Royal Cinnamon Roll King Cake Recipe: A Sweet Celebration

Mardi Gras celebrations burst with vibrant colors and spirited desserts like this delectable cinnamon roll king cake that captures the essence of New Orleans.

Sweet traditions swirl together in every delightful bite of this festive treat.

Layers of buttery dough and warm cinnamon create a magical dessert perfect for any carnival gathering.

Colorful sprinkles dance across the golden surface, promising a delicious adventure.

Rich cream cheese glaze adds a decadent touch that transforms this classic pastry into a show-stopping centerpiece.

Each slice tells a story of culinary passion and cultural celebration.

Bakers will fall in love with this crowd-pleasing recipe that brings the spirit of Mardi Gras right to your kitchen.

Ways To Serve Cinnamon Roll King Cake

• Party Perfect Plating: Slice this stunning King Cake onto a festive serving platter decorated with Mardi Gras colors to instantly elevate your celebration.
• Carnival Companion Treats: Pair slices with traditional New Orleans-style chicory coffee or a bold espresso to complement the sweet cinnamon flavors and bring authentic Louisiana spirit to your dessert.
• Interactive Dessert Experience: Encourage guests to search for the hidden plastic baby, explaining the playful tradition that whoever finds it must host the next party or bring the King Cake next year, adding excitement and cultural fun to your gathering.
• Sweet Sharing Style: Cut the cake into generous wedges and serve on individual colorful plates that match the purple, green, and gold decorative sugar, creating a vibrant and festive presentation that captures the joyful Mardi Gras mood.

Keep Cinnamon Roll King Cake Fresh And Soft

• Fresh Slice Strategy: Cut cake into portions within 2 hours of baking to maintain optimal texture and prevent moisture loss.
• Refrigeration Technique: Store covered cake in airtight container for 3-4 days, keeping plastic wrap directly against cut surfaces to prevent drying.
• Freezer-Friendly Method: Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, storing up to 2 months for later enjoyment without compromising taste or quality.
• Room Temperature Wisdom: Keep cake at cool room temperature for 24 hours, placing under cake dome or loose covering to retain softness while preventing condensation buildup.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Calories: 374 kcal

Servings: 13

What Goes In Cinnamon Roll King Cake

• Flour: Provides sturdy foundation for cake's structure, choose unbleached all-purpose for best texture.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps activate yeast, use granulated white sugar for consistent results.
• Yeast: Crucial for rising and creating soft texture, ensure it's fresh and active.
• Milk: Helps activate yeast and creates rich dough, use warm milk at precise temperature.
• Salt: Enhances flavor and controls yeast activity, use fine table salt.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps develop tender crumb, select unsalted for better control.
• Egg: Binds ingredients and provides structure, use room temperature for smooth incorporation.
• Vanilla: Introduces warm, aromatic undertone, opt for pure extract over artificial.

• Brown Sugar: Creates deep caramel notes, select freshly soft brown sugar.
• Cinnamon: Delivers classic spicy warmth, use fresh ground for intense flavor.
• Softened Butter: Helps spread filling evenly, ensure it's room temperature.

• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, glossy glaze, sift to remove lumps.
• Milk: Thins glaze to perfect consistency, use whole milk for richness.
• Purple, Green, Gold Sugar: Traditional King Cake colors, purchase or make homemade.
• Plastic Baby: Optional traditional trinket for festive celebration.

What You’ll Need For Cinnamon Roll King Cake

• Stand Mixer or Large Mixing Bowl: Perfect for kneading dough and mixing ingredients smoothly.
• Rolling Pin: Essential for rolling out the dough into a thin, even rectangle.
• Baking Sheet: Provides a flat surface for shaping and baking the king cake.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures precise ingredient measurements for perfect results.
• Spatula: Helps spread cinnamon filling evenly and scrape bowl sides.
• Small Bowls: Useful for mixing yeast, preparing filling, and making glaze.
• Whisk: Great for blending glaze ingredients until smooth.
• Cooling Rack: Allows cake to cool evenly without getting soggy.

How To Roll Out Cinnamon Roll King Cake

• Activate the Yeast

Warm up the milk and let the yeast dance around until it gets all bubbly and excited, signaling it’s ready to work its magic.

