Mardi Gras King Cake Donuts (Printable)
Baked donuts with festive icing and colored sugars inspired by New Orleans King Cake traditions.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
02 - 3/4 cup warm milk, approximately 110°F
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
→ Filling
10 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar
11 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
→ Icing
13 - 1 cup powdered sugar
14 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
15 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Decoration
16 - Purple sanding sugar
17 - Green sanding sugar
18 - Gold sanding sugar
# How to Make It:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk with a pinch of sugar. Allow to stand for 5 minutes until foamy and activated.
02 - Add remaining sugar, egg, melted butter, salt, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the yeast mixture. Mix until a soft dough forms.
03 - Transfer dough to a floured work surface and knead for 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm location for 1 hour or until volume doubles.
04 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
05 - Roll out dough to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut donuts using a 3-inch round cutter and a 1-inch cutter for centers.
06 - Transfer donuts to prepared baking sheet, cover, and let rise for 20 minutes.
07 - Mix brown sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon. Brush the mixture over donut tops.
08 - Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until lightly golden. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable.
10 - Dip cooled donuts into icing, then immediately sprinkle purple, green, and gold sugar in sections to represent traditional King Cake colors.
11 - Allow icing to set completely before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These donuts capture all the festive charm of a traditional King Cake but come together in half the time and with twice the pillowy texture.
- The baked rather than fried approach means you can make them with kids around without worrying about hot oil while still achieving that perfect golden exterior and soft center.
02 -
- The milk temperature for activating yeast is crucial - I once killed an entire batch using milk straight from the microwave that was too hot.
- Letting the icing set completely before stacking or storing the donuts prevents the colors from bleeding together and maintains those distinct Mardi Gras sections.
03 -
- Adding just a teaspoon of lemon zest to the dough brings a brightness that balances the rich, spiced flavors and is closer to traditional King Cake flavor profiles.
- When applying colored sugars, work over a baking sheet or large bowl to catch excess sugar, which can be reused rather than wasted.