How To Make A Louisiana King Cake At Home

A Louisiana King Cake is a sweet and colorful treat that is a big part of Mardi Gras celebrations.

This cake is more like a soft, cinnamon-filled pastry and is topped with icing and purple, green, and gold sugar. It also has a fun tradition, inside the cake, there is a small plastic baby or bean. The person who gets the slice with the baby is supposed to host the next King Cake party.

Get our free mobile app

Follow this simple recipe to make your own King Cake at home:

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ cup warm milk (about 110°F)
• ½ cup warm water (about 110°F)
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Filling:

• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

For the Icing:

• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For Decoration:

• Purple, green, and gold colored sugar or sprinkles
• 1 small plastic baby or dried bean (optional)

Instructions:

1. Make the Dough: In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. In another bowl, whisk the warm milk, warm water, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until smooth. Place in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let it rise for 1 hour until it doubles in size.
2. Make the Filling: In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon. Melt the butter separately.
3. Roll and Fill: Once the dough has risen, roll it out into a rectangle about 10x20 inches. Brush the melted butter over the dough and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top.
4. Shape the Cake: Roll the dough into a log, starting from the long side. Pinch the edges to seal, then shape it into a ring. Place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover it and let it rise for another 30 minutes.
5. Bake the Cake: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Bake the King Cake for 25–30 minutes until golden brown. Let it cool completely before decorating.
6. Add the Baby (Optional): If using a plastic baby, gently push it into the bottom of the cake after it cools.
7. Make the Icing: In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle the icing over the cooled cake.
8. Decorate: Sprinkle the purple, green, and gold sugar over the icing before it hardens.

Your homemade Louisiana King Cake is ready to enjoy! Serve it at a Mardi Gras party or just for fun. Remember, whoever gets the baby has to make the next King Cake.