A warm, ring-shaped bread with bright sugar and a small hidden surprise inside, Mardi Gras King Cake makes any party feel like Carnival. It is soft, sweet, and meant to be shared.
INTRODUCTION
Mardi Gras King Cake is a sweet, braided bread that people eat for the Carnival season. It comes from New Orleans. The dough is soft and rich. A small plastic baby hides inside the cake. The baby stands for good luck and a fun tradition. Families and friends pass the cake around. Whoever finds the baby must host the next party.
This recipe makes a cake with cinnamon, brown sugar, and pecans. It bakes to a light brown crust and a tender crumb. If you like sweet breads and simple pastries, you may also enjoy the perfect pancakes recipe that works well for a slow morning of baking.
WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE
You will love this Mardi Gras King Cake because it is warm, soft, and full of cinnamon flavor. The dough is easy to make with a stand mixer or by hand. It rises twice for a light and fluffy texture. The filling is simple: butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans if you like them. The roll bakes into a pretty ring. You can add colored sugar on top, or a simple glaze.
This cake fits many events. It works for a holiday, a family brunch, or a work party. The baby surprise adds joy and a reason to laugh. The recipe is forgiving, so new bakers can follow it with no fear. For more sweet ideas to pair with your coffee, try the fruity apple cupcakes recipe which is a nice, simple dessert.
HOW TO MAKE Mardi Gras King Cake
This section walks you through the full plan. Read each step first. Set out your ingredients and tools. The dough needs time to rise, so plan for about three hours total with rest times.
Start by softening room temperatures. Use warm milk and warm eggs. Mix the yeast with milk and sugar to wake it up. Make a dough, let it rise, then roll and fill it. Shape the cake into a circle and let it rise again. Bake it until the cake is golden brown. Finish with glaze and colored sugar if you want bright purple, green, and gold on top. For another sweet traybake idea to serve with coffee, look at the blueberry orange traybake pancake for more color and flavor.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
You will need a few simple tools. You likely have most of them in your kitchen:
- Stand Mixer & Paddle Attachment
- Bench Scraper
- Small Bowls
- Liquid measuring cup
- Dry Measuring cups
- Fork or small whisk
- Pastry Brush
- King Cake Baby
Ingredients You’ll Need :
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
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS :
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
Serve the cake warm or at room temperature. Slice with a sharp knife. The slices show the spiral layers and the sugar filling. Place the small plastic baby in a slice only if you want the finder to get the baby. Many people hide the baby before serving so the baby can be found while the cake is eaten.
Top the cake with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Add colored sugar in purple, green, and gold to match the Mardi Gras theme. Offer coffee, tea, or hot chocolate with the cake. For a colorful party table, you can pair the cake with small sweet bites like red velvet cake pops that bring bright color and fun shape to the spread.
STORAGE & FREEZING : Mardi Gras King Cake
Store the cake at room temperature in an airtight container for up to two days. If the weather is warm, keep the cake in the fridge to prevent spoilage. Wrap slices well in plastic wrap or foil before refrigerating.
To freeze, wrap the whole cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw the cake in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for a few hours. Warm in a low oven for 5-10 minutes if you want a fresh-baked feel.
For bread and pastry tips, check baking categories that cover simple treats, like this collection of pancake recipes, for ideas on storing and serving other baked goods.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
- Serve with coffee or spiced tea for a cozy brunch.
- Offer slices with fresh fruit on the side.
- Make small individual portions and wrap them for guests to take home.
- Add whipped cream or a light cream cheese spread for a richer taste.
- Use the cake as a dessert at a themed party with beads and bright napkins.
VARIATIONS
- Pecan and cream cheese: Add a thin layer of sweetened cream cheese beneath the cinnamon filling, then sprinkle pecans.
- Fruit twist: Add a few tablespoons of raisin or chopped dried fruit to the filling.
- Chocolate: Add a light spread of chocolate or Nutella before the brown sugar to make a richer roll.
- Savory note: For a party, make a smaller savory version with herbs and cheese (skip sugary glaze).
If you want other sweet traybake ideas, try the fruity traybake link for more crowd-pleasing options: blueberry orange traybake pancake.
FAQs
Q: Can I make the dough by hand?
A: Yes. The dough works well by hand. Mix, then knead for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth.
Q: Do I need a stand mixer?
A: No. A stand mixer makes the job easier, but hand mixing works fine.
Q: Can I skip the pecans?
A: Yes. Pecans are optional. The cake will still taste great without them.
Q: Where do I put the baby?
A: Traditionally, you hide the baby inside the cooled cake. Some bakers place it under the cake or in one slice. Use care to avoid plastic in a slice someone might bite into.
Q: How do I color the sugar?
A: Use a few drops of food color mixed with a bit of sugar. Spread the colored sugar on top after the glaze sets.
MAKE-AHEAD TIPS FOR Mardi Gras King Cake
Make the dough and finish the first rise the day before. Wrap the dough bowl with plastic and chill in the fridge overnight. The dough will rise slowly and develop more flavor. In the morning, shape the dough, fill it, and let it complete the second rise before baking.
You can also bake the cake a day ahead and store it well wrapped. Add the glaze and colored sugar just before serving to keep the sugar bright.
Keep simple steps in mind: rest the dough, do not rush the rises, and cool the cake slightly before cutting. This makes the cake easier to slice and more pleasant to eat.
Notes on safety and tips:
- Use the room temperature egg and warm milk as the steps say.
- If your oven runs hot, check the cake a few minutes early.
- If you hide the baby, tell guests after they eat which slice has the baby to avoid any hazard.
Enjoy this sweet, shared tradition. Make the cake with friends or family and pass around a slice. The hidden baby will bring smiles and a reason to plan the next celebration.
Mardi Gras King Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
- Place eggs in warm water for 5 minutes to bring to room temperature.
- In a bowl, mix warm milk, yeast, and 1 tbsp sugar. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
- In a stand mixer bowl, combine yeast mixture, eggs, and melted butter.
- Add flour, remaining sugar, salt, and mix until well incorporated.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5-7 minutes.
- Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 60 minutes.
- Punch dough down and knead for 1-2 minutes.
- Roll dough into a large rectangle, about 20 inches long.
- Spread softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon on the dough.
- Sprinkle chopped pecans if desired.
- Roll the dough tightly and form a ring, sealing ends with water/milk.
- Let rise for an additional 60 minutes.
- Brush the top with milk and bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool the cake for 15-20 minutes before serving.
- Top with a glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla, and add colored sugar as desired.