Description
This Shortcut Mardi Gras King Cake recipe is a quick and festive twist on the traditional New Orleans treat, using jumbo cinnamon rolls to create a sweet, colorful dessert perfect for celebrating Mardi Gras. Cream cheese-infused icing and vibrant sugar crystals add a delicious, decorative touch in purple, yellow, and green.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake
- 2 (17.5-ounce) cans jumbo cinnamon rolls with icing (each tube contains 5 rolls)
For the Icing
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 icing packets from cinnamon roll tubes
For Decoration
- Sugar crystals in purple, yellow, and green
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a Bundt or tube pan thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray to ensure the cake doesn’t stick.
- Arrange Cinnamon Rolls: Open the cinnamon roll tubes and carefully remove the icing packets and set them aside. Place the cinnamon rolls in the bottom of the prepared pan, pressing gently as needed to fit them snugly without overlapping.
- Bake the Cake: Bake the cinnamon rolls for 25 to 30 minutes, or until they are cooked through and no longer gooey in the center. The top should be golden brown.
- Cool and Remove from Pan: Once baked, carefully invert the cake onto a platter or serving dish and allow it to cool completely to room temperature.
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Icing: While the cake cools, combine the two reserved icing packets from the cinnamon roll tubes with 2 ounces of softened cream cheese. Mix well until smooth and creamy.
- Ice and Decorate: Spread the cream cheese icing evenly over the cooled cake. Decorate the top with alternating stripes or patterns using the purple, yellow, and green sugar crystals to capture the festive spirit of Mardi Gras.
Notes
- You can substitute regular cinnamon rolls, but jumbo rolls provide the best size and texture for this recipe.
- Make sure the cake is fully cooled before icing to prevent the icing from melting.
- Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate to extend freshness.
- For extra flavor, consider adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the cream cheese icing before spreading.
