The Best Homemade King Cake Recipe

Do you love the taste of homemade king cake? Then this recipe is for you! Our king cake recipe is made with only the finest ingredients, including a rich, fluffy dough and our secret blend of spices. The result is a mouthwatering treat that is perfect for any occasion.

It is also adorned with a colorful frosting and sprinkles, making it a true work of art. So whether you’re celebrating Mardi Gras or simply looking for a delicious dessert, our king cake recipe is sure to please.

King Cake Recipe

This recipe for homemade King Cake is easy to follow and yields deliciously moist and fluffy results. Plus, it's way cheaper than buying a premade cake.

What is a king cake, you ask? It's a type of cake that is traditionally eaten during the Carnival season in New Orleans. Most notably around Mardi Gras in February of each year. The cake is shaped like a ring and decorated with colorful icing and sugar. Inside the cake is a small plastic baby, and whoever gets the piece with the baby is said to have good luck for the rest of the year.

If you want a bit simpler cake for your menu, then check out this super easy coconut cake with its own coconut cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients

For King Cake Dough

• 1 cup of warm milk
• 1 packet instant rise yeast (¼ ounce or 7 g)
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
• ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons olive oil

For the Filling

• ⅔ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup chopped pecans

For the Icing

• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 ½ tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Green, purple, and yellow sanding sugar

Handy Kitchen Tools

• Mixing bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Stand mixer or hand mixer
• Whisk
• Rubber spatula
• Pastry brush

How to Make a Homemade King Cake

Start by placing the eggs into a bowl of warm water for 5-minutes to bring them to room temperature. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, yeast, and sugar, and then set it aside to stand for 10 minutes or until it bubbles/blooms.

Once the yeast has bloomed, pour the milk and yeast mixture into a stand mixer bowl along with the melted butter and eggs. Use the whisk attachment to whisk until this is combined and there are no streaks in the eggs.

Now, add in the flour, and salt. Mix this until the dough is incorporated well.

Lightly sprinkle flour on a clean surface, and turn the dough out to knead it for 5 to 7 minutes.

Once the dough is smooth, coat the bottom of a clean bowl with olive oil, then place the dough into the bowl. Lightly cover it with a towel and set it aside to rest for 1 hour in a warm location.

After 1 hour, punch down the dough and then place on a lightly floured clean surface and knead for another 2 minutes.

Roll the dough out into a rectangle shape (around 20" long).

Spread the softened butter over the dough, then sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon and brown sugar covering the entire dough.

Sprinkle on the chopped pecans if desired.

Now, roll the dough into a cylinder, as you would when making cinnamon rolls.

Carefully move the dough to the prepared baking sheet and curve the dough into an oval, pinching the ends together. if needed, seal with water or milk at the end.

Cover this loosely and set it aside in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.

Heat the oven to 375°F/200°C.

Brush the top of the dough with milk then bake for 25 to 30 minutes until it is golden brown.

Let the cake stand for 15 minutes before frosting.

How to Make the Frosting

In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until it is combined and a thick liquid that is easy to pour.

If adding the baby to the cake, make a slit into the side and slip it inside.

Then, drizzle the glaze over the top of the cake covering as much as possible.

Sprinkle the top with green, yellow, and purple sprinkles or sanding sugar.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Easy Cake Recipes

Nothing beats cake for dessert or even just a snack! Below are some great cake recipes I know you will love! Mardi Gras is a great holiday and while these aren't specifically for that, you can serve them any time. Make sure that you bookmark these recipes to make soon!

• Boozy Bailey's Irish Cream Chocolate Cake
• The Best German Chocolate Cake Recipe
• Easy Chocolate Vanilla Swirl Bundt Cake
• The Easiest 7-UP Cake Recipe
• Classic Pink Lemonade Cake Recipe

Continue to Content

📖 Recipe

Yield: 12

The Best Homemade King Cake Recipe

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This delicious homemade King cake recipe is the ultimate dessert for your Mardi Gras and Carnival parties this year!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Additional Time 2 hours

Total Time 3 hours

Ingredients

For the Dough

• 1 cup warm milk
• 1 packet instant rise yeast (¼ ounce or 7 g)
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
• ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup of warm milk
• 1 packet instant rise yeast (¼ ounce or 7 g)
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
• ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons olive oil

For the Filling

• ⅔ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup chopped pecans

For the Icing

• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 ½ tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Green, yellow, and purple sanding sugar

Instructions

How to Make a Homemade King Cake

1. Start by placing the eggs into a bowl of warm water for 5-minutes to bring them to room temperature. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, yeast, and sugar, and then set it aside to stand for 10 minutes or until it bubbles/blooms.
3. Once the yeast has bloomed, pour the milk and yeast mixture into a stand mixer bowl along with the melted butter and eggs. Use the whisk attachment to whisk until this is combined and there are no streaks in the eggs.
4. Now, add in the flour, and salt. Mix this until the dough is incorporated well.
5. Lightly sprinkle flour on a clean surface, and turn the dough out to knead it for 5 to 7 minutes.
6. Once the dough is smooth, coat the bottom of a clean bowl with olive oil, then place the dough into the bowl. Lightly cover it with a towel and set it aside to rest for 1 hour in a warm location.
7. After 1 hour, punch down the dough and then place on a lightly floured clean surface and knead for another 2 minutes.
8. Roll the dough out into a rectangle shape (around 20" long).
9. Spread the softened butter over the dough, then sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon and brown sugar covering the entire dough.
10. Sprinkle on the chopped pecans if desired.
11. Now, roll the dough into a cylinder, as you would when making cinnamon rolls.
12. Carefully move the dough to the prepared baking sheet and curve the dough into an oval, pinching the ends together. if needed, seal with water or milk at the end.
13. Cover this loosely and set it aside in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
14. Heat the oven to 375°F/200°C.
15. Brush the top of the dough with milk then bake for 25 to 30 minutes until it is golden brown.
16. Let the cake stand for 15 minutes before frosting.

How to Make the Frosting

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until it is combined and a thick liquid that is easy to pour.
2. If adding the baby to the cake, make a slit into the side and slip it inside.
3. Then, drizzle the glaze over the top of the ake covering as much as possible.
4. Sprinkle the top with green, yellow, and purple sprinkles or sanding sugar.

Notes

Store in an airtight container or tightly covered with plastic wrap until ready to serve.

Recommended Products

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  SMARTAKE 200 Pcs Parchment Paper Baking Sheets, 12x16 Inches Non-Stick Precut Baking Parchment, Perfect for Baking Grilling Air Fryer Steaming Bread Cup Cake Cookie and More (Unbleached)
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  Rachael Ray Nonstick Bakeware Set with Grips, Nonstick Cookie Sheets / Baking Sheets - 3 Piece, Gray with Sea Salt Gray Grips
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  Amazon Basics Stainless Steel Wire Whisk Set - 3-Piece
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  Plastic Measuring Cups and Spoons Set 14 Piece. Includes 11 Colorful Measuring Cups and Spoons Set and 3 Plastic Liquid Measuring Cups. Nesting Measuring Set for Space Saving Storage. Dishwasher-Safe
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  COOK WITH COLOR Plastic Mixing Bowls with Lids - 12 Piece Nesting Bowls Set includes 6 Prep Bowls and 6 Lids, Microwave Safe Mixing Bowl Set (Blue Ombre)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 612Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 227mgCarbohydrates: 93gFiber: 3gSugar: 28gProtein: 13g