This Quick & Easy King Cake is perfect for all Mardi Gras celebrations! Festive, delicious, and easy, this King Cake will be a favorite every year!
It is Mardi Grad time and in honor of Fat Tuesday, we are making a quick and easy king cake this year!
I remembered on Sunday that Fat Tuesday was this week and asked over on my Instagram stories if you would like to see a quick and easy King Cake recipe and it was an overwhelming yes!
So without further a do, lets get baking!
How to Make a Quick & Easy King Cake!
Step 1: Use 2 cans of cinnamon rolls (Trader Joe's are my fav!) and unroll. Be sure to keep the icing - we will need that later! Place in a circle so that the rolls overlap and lay on each other.
Step 2: Be sure to place a little King Cake baby inside!
Step 3: Make the frosting by mixing together cream cheese, butter, the 2 icing packets from the cinnamon rolls, powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and a pinch of salt.
Step 4: Spread the icing out on the cake once it has baked and now decorate! Alternate using green, purple, and gold sanding sugars to decorate the King Cake. (affiliate link)
That is it! No need to go a cake this year when it is as easy as this! And you will eat tour body weight in this icing!
IT
IS
EVERYTHING!
Happy Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday!
What is a King Cake?
A King's Cake is a frosted seasonal treat that Mardi Gras partygoers eat between January 6, otherwise known as King's Day or Twelfth Night, and Fat Tuesday. **
What Do The Colors Mean on the King Cake?
The colors choosen to decorate the cake hold a speicla meaning.
- Gold represents power
- Green is associated with faith
- Purple illustrates justice**
Why is There a Plastic Baby Inside the King Cake? What Does the Baby Mean?
This baby has a couple different menaings today. The baby symbolizes:
- Luck and prosperity to whoever finds it in their slice of cake
- The person who finds the baby is also responsible for purchasing next year's cake, or for throwing the next Mardi Gras party
- And sometimes it means that the one who found the baby is designated "king" or "queen" for the evening
Where Can I Get the Plastic Babies that Goes Inside this Cake?
Amazon is my go to place! You can get the babies here and have plenty!
Or your local party store should have them as well during this time of year.
Why is it Called a King's Cake?
The name is derived from the Three Wise Men in the Bible, who came bearing gifts for Baby Jesus on the Twelfth Night. King cake is first served on King's Day (January 6) and lasts through the eve of Mardi Gras to celebrate the coming of the three kings, as well as to honor them with a sweet homage to their jeweled crowns.**
**The above information with (**) next to it came from a Southern Living article that can be found here.
Recipe
Quick & Easy King Cake
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 10 1x
Description
This Quick & Easy King Cake is perfect for all Mardi Gras celebrations! Festive, delicious, and easy, this King Cake will be a favorite every year!
Ingredients
- 2 Packages Cinnamon Rolls (5 count)
For the Icing
- 4 Ounces Cream Cheese (room temperature)
- 4 Tablespoons Butter (room temperature)
- The 2 Frosting Packages from the Canned Cinnamon Rolls
- 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla
- 2 Tablespoons Milk
- Pinch of Salt
Additional
- King Cake Plastic Baby (*affiliate link)
- Purple, Gold, and Green Sanding Sugar Sprinkles (*affiliate link)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Open 2 cans of cinnamon rolls. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, place the cinnamon rolls in a circle, overlapping and resting against year other. (see step 1 above for visual)
- If using, hide a King Cake baby inside one of the rolls.
- Place in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, or according to the package directions. I usually under bake mine by 1-2 minutes.
Icing
- While the King Cake is baking, place 4 ounces of cream cheese (at room temp) in a bowl. Add in the butter and mix with a hand mixer until smooth and no lumps remain.
- Add in the 2 packages of frosting that came with the cinnamon rolls, powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and salt. Mix until everything is incorporated and smooth.
To Assemble
- Once the cake is finished baking, remove from oven.
- Spoon over the icing onto the cake and spread out evenly among the top. (You may only use ½ of the icing depending on how much or little you like**)
- Using the sanding sugar, sprinkle one color over 1 -2 cinnamon rolls. Repeat with next 2 colors and continue to go around the ring until all decorate. (You should get a green-purple-gold pattern 3 times. Refer to video in step 4 if needed)
- Enjoy while hot and fresh. Whoever gets the baby, it symoolizes luck and prosperity!
Notes
- ** If you have leftover icing, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks OR in the freezer for 3 months. Use for more cinnamon rolls later, over Super Soft Pumpkin Bars , or eaten by the spoonful. 😉
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Mardi Gras/Cake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 161
- Sugar: 14.4 g
- Sodium: 339.1 mg
- Fat: 9.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 17.6 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 1.2 g
- Cholesterol: 23.7 mg
Keywords: Quick & Easy King Cake
Want Other Festive Holiday Dessert Ideas? You Will Love These All Year Around!
- Super Soft Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Red, White and Blue Fruit Pizza
- Birthday Marshmallow Popcorn Balls