Description
This Shortcut Mardi Gras King Cake is an easy and festive twist on the traditional New Orleans treat, made with jumbo cinnamon rolls, cream cheese icing, and colorful Mardi Gras sugar crystals. Perfect for celebrating Mardi Gras with minimal effort and maximum flavor!
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 2 (17.5-ounce) cans jumbo cinnamon rolls with icing (each tube has 5 rolls)
Icing
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 packets of icing from cinnamon roll tubes
Decorations
- Sugar crystals in purple, yellow, and green, for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a Bundt or tube pan thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy release of the cake.
- Arrange Cinnamon Rolls: Open the cinnamon roll tubes and carefully remove the icing packets to save for later. Place the cinnamon rolls tightly in the prepared pan, lining the bottom. You may need to gently squeeze the rolls to fit snugly without gaps.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the cinnamon rolls are cooked through and no longer gooey in the center.
- Cool the Cake: Remove the cake from the oven and carefully turn it out onto a serving platter. Allow it to cool completely to set before decorating.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Icing: While the cake cools, combine the two saved packets of cinnamon roll icing with 2 ounces of softened cream cheese in a bowl. Stir well until smooth and creamy.
- Decorate: Once the cake has cooled, evenly spread the cream cheese icing over the top. Immediately sprinkle the sugar crystals in alternating Mardi Gras colors of purple, yellow, and green to decorate the cake festively.
Notes
- Make sure the cake is completely cool before applying the cream cheese icing to prevent it from melting and sliding off.
- You can use a Bundt pan or any tube-shaped pan to achieve the traditional King Cake shape.
- Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- For a stronger Mardi Gras flavor, consider adding a teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg to the cream cheese icing.
- Feel free to customize with additional toppings like chopped pecans or a drizzle of extra icing if desired.
