Bead-Throwing Mardi Gras King Cake Cookies

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-06 · Updated 2026-05-06

Festive sugar cookies inspired by Mardi Gras King Cake, decorated with vibrant purple, green, and gold sugar crystals and a hidden cinnamon filling for a sweet surprise. This french-inspired mardi gras ready in about 34 minutes layers unsalted butter, granulated sugar, large egg 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 150 calories and feeds 24, 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

• 1 cup, softened unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup for icing powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp for icing milk
• 1/4 cup purple sugar crystals
• 1/4 cup green sugar crystals
• 1/4 cup gold sugar crystals

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup softened unsalted butter and 1 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in 1 large egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract until combined.
3. Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1/4 tsp salt.
4. Step 4: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
5. Step 5: In a small bowl, mix 2 tsp ground cinnamon and 1/4 cup brown sugar for the filling.
6. Step 6: Roll dough into 1-inch balls (about 2 tbsp each). Flatten each ball into a 3-inch circle on parchment-lined sheets. Sprinkle 1/2 tsp cinnamon-sugar mixture in the center, then fold edges over to encase the filling, resealing into a ball and flattening slightly.
7. Step 7: Bake cookies for 12-14 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool completely on wire racks.
8. Step 8: Mix 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 tbsp milk to make icing. Drizzle icing over cooled cookies.
9. Step 9: Immediately sprinkle purple, green, and gold sugar crystals in stripes over icing to mimic Mardi Gras colors. Let icing set before serving.