• Create the Dough Base

Blend together flour, sugar, and spices with butter, egg, and vanilla. Knead the mixture until it transforms into a smooth, supple ball of potential deliciousness.

• Craft the Cinnamon Swirl

Whip up a luscious filling by mixing butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon into a creamy, irresistible spread that will make taste buds sing.

• Shape and Rise

Roll out the dough into a generous rectangle, lavish it with the cinnamon mixture, then carefully roll it into a beautiful spiral. Curve the roll into a gorgeous circle, pinching the edges to create a seamless ring.

• Bake to Golden Perfection

Send the cake into a warm oven and let it transform into a golden-brown masterpiece. Once cooled, drench it in a silky glaze and sprinkle with festive Mardi Gras colors.

Cinnamon Roll King Cake Tips You’ll Love

• Quick Rise Warm Spot: Find a cozy, draft-free area like near a warm oven to help the dough rise faster and more evenly, ensuring a perfectly soft texture.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the dough the night before, let it rise slowly in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature before shaping and baking for deeper flavor development.
• Gluten-Free Twist: Swap regular flour with a high-quality gluten-free blend, adding xanthan gum to help maintain the dough's structure and achieve a similar soft texture.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Replace milk with almond or oat milk, and use coconut oil instead of butter to create a delicious alternative for those with dairy restrictions.
• Storage Secret: Wrap the completely cooled king cake tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for 2-3 days, or freeze for up to a month to preserve its freshness and soft texture.

Festive Cinnamon Roll King Cake Recipe

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• Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

King cake lovers rejoice over this New Orleans cinnamon roll king cake that blends Mardi Gras tradition with sweet indulgence. Festive purple, green, and gold sugars crown this classic Louisiana dessert for memorable celebrations.

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Ingredients

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• 3.5 cups (440 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• 1 packet (2.25 tsp) active dry yeast
• 0.25 cups (50 g) granulated sugar
• 0.25 cups (60 ml) unsalted butter, melted
• 0.5 cups (120 ml) warm milk (110°F / 45°C)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 0.5 cups (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 0.5 cups (100 g) brown sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1.5 cups (180 g) powdered sugar
• 2 tbsps milk
• 0.5 tsp vanilla extract
• Purple, green, and gold colored sugar (or sprinkles)
• 1 small plastic baby (optional, for tradition!)

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Instructions

1. Yeast Activation: Whisk yeast into lukewarm milk, allowing the mixture to become frothy and aromatic for 5 minutes.
2. Dough Preparation: In a spacious mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, melted butter, vanilla extract, and egg. Gradually incorporate the activated yeast mixture, kneading until the dough transforms into a silky, elastic consistency.
3. First Rising: Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel, letting it rest in a warm environment until its volume doubles, approximately 1 hour.
4. Filling Creation: Blend softened butter with brown sugar and ground cinnamon to create a smooth, spreadable cinnamon filling.
5. Dough Shaping: Roll the risen dough into a rectangular shape, spreading the cinnamon mixture evenly across the surface. Carefully roll the dough lengthwise into a tight cylinder, then form it into a circular or oval shape on a prepared baking sheet.
6. Second Rising: Allow the shaped cake to become slightly puffy for 30 minutes, sealing the ends by pinching them together.
7. Baking Process: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cake until it achieves a golden-brown complexion, typically 25-30 minutes.
8. Finishing Touches: Cool the cake completely, then prepare a glossy glaze by whisking powdered sugar with milk and vanilla. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake and decorate with purple, green, and gold sugars.
9. Traditional Embellishment: Optionally, hide a small plastic baby within the cake to continue the cherished Mardi Gras tradition.

Notes

• Master Yeast Activation: Ensure milk is precisely lukewarm (100-110°F) to activate yeast without killing it, creating the perfect frothy foundation.
• Dough Elasticity Technique: Knead thoroughly until dough becomes smooth and stretchy, developing gluten for a soft, pillowy texture that springs back when touched.
• Temperature Control Crucial: Proof dough in a consistently warm, draft-free environment around 80-85°F to guarantee optimal rising and prevent dense, heavy texture.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free blend and add xanthan gum to maintain structural integrity and achieve similar soft, tender results.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 374
• Sugar: 25 g
• Sodium: 186 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 54 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 33 mg