King Cake-Inspired Cinnamon Swirl Brioche Rolls

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-27 · Updated 2026-04-27

Soft, buttery brioche rolls swirled with cinnamon sugar and topped with vibrant Mardi Gras colored sugar, capturing the essence of the classic New Orleans King Cake. This french-inspired mardi gras ready in about 60 minutes layers all-purpose flour, active dry yeast, warm whole milk 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 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

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 1 cup warm whole milk (110°F) with 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast and 1 tbsp granulated sugar. Stir gently and let sit for 5-7 minutes until foamy.
2. Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, and 1 tsp salt.
3. Step 3: Add the yeast mixture, 3 large eggs, and 6 tbsp melted unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Mix using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook on medium speed for 8-10 minutes until a smooth, elastic dough forms.
4. Step 4: Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
5. Step 5: In a small bowl, mix 3 tbsp ground cinnamon with 1/2 cup packed brown sugar for the filling.
6. Step 6: Punch down the dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a 12x16-inch rectangle.
7. Step 7: Brush the dough surface with 2 tbsp melted butter, then evenly sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the dough.
8. Step 8: Roll the dough tightly from the long edge into a log. Slice into 12 equal rolls and place them cut side up in a greased 9x13-inch baking pan.
9. Step 9: Cover and let rolls rise for 30 minutes while preheating oven to 350°F.
10. Step 10: Bake rolls for 25-28 minutes until golden brown on top.
11. Step 11: While rolls bake, make glaze by whisking 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 3 tbsp whole milk, and 1 tsp vanilla extract until smooth.
12. Step 12: Immediately after removing rolls from oven, brush them with glaze and sprinkle with 2 tbsp each of purple, green, and gold sanding sugars to mimic Mardi Gras colors.
13. Step 13: Allow rolls to cool slightly before serving warm.