Shortcut Mardi Gras King Cake
This Shortcut Mardi Gras King Cake is a quick and festive twist on the classic New Orleans dessert. Made with easy dough shortcuts and filled with sweet cinnamon sugar, this colorful King Cake recipe is perfect for Mardi Gras celebrations, parties, or fun family baking.
- Prep Time: 10–15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20–25 minutes
- Total Time: 35–45 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough (or pizza dough)
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Colored sugars (purple, green, and gold)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll out crescent dough or pizza dough into a large rectangle.
- Brush melted butter evenly over the dough.
- Mix brown sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle over the surface.
- Roll the dough tightly into a log from the long side.
- Shape into a ring and pinch ends to seal.
- Place on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until golden brown.
- Cool slightly before icing.
- In a bowl, mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
- Drizzle icing over cake and decorate immediately with colored sugars in sections (purple, green, gold).
Notes
Use pizza dough for a softer, bread-like texture or crescent dough for flakiness.Add a hidden trinket (after baking) for a traditional Mardi Gras touch.Don’t overbake—this keeps the cake soft and tender.You can swap cream cheese icing for a simple glaze if preferred.
Find it online: https://cookibly.com/shortcut-mardi-gras-king-cake/
