King Cake-Inspired Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake

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

A tender coffee cake with swirls of cinnamon, sugar, and colorful sugar sprinkles that evoke the festive spirit of a Mardi Gras King Cake. This american-inspired mardi gras ready in about 60 minutes layers all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder 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 380 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

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick), melted and cooled unsalted butter
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp milk for glaze
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract for glaze
• 1/4 cup (green, purple, and gold mix) colored sanding sugar

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9-inch round cake pan. In a large bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt.
2. Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter, 1 cup whole milk, 2 large eggs, and 2 tsp vanilla extract until smooth. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir gently until just combined.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, mix 3 tbsp ground cinnamon and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Pour half the batter into the pan, then sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over it.
4. Step 4: Pour the remaining batter over the cinnamon sugar, then sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar on top. Using a butter knife, swirl the batter gently to create a marbled effect.
5. Step 5: Bake for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool 15 minutes in pan before transferring to a wire rack.
6. Step 6: To make glaze, whisk 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tbsp milk, and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake and immediately sprinkle 1/4 cup mixed colored sanding sugar (green, purple, gold) on top to mimic King Cake decorations.