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Mardi Gras King Cake Cinnamon Roll Cookies Recipe

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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.

Ingredients

Scale

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

Find it online: https://cheflenacooks.com/mardi-gras-king-cake-cinnamon-roll-cookies-recipe/