Go Back
+ servings
Benjamin

Mini King Cakes

These perfectly portioned mini king cakes capture the essence of New Orleans Mardi Gras with their buttery brioche dough, cinnamon filling, and colorful sugars. A fun, kid-friendly dessert that's easier to make at home.
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 53 minutes
Servings: 10 pieces
Course: dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

For the Dough
  • 2 1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast
  • 1 cup Warm Milk 105-115°F
  • 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar divided
  • 1/3 cup Melted Butter divided
  • 1 large Egg
  • 4 cups All-Purpose Flour plus more for dusting
For the Filling
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar packed
  • 2 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
For the Glaze
  • 2 cups Powdered Sugar sifted
  • 1/4 cup Heavy Cream
For the Topping
  • Colored Sanding Sugars purple, green, and gold

Equipment

  • Air Fryer,
  • Large bowl
  • - Whisk
  • Greased bowl
  • Rolling Pin
  • Parchment-lined baking sheet
  • Wire rack
  • Pizza Cutter

Method
 

Prepare the Dough
  1. In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until frothy.
  2. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of melted butter and the egg until well combined.
  3. Gradually add the flour and remaining sugar, stirring until a soft dough forms.
  4. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  5. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a warm cloth, and let rise for 1 hour until doubled in size.
Shape and Fill
  1. Punch down the dough and roll it into a large rectangle.
  2. Brush with remaining melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon-brown sugar mixture.
  3. Cut into strips about 1 inch wide using a pizza cutter. Roll each strip into a rope, twist, and join ends into a circle.
  4. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let rest for 20 minutes while preheating oven or air fryer to 350°F.
Bake and Glaze
  1. Bake for 15-18 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
  2. Whisk powdered sugar and heavy cream to make glaze. Drizzle over cooled cakes and top with colored sugars.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 5gFat: 12g

Notes

For the best results, ensure milk is warm but not hot (105-115°F) to avoid killing yeast. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for 5 days. Reheat in microwave for 10 seconds. Freeze unglazed cakes for up to a month.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
QR Code linking back to recipe