Cinnamon Roll King Cake Recipe
This Cinnamon Roll King Cake puts a fun twist on the traditional Mardi Gras treat by using jumbo cinnamon rolls as the base. Decorated with colorful swirls of green, yellow, and violet frosting, this easy-to-make cake is perfect for celebrations and comes with the classic hidden baby doll figurine tradition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 2 tubes (17.5 oz each) jumbo cinnamon rolls
Frosting and Decoration
- 1 tub (16 oz) white frosting
- Green color gel (Wilton Leaf Green)
- Yellow color gel (Wilton Golden Yellow)
- Violet color gel (Wilton Violet)
- 1 baby doll figurine (for King Cake tradition)
Instructions
- Prepare the cinnamon rolls: Press the cinnamon rolls firmly into a baking pan, making sure to squeeze them together so they don’t pop up. Use your palms to flatten the rolls evenly while keeping them level in the pan.
- Insert the baby doll figurine: Place the baby doll figurine inside the cake by gently tucking it between the cinnamon rolls at this stage to preserve the traditional King Cake surprise.
- Bake the cake: Bake the assembled cinnamon rolls in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 30-35 minutes until the rolls are golden brown. Once done, allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes in the pan.
- Cool and invert: After the initial cooling, invert the pan onto a flat surface to release the cake and let it cool completely before adding the frosting.
- Prepare the colored frosting: Divide the white frosting evenly into three separate bowls. Tint each bowl with one of the green, yellow, or violet color gels. Transfer each colored frosting into individual resealable plastic bags, but do not seal them yet.
- Warm and smooth frosting: Microwave the bags containing frosting for 15 seconds to soften. Then seal the bags, knead the frosting gently to mix, and snip a small tip off each bag for piping.
- Decorate the cake: Drizzle the colored frostings over the cooled cake in swirls or stripes for a festive look. If the frosting thickens as it sits, reheat briefly to restore perfect drizzle consistency.
- Set and serve: Allow the frosting to set and thicken slightly before slicing and serving your colorful Cinnamon Roll King Cake.
Notes
- Ensure the baby doll figurine is clean and food-safe before inserting into the cake.
- The cake is best enjoyed the day it is made for optimal freshness.
- You can substitute jumbo cinnamon rolls with regular-size ones and adjust baking time accordingly.
- For easier decorating, use disposable piping bags for the frosting.
- If you prefer, you can add a light dusting of powdered sugar on top for extra sweetness.
Keywords: King Cake, Cinnamon Rolls, Mardi Gras, Holiday Dessert, Festive Cake, Colored Frosting
Find it online: https://www.sanacooks.com/cinnamon-roll-king-cake-recipe/
