King Cake-Inspired Mardi Gras Bead Cookies

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-24 · Updated 2026-04-24

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 drafted and published.

Buttery sugar cookies shaped like Mardi Gras beads and decorated with purple, green, and gold royal icing for a festive celebration treat. This French-inspired Mardi Gras recipe, ready in about 52 minutes, layers unsalted butter, granulated sugar, large egg 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 110 calories and feeds 24, 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: 40 min Cook: 12 min Serves 24 French cuisine 110 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks), softened unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups powdered sugar
3 tbsp meringue powder
6-8 tbsp, divided water
as needed purple gel food coloring
as needed green gel food coloring
as needed gold gel food coloring or yellow with a touch of brown

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup softened unsalted butter and 1 cup granulated sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Step 3: Add 1 large egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract, mixing until combined.
Step 4: In a separate bowl, whisk 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt.
Step 5: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
Step 6: Roll dough into 1/2-inch thick strips about 6 inches long and shape into small bead-like loops or circles; place on baking sheets.
Step 7: Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are just golden; cool completely on wire racks.
Step 8: For royal icing, beat 4 cups powdered sugar with 3 tbsp meringue powder and 6 tbsp water; add more water 1 tbsp at a time to reach piping consistency.
Step 9: Divide icing into three bowls; tint one with purple gel, one with green gel, and one with gold gel food coloring.
Step 10: Use piping bags to decorate cooled cookies with colorful bead patterns reflecting Mardi Gras colors; allow icing to dry completely before serving.