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Mardi Gras King Cake

A festive and delicious Mardi Gras King Cake featuring soft, cinnamon-spiced dough, a creamy filling, and colorful icing, perfect for celebrations.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Southern
Calories: 310
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dough ingredients
  • 1 box 1 (16-ounce) box Pillsbury Hot Roll Mix
  • 2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 cup 1 cup hot water (120 to 130 degrees) Must be at correct temperature to activate yeast.
  • 1 large 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Filling ingredients
  • 2 packages 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups 2 cups powdered sugar For the filling.
  • 2 teaspoons 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Icing ingredients
  • 2 cups 2 cups powdered sugar For icing.
  • 3 tablespoons 3 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2 teaspoons 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract For icing.
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons 2 to 3 tablespoons milk Adjust for icing consistency.
  • purple, green, and yellow sugar sprinkles For decoration.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a large bowl, combine the hot roll mix and the yeast packet with 2 tablespoons of sugar.
  2. Add hot water, the egg, and softened butter; stir until combined and the dough pulls away from the sides.
  3. Knead the dough for 5 minutes on a floured surface, then let it rest for 5 minutes.
Filling
  1. In a separate bowl, mix together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
  2. Roll the dough out into a rectangle. Sprinkle with cinnamon, then spread the cream cheese filling evenly on top.
  3. Roll the dough in a jelly-roll fashion and form it into an oval shape on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let it rise for 30 minutes.
Baking
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Bake the cake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Let it cool completely.
Icing
  1. In a bowl, mix together powdered sugar, melted butter, lemon juice, vanilla, and milk until smooth.
  2. Drizzle the icing over the cooled cake and sprinkle with colored sugar.

Notes

Store leftover King Cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to a week or freeze for up to 2 months. Make sure to knead the dough well for a light texture and don’t skip the resting time.