King Cake-Inspired Cinnamon Swirl Bread

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-04 · Updated 2026-05-04

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 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.

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)

Instructions

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Step 5: Punch down the risen dough and roll into a 12x18-inch rectangle. Spread the cinnamon filling evenly over the dough.
6. 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.
7. Step 7: Cover and let rise for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F.
8. Step 8: Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped. Cool completely on a rack.
9. 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.
10. Step 10: Drizzle the colored glazes in stripes over the cooled bread to mimic Mardi Gras colors. Allow glaze to set before slicing.