King Cake Cinnamon Roll Recipe: Sweet New Orleans Breakfast

Delicious King Cake cinnamon rolls are a fun, flavorful option for Mardi Gras. You can fill them with the classic cinnamon and brown sugar, or choose pecan praline, cream cheese, fruit preserves, or any favorite filling.

Mardi Gras season usually falls in February or March and centers around the New Orleans area, culminating on Fat Tuesday—the final day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. It’s traditionally a time to indulge, which makes sweet treats like king cake and cinnamon rolls perfect party fare.

When king cakes begin appearing in stores you know the festivities are near. These King Cake Cinnamon Rolls let you enjoy the flavors and colors of the season without shaping a large cake.

What makes this recipe so yummy

• Mardi Gras colors and flavors make these festive and fun.
• They’re an easy alternative to making a full King Cake but still capture the tradition.
• Think of them as individual mini king cakes—perfect for parties or sharing.
• Hide a small figurine (the baby Jesus) in one roll to continue the king cake tradition: whoever finds it hosts the next celebration.
• This recipe uses a double batch of dough, so you can freeze extras for quick future baking.
• Homemade cinnamon rolls have a texture and flavor you can’t beat from scratch.
• You get a whole sweet roll to yourself instead of a single slice of cake.

Groceries you’ll need: Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Warm water
• Active dry yeast
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon
• Unsalted butter, melted
• Salt
• Evaporated milk
• Vanilla extract
• Powdered sugar (for icing)
• Sanding sugars in Mardi Gras colors: purple, green, yellow

See the recipe card below for exact quantities.

Recipe walkthrough: Instructions

This overview covers the main steps. Refer to the recipe card below for detailed quantities and times.

• Step 1: Prepare a batch of cinnamon roll dough and assemble the rolls following your preferred cinnamon roll recipe.
• Step 2: After baking and glazing the rolls, decorate the tops with green, purple, and yellow sanding sugars to evoke the King Cake look.

Hint: Fillings can be anything you like. Traditional King Cake fillings include cinnamon and brown sugar, but pecan praline and cream cheese are also popular. Finish with Mardi Gras colored sanding sugars to complete the theme.

Recipe variations and substitute ideas

• Cream Cheese Icing — swap the vanilla glaze for cream cheese icing for richness.
• Brioche Dough — try a richer brioche-style dough for an extra buttery roll.
• Store-bought Cinnamon Rolls — for a quick shortcut, use canned cinnamon rolls and decorate them in Mardi Gras colors.
• Buttercream Icing — a simple buttercream works well if you prefer it to vanilla glaze.

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Necessary gear: Equipment

A stand mixer with a dough hook makes dough work much easier, but you can mix by hand if needed. You’ll also want a 13×9″ baking dish, wire rack, parchment paper, and plastic wrap.

More Mardi Gras recipes I think you’ll love

• Traditional King Cake
• Mardi Gras Beignets
• Mardi Gras Cheesecake

How to store leftovers

Store leftover cinnamon rolls in an airtight container. Depending on the filling, refrigeration may be best—refrigerating also keeps the icing firmer. They typically stay fresh for up to four days in the fridge; beyond that they may begin to dry out.

Mel’s kitchen notes

The cinnamon roll recipe referenced here is for a double batch of dough, which is convenient for freezing extras and baking more later.

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King Cake Cinnamon Rolls