Mardi Gras King Cake Cinnamon Roll Cookies Recipe

Introduction

Celebrate Mardi Gras with these festive King Cake Cinnamon Roll Cookies, bursting with warm cinnamon flavors and topped with colorful sprinkles. They’re a fun twist on traditional king cake, perfect for sharing at parties or enjoying as a sweet treat any time.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (softened)
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• ⅓ cup light brown sugar (packed)
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1½ tsp butter flavor extract
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 tbsp butter (melted)
• ⅓ cup light brown sugar (packed)
• 2½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp salt
• 1 tsp light or dark corn syrup
• 3 oz cream cheese (softened)
• 3 oz butter (softened)
• 1¼ cup powdered sugar
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp milk
• ¾ tsp cream cheese flavoring extract
• ½ tsp butter extract
• ⅛ tsp almond extract
• Purple sprinkles
• Yellow sprinkles
• Green sprinkles

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cream together 1 cup softened butter, granulated sugar, and ⅓ cup light brown sugar until creamy, about 5 minutes.
2. Step 2: Mix in the egg yolk, vanilla extract, butter flavor extract, and almond extract until combined.
3. Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, and ½ tsp salt.
4. Step 4: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until combined.
5. Step 5: Shape the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 15 minutes or overnight. If refrigerated overnight, let come to near room temperature before rolling.
6. Step 6: Lightly flour a flat surface or use two sheets of parchment paper for rolling.
7. Step 7: Roll the dough into a 12 x 10-inch rectangle.
8. Step 8: In a small bowl, melt 2 tbsp butter in the microwave. Stir in ⅓ cup light brown sugar, 2½ tsp cinnamon, ⅛ tsp salt, and 1 tsp corn syrup until combined.
9. Step 9: Immediately pour the filling evenly over the dough and use a spatula to spread it, leaving about ½-inch border free of filling on all sides.
10. Step 10: Position the longer (12-inch) side toward you and carefully roll the dough tightly into a log, using parchment paper to guide and keep its shape.
11. Step 11: Wrap the dough log in parchment paper and freeze on a sheet pan for 15 minutes.
12. Step 12: Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
13. Step 13: Cut the chilled dough into ¼-inch thick slices. Cutting in halves and then slices helps reach about 30 cookies.
14. Step 14: Bake the cookies for 10–12 minutes. Let them cool completely before frosting.
15. Step 15: For the frosting, cream 3 oz cream cheese until smooth. Add 3 oz butter, ¼ tsp salt, and powdered sugar, then beat in milk until smooth.
16. Step 16: Mix in cream cheese flavoring, butter extract, and almond extract, and beat until well combined.
17. Step 17: Frost the cooled cookies and top with purple, yellow, and green sprinkles for the classic Mardi Gras look.

Tips & Variations

• For easier rolling, chill the dough until firm but still pliable, and use parchment paper to help guide a tight roll.
• Experiment with filling flavors by adding chopped nuts or substituting brown sugar with maple sugar for a different sweetness.
• Use light or dark corn syrup depending on preference; dark adds deeper flavor.
• Swap sprinkles for colored sanding sugar if you want a more subtle sparkle.

Storage

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week. Reheat gently in a microwave for 10–15 seconds if desired. The frosting may firm up when chilled; allow cookies to come to room temperature before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, the dough can be refrigerated overnight. Just be sure to bring it to near room temperature before rolling to prevent cracking.

What if I don’t have cream cheese flavoring extract?

You can omit the cream cheese flavoring if unavailable; the frosting will still be delicious with just cream cheese and butter.

Mardi Gras King Cake Cinnamon Roll Cookies Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 85 reviews

These Mardi Gras King Cake Cinnamon Roll Cookies combine the classic flavors of a traditional king cake with the convenience and fun of a cookie. Soft, buttery dough is rolled with a cinnamon-sugar filling and finished with a rich cream cheese frosting and festive Mardi Gras colored sprinkles. Perfect for celebrating Mardi Gras or anytime you want a delightful cinnamon roll twist in cookie form.

• Author: Lena
• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Yield: 30 cookies 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dough

• 1 cup butter (softened)
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• ⅓ cup light brown sugar (packed)
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1½ tsp butter flavor extract
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• ½ tsp salt

Cinnamon Sugar Filling

• 2 tbsp butter (melted)
• ⅓ cup light brown sugar (packed)
• 2½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp salt
• 1 tsp light or dark corn syrup

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 3 oz cream cheese (softened)
• 3 oz butter (softened)
• 1¼ cup powdered sugar
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp milk
• ¾ tsp cream cheese flavoring extract
• ½ tsp butter extract
• ⅛ tsp almond extract

Toppings

• Purple sprinkles
• Yellow sprinkles
• Green sprinkles

Instructions

1. Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutes using a hand or stand mixer.
2. Add egg yolk and extracts: Mix in the egg yolk followed by vanilla, butter flavor, and almond extracts until fully incorporated.
3. Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt to evenly distribute the dry ingredients.
4. Form dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix on low speed just until combined to avoid overworking the dough.
5. Chill dough: Shape the dough into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes or up to overnight for better handling. If chilling overnight, bring the dough to near room temperature before rolling.
6. Prepare rolling surface: Lightly flour a flat surface or use two sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking and make rolling easier.
7. Roll out dough: Roll the dough into a 12 x 10-inch rectangle, ensuring an even thickness throughout.
8. Prepare cinnamon sugar filling: In a small bowl, melt 2 tbsp butter in the microwave, then stir in the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, salt, and corn syrup until well combined.
9. Spread filling: Immediately pour the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the dough rectangle. Use a spatula to spread the filling carefully, leaving about a ½-inch border on all sides clear of filling.
10. Roll dough into log: Position the long (12-inch) side of the dough closest to you. Carefully and tightly roll the dough into a log shape using the parchment paper underneath to guide and keep it tight.
11. Freeze roll: Wrap the dough log in parchment paper and place on a sheet pan. Freeze for 15 minutes to firm up the roll for easier slicing.
12. Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
13. Slice cookies: Remove the dough log from the freezer and slice into ¼-inch thick rounds. You can cut the dough log in half first, then slice each half into 15 pieces for easier handling, totaling 30 slices.
14. Bake cookies: Arrange the slices on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Remove and allow to cool completely before frosting.
15. Make frosting: Beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Add softened butter and continue beating until creamy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, milk, and salt until well combined and fluffy.
16. Add extracts to frosting: Mix in cream cheese flavoring extract, butter extract, and almond extract, beating until fully incorporated.
17. Frost cookies and decorate: Spread the cream cheese frosting over cooled cookies and top generously with purple, yellow, and green sprinkles for a festive Mardi Gras look.

Notes

• Chilling the dough helps with rolling and slicing, making the process easier and the cookies neater.
• If refrigerated overnight, allow the dough to warm slightly before rolling to prevent cracking.
• You can substitute extracts with high-quality vanilla if specific flavor extracts are unavailable.
• Use fresh ingredients, especially the cinnamon and extracts, for the best flavor punch.
• These cookies freeze well unfrosted; freeze baked and cooled cookies in an airtight container and frost when ready to serve.

Keywords: Mardi Gras, King Cake, Cinnamon Roll, Cookies, Festival, Holiday Cookies, Cream Cheese Frosting