📝 Introduction.

No Mardi Gras celebration is complete without a king cake. You know, you cut into slices of that colorful ring of candy and hope you can find the little plastic baby hidden inside because that’s the tradition here.

But many people think that making a traditional king cake recipe is too complicated, too much work, too many steps. Still, today you’ll find out that’s not the case. This king cake recipe’srecipe’s straightforward approach cuts out the messy parts while keeping all the authentic flavors — cinnamon, sugar, that tender yeast dough — in. You don’t have to be a professional baker to make this cake. All you need is a few hours and some flour on your hands. The result of this recipe? A show-stopping dessert that will make you the hero of any Mardi Gras celebration.

💡 Why You’ll Love This Recipe.

Truly delicious: Soft dough filled with sweet cinnamon, rolled in sugar, covered in traditional purple, green, and gold sugar.

Easy steps: I’ve simplified the traditional king cake recipe, so now you get the traditional flavor and beautiful texture without any of the effort.

Perfect for celebrations: Serves 10-12 people and looks great on any party table.

Fun tradition: Keep the Mardi Gras spirit alive by hiding a plastic baby.

Make Ahead: Make the dough the night before and bake it fresh the next morning.

📊 Recipe Overview.

Detail

Prep Time: 30 minutes (plus 2 hours rising time)

Cook Time: 25-30 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours

Servings: 10-12 slices

Calories (Approx): 380 per serving

🧂 Ingredients & Substitutes.

The secret to a great traditional-style king cake recipe starts with your choice of ingredients. So choose the best quality ingredients.

1. For the dough: use active dry yeast, not instant yeast so that it will rise well. Heat your milk to about 110°F. Too hot will kill the yeast, and too cold will prevent it from activating. Also, use unsalted butter to control the salt level. I use whole milk for richness, but 2% works well if that’s what you have on hand.
2. For the filling: light brown sugar pairs perfectly with cinnamon, yielding a rich, caramel-like sweetness. Don’t use dark brown—it’s too strong. Real cinnamon is essential for this recipe. Often, “cinnamon” labeled in grocery stores is ” cassia,” so spend the extra dollar and buy Ceylon or Vietnamese cinnamon.
3. For the topping: Mix confectioners’ sugar with milk for a classic glaze. Colored sugars—purple, green, gold—are a must. You can get these at any store during Mardi Gras.

Full ingredients list:

Dough:

• 1 cup whole milk, warmed to 110°F
• 2¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• ¼ cup + 1 tsp granulated sugar, divided
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg

Filling:

• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 Tbsp ground cinnamon

Topping:

• 1½ cups confectioners’ sugar
• 2-3 Tbsp milk
• Purple, green, and gold colored sugar
• 1 small plastic baby (optional)

🔪 Kitchen Tools Required.

• Stand mixer with dough hook
• Large mixing bowl
• Baking sheet lined with parchment paper
• Rolling pin
• Sharp knife or pizza cutter
• Clean kitchen towel
• Pastry brush

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Guide to Making Traditional King Cake.

Making the dough 🥣

Step 1: Activate the yeast.

Heat 1 cup whole milk to 110°F, add 2¼ teaspoons (one packet) of active dry yeast and 1 teaspoon of sugar, and let sit for 5-10 minutes. You’ll know it’s alive when it starts to foam.

Step 2: Mix the wet ingredients.

In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the foamy yeast mixture with ½ cup melted unsalted butter, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 3 beaten eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Step 3: Add the dry ingredients.

Mix 4½ cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Start slowly so you don’t get flour everywhere. Once everything is mixed, switch to the dough hook and knead on medium speed for 6-8 minutes. At this point, you should feel the dough pulling away from the sides of the bowl, smooth and elastic.

Step 4: First rise

Now, place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1½ hours. It should have doubled in size.

Preparing the filling 🔥

Step 5: Prepare the sugar.

While the dough is rising, mix ¾ cup of light brown sugar with 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon, set aside, and melt 4 tablespoons of butter.

Shaping the King Cake 🔪

Step 6: Roll.

