King Cake-Inspired Cinnamon Swirl Bread

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-04 · Updated 2026-05-04

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 drafted and published.

A festive cinnamon swirl bread inspired by the traditional Mardi Gras king cake, featuring a soft sweet dough with cinnamon sugar layers and a colorful sugar glaze. This French-inspired Mardi Gras recipe, ready in about 125 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 8, 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: 90 min Cook: 35 min Serves 8 French cuisine 320 cal/serving

Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
1 cup whole milk, warmed to 110°F
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk
a few drops each food coloring (purple, green, yellow)

The bakeware we’d bake this in → Best Bakeware Sets in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Bakeware & baking tools → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup warmed whole milk (110°F), 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast, and 1 tbsp granulated sugar. Stir gently and let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
Step 2: Add 4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp salt, 2 large eggs, and 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter to the yeast mixture. Mix with a wooden spoon until a dough forms.
Step 3: Knead the dough on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Step 4: While dough rises, mix 3 tbsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/4 cup softened butter in a bowl to form the cinnamon filling.
Step 5: Punch down the risen dough and roll into a 12x18-inch rectangle. Spread the cinnamon filling evenly over the dough.
Step 6: Roll the dough tightly from the long side to form a log. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and curve into a circle, pinching the ends together to seal.
Step 7: Cover and let rise for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F.
Step 8: Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped. Cool completely on a rack.
Step 9: Whisk 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 tbsp milk to make glaze. Divide glaze into three bowls and tint with purple, green, and yellow food coloring.
Step 10: Drizzle the colored glazes in stripes over the cooled bread to mimic Mardi Gras colors. Allow glaze to set before slicing.