Baked King Cake with Cinnamon Filling and Purple Sugar

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-23 · Updated 2026-04-23

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A traditional Mardi Gras celebration centerpiece featuring a tender brioche dough filled with warm cinnamon sugar and decorated with vibrant purple, green, and gold sugar. This New Orleans-inspired Mardi Gras recipe, ready in about 70 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, active dry yeast, granulated sugar into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 10, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 30 min Cook: 40 min Serves 10 New Orleans cuisine 280 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
3 tbsp granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup whole milk
1 large egg
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp purple decorating sugar
2 tbsp green decorating sugar
2 tbsp gold decorating sugar

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Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup warm milk (110°F), yeast, and 1 tbsp sugar; let sit for 5 minutes until foamy. Add 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 egg, 1 tsp salt, and 1 1/2 cups flour; mix until combined.
Step 2: Gradually add remaining 1 cup flour and 2 tbsp sugar, kneading on floured surface for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place dough in greased bowl, cover, and let rise in warm place for 1 hour.
Step 3: Punch down risen dough, roll into 12x16-inch rectangle, and spread 1/2 cup cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly. Roll up tightly, pinch seams, and place in greased 9x5-inch loaf pan. Cover and let rise 45 minutes until doubled.
Step 4: Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake loaf for 35-40 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 190°F. Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to rack.
Step 5: While warm, sprinkle with 2 tbsp purple, 2 tbsp green, and 2 tbsp gold decorating sugar in alternating stripes across top.