King Cake-Inspired Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake

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

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 developed and reviewed.

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 recipe, 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 45 min Serves 8 American cuisine 380 cal/serving

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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

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Instructions

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.