Baked Mardi Gras King Cake Cinnamon Swirl

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-25 · Updated 2026-04-25

A festive cinnamon swirl cake inspired by the traditional Mardi Gras king cake, featuring vibrant purple, green, and gold sugar toppings. This french-inspired mardi gras ready in about 90 minutes layers all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, active dry yeast 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 320 calories and feeds 12, 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.

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 1 cup, about 110°F warm whole milk
• 1/2 cup (1 stick), melted unsalted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tbsp milk for glaze
• 2 tbsp purple sanding sugar
• 2 tbsp green sanding sugar
• 2 tbsp gold sanding sugar

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup warm whole milk (110°F) with 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast and 1 tbsp granulated sugar, stirring gently. Let sit for 5-7 minutes until foamy and active.
2. Step 2: To the yeast mixture, add 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp salt, 2 large eggs, and 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter. Stir until a shaggy dough forms.
3. Step 3: Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic, then place in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours until doubled.
4. Step 4: Meanwhile, mix 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp ground cinnamon, and 1 tsp vanilla extract in a small bowl for the filling.
5. Step 5: Punch down the risen dough and roll into a 12x16-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Spread the cinnamon sugar filling evenly over the dough.
6. Step 6: Roll the dough tightly from the long edge into a log, pinch seams to seal, then shape into a ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and let rise for 45 minutes.
7. Step 7: Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake the ring for 25-30 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and cool on a rack.
8. Step 8: Whisk 2 cups powdered sugar with 3 tbsp milk to a pourable glaze. Drizzle over the cooled cake, then immediately sprinkle purple, green, and gold sanding sugars evenly along the glaze to represent Mardi Gras colors.