’m going to make this this weekend, I think it’s funny that you say to turn the oven on and then the dough has to rise for an hour and a half. With working the dough in between the two rises, the oven would be on for two hours probably. I think it makes more sense to preheat the oven after you finish forming the cake into the ring.
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Melanie — Reply
I just stumbled upon this. Every year I get a King Cake from New Orleans for my birthday. And if Mardi Gras is late like this year (or early) some times the cake doesn’t make it. I will so have to use this as a substitute. Though I noticed you didn’t bake the little baby inside. Finding it is almost as good as eating the cake. :)
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Charles — Reply
Looks great! Just made one myself! I was wondering, what kind of baking mat you had there. It looks like it has a ruled edge and a center that indicates the circumference. That looks really helpful, and would love to get my hands on one!
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Michelle — Reply
Hi Charles, It’s a silicone rolling mat from King Arthur Flour. I absolutely love it!
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/silicone-rolling-mat
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Mackenzie @ The Caramel Cookie — Reply
The king cake looks great! I have a box mix king cake I was going to use instead of making one from stratch. Unfortunately I didn’t have enough time to make that either!
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Tiffany — Reply
This is perfect! Yesterday, I had a king cake with cream cheese filling. I love your cinnamon swirl!
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Peggy — Reply
What a beautiful king’s cake!
I don’t think I’m giving up anything this year, I’ve already given up enough as my New Year’s resolution’s so I’m just going to keep sticking to those! =)
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Kat @ Cupcake Kat — Reply
Beautiful cake!
For lent this year I am giving up peanut butter (I LOVE peanut butter) and I am also going to strive to focus on my school studies more-
Michelle — Reply
Thanks Kat! As you know, I’m a big peanut butter fan too… I gave it up one year for Lent when I was younger, probably around middle school. I totally devoured toast slathered in PB&J for breakfast on Easter morning that year ;-)
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Joy — Reply
Hmmmm I have never had a king cake. I have been dying for one.
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Liz — Reply
OH, yum!!! My family would gobble this up…I need to keep your recipe in mind for next Fat Tuesday :)
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Skylar — Reply
I ate one of these today, and I honestly don’t know why I don’t make one more often. Looks delicious!
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Threemealsaday — Reply
Great looking King Cake. I tried three different versions this year including a cupcake type. I have saved your recipe for next years trials.
Cheers
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Hannah at FleurDeLicious — Reply
so pretty! your colored sugars are lovely, i like that you used superfine sugar. i like the idea of using sour cream in the dough…i made one but it was all butter and egg yolks. still yummy, but i’ll have to try this version next year! (or i just won’t wait until mardi gras to make one…)
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Firefly — Reply
It looks amazing!
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Cooking Rookie — Reply
Such a happy cake!
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kitchenarian — Reply
Very festive. I love it. I am definitely making one next year.
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Lori @ RecipeGirl — Reply
I suppose I’ll have to do one of these King Cakes one of these days! They’re so pretty & you did a mighty fabulous job w/ yours!
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Kelly @ Evil Shenanigans — Reply
We had some friends from New Orleans when I was growing up and they would make us a King Cake each year. She would bring it over when it was still a little warm. It was SO good! Yours looks so delicious, and very pretty!
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Elyse @ The Cultural Dish — Reply
This looks so beautiful! Love it!
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RavieNomNoms — Reply
That looks so gorgeous and delicious!
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Becky — Reply
i made a King Cake ,too this year, but it took me a lot longer than 4 hours. I am a novice to baking with yeast, so everything took longer. It did turn out though, and like yours was very good. Every King cake, that I have seen, looks a little bit different.
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Celeste — Reply
This cake is gorgeous!
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Kim — Reply
I made two King Cakes this year (my first attempt). I used PW’s cinnamon roll dough and made a creamcheese/brown sugar/cinnamon filling. It came out great, but nothing compared to Ambrosia Bakery in Baton Rouge. They have THE best King Cake’s in all of Louisiana.
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Made With Pink — Reply
Ooh I’m so glad to see you made this! I live in the UK (originally Canadian) and they’re crazy for pancakes here today. I blog about the differences between baking in North America and the UK. I had planned on making a King Cake on top of the 2 types of pancakes I made, but just didn’t have the time. So glad to see you’ve made this, as I’ve never actually tried or seen a King Cake before. I still really want to make it, so will give your recipe a try! Thanks!
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This looks so good – light and melt-in-your mouth! Amazing!
I also wanted to let you know that I’ve passed on a ‘Stylish Blogger Award’ to you. Im sure you probably get lots (!) but I really love reading your blog and seeing your beautiful pics.
http://vanillacloudsandlemondrops.blogspot.com/2011/03/pink-champagne-truffles-and-awards.html -
Kim - Liv Life — Reply
Gorgeous cake! My daughter did a state project on Louisiana last year and of course the King Cake was fully covered (along with beignets!). We made our first King Cake this year too, I think it will become a tradition!
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Rachel @ The Avid Appetite — Reply
This looks beautiful and very springy!
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Delishhh — Reply
Oh that is gorgeous. For Fat Tuesday in Sweden we do Semlor – http://delishhh.com/2011/03/06/the-swedish-semla-or-lent-buns/ Basically it is a cardamon bun, with almond paste, and whipped cream and you eat it in a bowl with warm milk.
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Sara — Reply
This looks delicious! I haven’t had King Cake in so long! As for Lent, I’m giving up one of my biggest vices: soda. I hate diet soda anyway, so it’s all or nothing in this case. :)
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Fit Chick Britt — Reply
I want some King Cake so bad! This look delicious. In observance of Lent I’ll be giving up meat and wine. I think the second part will be tough, but I’ll get through it :-)
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Cate — Reply
Yum! I made my first King Cake this year and this one looks yummy! I like that it has cinnamon whereas mine is filled with a cream cheese filling.
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A Bowl Of Mush — Reply
This is so beautiful!! Happy Mardi Gras!!
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Erica — Reply
Love King Cake! I am Definitely going to make this.
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jen @ the baked life — Reply
yum looks delicious and colourful!
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kate@ahealthypassion — Reply
this cake looks so amazing I love the colored sugars
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Katrina — Reply
I’ve never heard of this before! Cool recipe :)
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Sharlene — Reply
I haven’t tried king cake out yet since I live in the North but it really makes me jealous that I don’t live elsewhere! I’ll have to make it sometime so I can taste its deliciousness.
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Lauren @chigallauren — Reply
How fun!! Looks great!
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Nisrine M. — Reply
I celebratd Mardi Gras a bit early this year with my students with games and contests but we didn’t do the cake. This is one I’ll have to remember for next year. Very nicely made.
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Hezzi-D — Reply
Your King Cake looks great! I made one last night as well, but yours has such a beautiful color to it, and looks wonderful when it’s cut.
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Happy When Not Hungry — Reply
King Cake is delicious and yours looks beautiful! Perfect for Mardi Gras!
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Lisa (Dishes of Mrs. Fish) — Reply
I had my first King Cake at our church’s Mardi Grais party on Saturday. It was delicious, so I’ll be saving this to make next year. Or next week. :)
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Blog is the New Black — Reply
Very pretty! Sounds delicious!
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Adriana — Reply
This king cake looks amazing! I have to try including sour cream in the dough next time. Happy Mardi Gras!
