Mardi Gras King Cake Festive New Orleans-Style King Cake with Cinnamon Swirl and Colorful Icing Ingredients: For the Dough: 1/2 cup warm water (110°F) 2 teaspoons active dry yeast 1/2 cup granulated sugar 4–5 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup warm milk 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted 5 egg yolks 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon For the Filling: 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional) 1/4 cup melted butter For the Icing & Decoration: 1 cup powdered sugar 2–3 tablespoons milk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar Directions: In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water with a teaspoon of sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes until frothy. In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture, milk, melted butter, remaining sugar, egg yolks, vanilla, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Gradually mix in flour until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1–2 hours or until doubled. Roll out the dough into a large rectangle (about 10x16 inches). Mix the filling ingredients, then spread evenly over the dough. Roll the dough up jelly-roll style and form it into a ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Pinch the ends together to seal. Cover the ring loosely with plastic wrap and let rise again for 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool completely. Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to form a glaze. Drizzle over cooled cake, then sprinkle immediately with colored sugars in alternating bands of purple, green, and gold. Optional: Hide a plastic baby or dried bean inside after baking for tradition! Prep Time: 2 hours | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes Kcal: 325 kcal | Servings: 12 servings #kingcake #mardigrasdessert #neworleansrecipes #bakingtraditions #holidaybaking #southernbakes #cinnamoncake #mardigrascelebration #kingcakerecipe #homebakedgoodness #colorfuldesserts #neworleansfood #bakingjoy #cakewithmeaning #mardigrasfood #festivecake #holidaytradition #yeastcake #southernsweets #celebrationdesserts Let the good times roll! Nothing says Mardi Gras like a homemade King Cake with bright icing and a sweet cinnamon swirl inside.