Homemade King Cake Recipe

This delicious homemade king cake recipe is stuffed up with cinnamon and sugar and topped off with a cream cheese frosting for the perfect Mardi gras dessert. You will love how light, fluffy, and flavorful this cake is.

King cake is a Mardi Gras and New Orleans dessert staple. It got its name from the biblical story of the three kings bringing gifts to Jesus. In New Orleans tradition, you place a small plastic baby into the bottom of the cake after it’s done cooking, and whoever finds it must throw the next party. It’s a cyclical effect of keeping the party going no matter the season, but especially during Mardi gras.

It’s very similar to cinnamon rolls and can often be stuffed with different flavored cream cheeses, chocolates, and jellies. There are also three different colored icing on top which represent justice, power, and faith.

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Ingredients for this recipe:

For the Cake

• 1 stick softened unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• juice of ½ lemon
• 1 cup warm whole milk (110° to 115°)
• 1 packet of active yeast (7 grams)
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup melted unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup packed light brown sugar

For the Icing

• 4 ounces softened cream cheese
• 4 ounces softened unsalted butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• whole milk as needed