King Cake Recipes for Every Occasion

King cake isn’t just for Mardi Gras! While this festive treat is a must-have for the Carnival season, it’s also a perfect centerpiece for other holidays, like Christmas and Valentine’s Day. With its signature cinnamon swirl, colorful icing, and endless flavor possibilities, king cake can be customized to fit any celebration!

In this roundup, I’m sharing my favorite king cake recipes for every occasion. Whether you want a classic New Orleans-style king cake for Mardi Gras, a red and white Valentine’s version, or a festive Christmas king cake, you’ll find the perfect recipe to bake and enjoy all year!

1

New Orleans King Cake

King Cake is a quintessential confection that is decorated in Mardi Gras colors. Purple signifies justice; green denotes faith; and gold or yellow signifies power. Traditionally, a tiny plastic baby is hidden in the King Cake. Whoever, ends up with the baby is named “King” for a day and bound by custom to host the next party and provide the King Cake.

2

Quick and Easy King Cakes on a Stick

Get ready to let the good times roll with these easy-to-make, adorable King Cakes on a Stick! This fun twist on the traditional Mardi Gras King Cake features sweet cinnamon-sugar dough wrapped around skewers, drizzled with icing, and sprinkled with vibrant purple, green, and yellow sanding sugar.

King Cake on a Stick

3

Sweetheart King Cake

Sweetheart King Cake is a colorful and impressive twist on the traditional Mardi Gras king cake. Forming the king cake into a heart shape adds a festive touch to Valentine’s Day and gives your Mardi Gras celebration extra meaning. The sweet cinnamon and sugar filling takes this king cake over the top, while the cream cheese frosting and Valentine’s sprinkles provide a decadent spin on this classic Mardi Gras treat. 

Sweetheart King Cake

4

Bite-Sized King Cakes

Bite-Sized King Cakes are the perfect solution for those who want to enjoy the traditional taste of King Cake but on a much smaller scale. They are a fun and convenient option for Mardi Gras parties, festivities, or just a sweet treat for yourself.  

Bite-Sized King Cakes

5

Easy King Cake Pretzel Bark

Craving a taste of Fat Tuesday fun long before the beads fly? Dive into King Cake Pretzel Bark! Embrace the magic of Mardi Gras.

King Cake Pretzel Bark

6

Mardi Gras Cinnamon Roll King Cake (Bread Machine)

Mardi Gras Cinnamon Roll King Cake is an adaptation of the traditional King Cake. Rather than a dough-filled ring forming the King Cake, this uses cinnamon rolls to form the ring. The bread machine does most of the work.

Cinnamon Roll King Cake

7

“Chris” Kringle Cakes

What better way to celebrate Christmas than with these incredible “Chris” Kringle Cakes? They are reminiscent of the Mardi Gras King Cake, but in mini form and decorated for Christmas – thus the “Chris”. As such, each one is a ring of twisted cinnamon roll dough topped with an amazing cream cheese icing.

“Chris” Kringle Cakes

8

Mardi Gras King Cake

The King Cake is a quintessential confection decorated in Mardi Gras colors. Purple signifies justice, green denotes faith, and gold or yellow signifies power. Traditionally, a tiny plastic baby is hidden in the King Cake.

Mardi Gras King Cake

9

Mini-King Cakes

Mini King Cakes are a miniature version of the ever popular New Orleans King Cakes. The most traditional style is a ring of twisted cinnamon roll dough topped with icing, decorated with purple, green, and gold sugar or sprinkles. 

Mini King Cakes

10

Christmas King Cake (Adapted from King Cake in a Bread Machine)

Why wait until Mardi Gras? Make a stunning Christmas King Cake to impress all of your friends and family

Christmas King Cake

No matter the season, king cake brings joy to the table! Whether you’re celebrating Mardi Gras, Christmas, or Valentine’s Day, these festive recipes prove that this beloved dessert can be enjoyed beyond Carnival season. There’s a king cake for every occasion, with decorations ranging from traditional cinnamon sugar to holiday-inspired twists.

So, why limit the fun to just one time of year? Try one of these festive king cake recipes and make any holiday sweeter! And don’t forget to share your creations—I’d love to see how you celebrate with king cake!