Punch down your risen dough and roll it out on a clean, floured surface into a large rectangle, about 22 inches by 12 inches.

Step 7: Add the filling.

Now spread the melted butter all over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture you made evenly over the buttered surface.

Step 8: Roll and seal.

Starting at the long side, roll the dough tightly into a log, sealing the seams. This is the base of your king cake.

Step 9: Make a ring.

Bring the two ends together to create an oval or circle, and pinch them together so they don’t open.

Step 10: Let rise a second time.

Transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, cover loosely, and let rise for 30-45 minutes. It will increase nicely.

Baking 🔥

Step 11: Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown, and use a thermometer to aim for 190°F inside. Let cool completely in the pan.

Decorating 🎨

Step 12: Mix the glaze.

Beat 1 1⁄2 cups confectioners’ sugar with 2-3 tablespoons milk until smooth, but thick enough to spread with a spoon.

Step 13: Drizzle and decorate.

Pour the glaze over the cooled cake and, while it’s still wet, sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sugar, quickly brushing it on. The sprinkles will stick to the cake.

Step 14: Hide the baby.

Push the plastic figure down from the bottom of the cake. It’s a tradition.

 Watch the video below for a visual walkthrough of each step.

💡 Pro Cooking Tips.

Temperature – Cold ingredients don’t rise as well, so let your eggs and butter come to room temperature before you start, which will make a big difference in texture.

Don’t add too much flour – When kneading, the dough should be slightly sticky, but too much flour will make a dry cake. If the dough sticks to your hands, add a little oil.

Check the yeast – If your yeast doesn’t foam when activated, discard it and start over. Dead yeast will make a flat cake.

Cool completely before icing – I know it’s tempting, but a warm cake will immediately slide off the icing. So be patient as you make the cake

What to Serve With a King Cake.

Pair this sweet treat with my creamy Whipped Coffee. The bold flavor balances the sugary icing perfectly!

🔄️ Healthier Swaps.

Let’s be honest—King Cake is a treat. It’s meant to be enjoyed at a celebration. However, you can make small changes.

Use 2% milk instead of whole milk to reduce the fat. Swap half of the all-purpose flour for white whole wheat flour to add fiber. You can reduce the cinnamon-sugar filling by ¼ cup if you want it less sweet.

But really? Enjoy the traditional version. You won’t be eating this every day.

🥡 Storage & Reheating.

Store your king cake covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. The butter will keep all the moisture in there.

If you want to store the cake longer, wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature for about an hour before serving.

When reheating day-old slices, heat them in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes to give them a fresh-baked flavor.

📌 Conclusion.

Here’s a traditional, easy-to-make King Cake. Just the smell of the cake—cinnamon, vanilla, and sweet pastry—will transport you straight to the French Quarter during Carnival.

You don’t need any special training to make an authentic Mardi Gras treat, just good ingredients and a little time. Make this for your next celebration. Watch everyone cheer as they slice through the layers of that purple, green, and gold king cake.

Try it this weekend. Then come back and tell me who found the baby!

Check more recipes on our homepage: TastyRecipeZone

(Some images in this article were generated using AI.)

❓ FAQs

1. Question: Can I make a king cake without a stand mixer?
   Answer: Yes, mix the ingredients by hand with a sturdy wooden spoon, then knead the dough on a floured counter for 10-12 minutes. Your hands will get a good workout, too.
2. Question: What does the plastic baby represent?
   Answer: The baby symbolizes good luck and prosperity. According to tradition, whoever finds it in their slice gets to host the next king cake party or buy the next cake. It’s all in good fun.
3. Question: Can I make the dough the night before?
   Answer: Yes! After the first rise, punch down the dough, cover tightly, and refrigerate overnight. Let it come to room temperature (about 30 minutes) before rolling and shaping the next day.
4. Question: My dough won’t rise. What happened?
   Answer: Your yeast is either expired or your liquid is too hot, killing it. Make sure your milk is between 105-115°F – warm to the touch but not hot.
5. Question: Can I skip the colored sugar?
   Answer: You can, but you will miss out on the iconic King Cake look. Those colors make it special and instantly recognizable.