Traditional Mardi Gras King Cake with Cream Cheese Filling

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-03 · Updated 2026-05-03

A festive, colorful King Cake with a soft, cinnamon-swirled dough filled with smooth cream cheese and topped with vibrant Mardi Gras colored sugar. This French-inspired Mardi Gras recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, active dry yeast 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 400 calories and feeds 10, 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
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 1 cup, warmed to 110°F whole milk
• 1/2 cup (1 stick), melted unsalted butter
• 3, room temperature large eggs
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 8 oz, softened cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup purple sanding sugar
• 1/4 cup green sanding sugar
• 1/4 cup gold sanding sugar
• 1 large egg beaten with 1 tbsp water egg wash (egg + water)

The bakeware we’d bake this in → Best Bakeware Sets in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

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 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Step 2: Add 3 large eggs, 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1 tsp salt to the yeast mixture; whisk to combine.
3. Step 3: Gradually add 4 cups all-purpose flour, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
4. Step 4: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours until doubled in size.
5. Step 5: Meanwhile, beat 8 oz softened cream cheese with 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 2 tbsp ground cinnamon until smooth; set aside.
6. Step 6: Once risen, roll out dough into a 16x12-inch rectangle. Spread cream cheese filling evenly over dough, leaving 1-inch border.
7. Step 7: Roll dough tightly lengthwise into a log and shape into a ring, pinching ends to seal. Place on a greased baking sheet.
8. Step 8: Cover and let rise for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F.
9. Step 9: Brush dough ring with egg wash, bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
10. Step 10: Cool slightly, then sprinkle purple, green, and gold sanding sugars in sections over the top to create the traditional Mardi Gras colors.