Mardi Gras King Cake Cinnamon Roll Cookies Recipe

Introduction

Celebrate Mardi Gras with these festive King Cake Cinnamon Roll Cookies. They capture the classic flavors of cinnamon, cream cheese frosting, and colorful sprinkles in a bite-sized treat perfect for parties or everyday indulgence.

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 the softened butter with both sugars until the mixture is creamy, about 5 minutes.
2. Step 2: Mix in the egg yolk and all the extracts: vanilla, butter flavor, and almond.
3. Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt.
4. Step 4: Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined.
5. Step 5: Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or overnight. If refrigerated overnight, let dough come to near room temperature before rolling.
6. Step 6: Lightly flour a flat surface or lay down two sheets of parchment paper for rolling.
7. Step 7: Roll dough into a 12 x 10-inch rectangle.
8. Step 8: In a small bowl, melt the 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and corn syrup until combined.
9. Step 9: Immediately pour the cinnamon mixture evenly over the dough. Use a spatula to spread, leaving about a ½-inch border on all sides without filling.
10. Step 10: Position the longer side (12-inch) toward you. Carefully and tightly roll the dough into a log, using parchment paper to help keep it tight and in shape.
11. Step 11: Wrap the log in parchment paper and freeze on a sheet pan for 15 minutes.
12. Step 12: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
13. Step 13: Cut the dough into ¼-inch thick slices. For easier cutting, slice the log in half, then cut 15 slices from each half for a total of 30 slices.
14. Step 14: Bake the slices for 10-12 minutes. Let cool before frosting.
15. Step 15: To make the frosting, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add butter and cream, then mix in salt, powdered sugar, and milk.
16. Step 16: Beat in the cream cheese, butter, and almond extracts until well combined and creamy.
17. Step 17: Frost the cooled cookies and decorate with purple, yellow, and green sprinkles to finish.

Tips & Variations

• For a more festive presentation, add chopped pecans or drizzle additional glaze over the frosted cookies.
• If you don’t have cream cheese flavoring extract, you can omit it or add a small extra amount of vanilla for subtle flavor.
• Use parchment paper to roll and shape the dough easily; it helps achieve a tight spiral without sticking.

Storage

Store the frosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also refrigerate them for up to a week. Reheat gently in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to soften the frosting if desired.

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 wrapped and refrigerated overnight. Just bring it close to room temperature before rolling it out to make it easier to handle.

Can I freeze the baked cookies?

It’s best to freeze the unbaked rolled log wrapped in parchment paper. After baking and frosting, these cookies are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in the fridge for a few days.

Mardi Gras King Cake Cinnamon Roll Cookies Recipe

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4.6 from 118 reviews

Celebrate Mardi Gras with these festive King Cake Cinnamon Roll Cookies. Soft, buttery dough rolled with a cinnamon-sugar filling, baked to golden perfection, and topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting and colorful purple, yellow, and green sprinkles for a fun and flavorful treat that captures the spirit of the season.

• Author: reem
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Yield: 30 servings 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

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

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

Decoration

• Purple sprinkles
• Yellow sprinkles
• Green sprinkles

Instructions

1. Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl, beat 1 cup softened butter, granulated sugar, and ⅓ cup light brown sugar together until creamy and smooth, about 5 minutes.
2. Add egg yolk and extracts: Mix in the egg yolk, vanilla extract, butter flavor extract, and almond extract until well combined.
3. Whisk dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and ½ tsp salt to evenly distribute the dry ingredients.
4. Combine wet and dry: Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until incorporated to form the dough.
5. Chill the dough: Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or overnight. If chilled overnight, allow the dough to come to near room temperature before rolling.
6. Prepare surface: Lightly flour your working surface or use two sheets of parchment paper for easier rolling.
7. Roll out dough: Roll the dough into a 12 x 10-inch rectangle with even thickness.
8. Make filling: In a small bowl, melt 2 tbsp butter and stir in ⅓ cup light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ⅛ tsp salt, and corn syrup until combined.
9. Spread filling: Immediately pour the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the dough, then carefully spread it with a spatula, leaving a ½-inch border on all sides uncovered.
10. Roll dough into log: Starting from the longer 12-inch side, carefully and tightly roll the dough into a log, using the parchment paper to help keep it tight and uniform.
11. Freeze dough log: Wrap the log in parchment paper and freeze it on a sheet pan for 15 minutes to firm up for easier slicing.
12. Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Heat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
13. Slice cookies: Cut the dough log into ¼-inch thick slices, about 30 slices total.
14. Bake cookies: Place slices on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden. Let cool completely.
15. Make frosting: Cream the softened cream cheese until smooth, then add softened butter and blend. Add salt and powdered sugar, milk, and flavoring extracts, beating until creamy.
16. Frost cookies: Spread the cream cheese frosting over cooled cookies.
17. Decorate: Top the frosted cookies with purple, yellow, and green sprinkles to complete the Mardi Gras theme.

Notes

• For best results, chilling the dough overnight enhances flavor and texture.
• Use parchment paper to roll and shape dough for easy handling and a tighter roll.
• If you don’t have the specific flavor extracts, vanilla and almond extracts alone can provide good flavor.
• Store frosted cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• These cookies are perfect for Mardi Gras celebrations or any festive occasion.

Keywords: Mardi Gras, King Cake, Cinnamon Roll Cookies, festive cookies, cream cheese frosting, holiday treats