Easy King Cake

Jump to Recipe
ByCorey Created Updated

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Mardi Gras is just around the corner and while we may not be able to celebrate it in true carnival style this year, there’s nothing stopping us from throwing our own parties at home! I’ll be making delicious New Orleans inspired dishes and of course…not forgetting this Easy King Cake!

king cake on a white platter

While the King Cake is rich in history, it’s also rich in delicious pastry cake flavors and sweet vanilla icing, then decorated with the proud colors of Mardi Gras. It’s the perfect piece of indulgence to treat yourself and the family to before everyone starts giving up their food addictions for Lent!

WHAT IS KING CAKE?

  • While this cake got its meaning and name originally during the middle ages in Europe, it has evolved through French influence to become closely associated with Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday. This yummy cake is then generously covered in icing and colored sanding sugar or sprinkles to show off the colors of Mardi Gras (purple, green and gold/yellow). Purple represents power, green represents faith and gold/yellow represents justice.a piece of king cake cut out and a plastic baby in the cake

Why is there a baby in King Cake?

  • Through tradition, some still add a miniature plastic baby in their cake that represents a symbol of prosperity and luck.  Whoever gets a slice of cake with the baby is said to be in for a good year ahead! You can buy King Cake Babies on Amazon.

HOW SHOULD I STORE THIS EASY KING CAKE?

  • If you plan on making this ahead of time, I suggest assembling the cake without the icing and then wrapping it tightly with plastic wrap to be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • When you are ready to enjoy your King Cake, allow it to reach room temperature and make up the fresh icing to finish off this festive-looking cake with colored sanding sugar, ready to be served and enjoyed!
  • If you have any leftovers, these can also be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.

TIPS FOR MAKING EASY KING CAKE

  • For easy clean up, keep your cake on a cooling rack with a sheet of baking paper underneath while icing the cake in case any of the icing drips off the cake.
  • Instead of icing, you could make use of homemade cream cheese frosting. Depending on the size of cake you want, you can either use regular size or jumbo size refrigerated cinnamon rolls. If you opt for a larger cake, you may need to make additional icing to give your cake a good covering.
  • While this recipe is fairly straightforward, if you don’t feel up to making your King Cake from scratch, you do have the easy option of purchasing this King Cake mix on Amazon.

Easy King Cake

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray. Remove cinnamon rolls from packaging and set aside the icing.ingredients for easy king cake recipe on cutting board
  2. Drizzle about 1⁄3 of the melted butter into the bottom and sides of the bundt pan. Sprinkle with about a third of the brown sugar.melted butter and brown sugar in the bottom of a bundt cake
  3. Use your hands to smash each cinnamon roll a bit so that it spreads a little bigger. Line half of the cinnamon rolls around the bundt pan.cinnamon rolls placed into pan
  4. Drizzle with half of the remaining butter and sprinkle with half of the remaining brown sugar. 
  5. Repeat smashing and layering the remaining cinnamon rolls. Drizzle with the remainder of the butter and sprinkle the rest of the brown sugar over the top.more cinnamon rolls added to pan with butter and brown sugar
  6. Bake for about 30 minutes until the cinnamon rolls are browned and puffy and have mostly filled the bundt pan. Allow pan to cool for about 5 minutes. Insert your baby or trinket once cake is cooled by making a small hole in the cake and sliding it in. cooked cinnamon rolls in bundt pan
  7. Invert the cinnamon roll cake onto a cake plate or cooling rack and allow to cool the rest of the way.
  8. Heat the cinnamon roll icing in the microwave for just 5-10 seconds until it is easy to spread.frosted in a bowl, held over cake
  9. Pour over the cooled cake and sprinkle with purple, yellow, and green sanding sugar.easy king cake on a cake platter

Recipes for Your Mardi Gras Celebrations

 

king cake on a white platter
4.80 from 5 votes
click the stars to rate!

Easy King Cake

Don't have time to make a traditional King Cake? My Easy King Cake recipe using cinnamon rolls as a base and topped with sweet vanilla icing.
12
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes

Ingredients
 

  • 26 oz. cans of cinnamon rolls plus included icing
  • 1/4 cup salted butter melted
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • Green yellow, and purple sanding sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray. Remove cinnamon rolls from packaging and set aside the icing.
  • Drizzle about 1⁄3 of the melted butter into the bottom and sides of the bundt pan. Sprinkle with about a third of the brown sugar.
  • Use your hands to smash each cinnamon roll a bit so that it spreads a little bigger. Line half of the cinnamon rolls around the bundt pan.
  • Drizzle with half of the remaining butter and sprinkle with half of the remaining brown sugar.
  • Repeat smashing and layering the remaining cinnamon rolls. Drizzle with the remainder of the butter and sprinkle the rest of the brown sugar over the top.
  • Bake for about 30 minutes until the cinnamon rolls are browned and puffy and have mostly filled the bundt pan. Allow pan to cool for about 5 minutes. Insert your baby or trinket once cake is cooled by making a small hole in the cake and sliding it in.
  • Invert the cinnamon roll cake onto a cake plate or cooling rack and allow to cool the rest of the way.
  • Heat the cinnamon roll icing in the microwave for just 5-10 seconds until it is easy to spread.
  • Pour over the cooled cake and sprinkle with purple, yellow, and green sanding sugar.

Notes

The equipment section below contains affiliate links to products we use and love!

Nutrition

Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 477mg | Potassium: 13mg | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 118IU | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.

Did You Make This Recipe?

Make sure to share it with me below!

@FamilyFreshMeals Leave A Comment @familyfresh

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Did you make this recipe? Rate it:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

7 Comments

  1. Robert Brinkley says:

    Is that a total of 26 ounces of cinnamon rolls??

    Reply

    1. Yes. I used 2 – 13 oz cans.

  2. 4 stars
    This recipe turned out WAY better than the one I tried last time! So simple and very tasty! It was wuite a hit with kids and grandkids!

    Reply

  3. How could I add a fruit filling to this recipe?

    Reply

    1. I’ve only made and tested the recipe as written Megan so I can’t say for sure.

    2. Rayna Scott says:

      Whoever gets the king cake baby has to buy (or make) the next one. That’s the only meaning we have known being lifelong new orleaneans.

  4. I am planning to make this next month for a class I teach when we are studying Louisiana. The baby won’t melt while cooking?

    Reply