King Cake-Inspired Sweet Cinnamon Brioche Rolls

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-25 · Updated 2026-04-25

Fluffy brioche rolls swirled with cinnamon sugar and topped with vibrant Mardi Gras colored icing to evoke the spirit of the classic King Cake. This french-inspired mardi gras ready in about 120 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 (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 1 cup (110°F) warm whole milk
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3-4 tbsp milk for icing
• 1/2 cup each purple, green, and gold colored sugar sprinkles

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, dissolve 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast in 1 cup warm whole milk (110°F) with 1 tbsp granulated sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Step 2: Add 3 large eggs, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter to the yeast mixture. Gradually mix in 4 cups all-purpose flour until a soft dough forms.
3. Step 3: Knead dough on a floured surface for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled.
4. Step 4: Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll dough into a 12x20-inch rectangle. In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp ground cinnamon and 1/3 cup brown sugar, then evenly sprinkle over dough.
5. Step 5: Roll dough tightly into a log, pinch edges to seal, and cut into 12 equal rolls. Place rolls in a greased 9x13-inch pan and let rise for 30 minutes.
6. Step 6: Bake rolls for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Cool for 15 minutes.
7. Step 7: Whisk 2 cups powdered sugar with 1 tsp vanilla extract and 3-4 tbsp milk until smooth and pourable. Drizzle icing over warm rolls and immediately sprinkle with purple, green, and gold colored sugars to mimic Mardi Gras colors.