King Cake-inspired Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Bread

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-28 · Updated 2026-04-28

Soft, buttery coffee bread swirled with cinnamon sugar and topped with a colorful Mardi Gras sugar glaze reminiscent of the traditional King Cake. This french-inspired mardi gras ready in about 55 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 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

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup warm milk (110°F) and 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast with 1 tbsp sugar (from the 1/2 cup). Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Step 2: Add 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 6 tbsp melted unsalted butter, 2 large eggs, and 1 tsp salt to the yeast mixture. Mix and knead by hand or mixer for about 8 minutes until a smooth elastic dough forms.
3. Step 3: Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
4. Step 4: Meanwhile, mix 2 tbsp ground cinnamon and 1/2 cup brown sugar in a small bowl.
5. Step 5: Roll the risen dough into a 12x16-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Brush with 2 tbsp melted butter, then evenly sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the dough.
6. Step 6: Roll the dough tightly from the long edge into a log. Coil the log into a ring shape and pinch the ends to seal.
7. Step 7: Place the ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover loosely, and let rise for 30 minutes.
8. Step 8: Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped.
9. Step 9: Mix 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar with 3 tbsp milk to form a smooth glaze. Divide glaze into three small bowls and tint one each with purple, green, and gold food coloring.
10. Step 10: Drizzle the colored glazes alternately over the cooled bread to mimic traditional Mardi Gras colors.