Cinnamon Roll King Cake

Looking for easy Mardi Gras recipes? Then you'll LOVE this Cinnamon Roll King Cake! This delicious treat is a fun twist on the iconic cake that takes minutes to make and features a homemade cream cheese frosting that's totally irresistible!

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

It's Mardi Gras season! I love this time of year, especially when I'm spending it in New Orleans. There is nothing more fun and festive than watching a parade, catching some beads, and sampling all the delicious food. And King Cake is the one sweet treat I look forward to eating every year!

If you're looking for the easiest King Cake recipe ever, then you're going to LOVE this mouthwatering Cinnamon Roll King Cake! This scrumptious cake is super simple to make. You need just a few basic ingredients, and there are no tricky techniques, like waiting for yeast dough to rise, or braiding the dough together before baking. Anyone can make this recipe!

I've tried many Mardi Gras cakes, and in my opinion, the best ones have one thing in common: cream cheese frosting. (My personal favorite is from Don Phuong Bakery ... get one if you have the chance, it's simply amazing!). So I couldn't resist topping this semi-homemade recipe with that decadent frosting ... it gives the cake the tastiest flavor, and it only takes five minutes to make.

While I'm not going to name names, I think this cake tastes even better than some bakery-bought versions. It's tender and moist, and the frosting is simply divine. Serve this cake at a Mardi Gras party or for a fun + festive breakfast, brunch, or dinner.

Ready to get started? Keep reading for the easy recipe, plus lots of helpful tips!

Ingredients

This recipe uses simple, easy to find ingredients! Here's what you'll need:

• Cinnamon Rolls - The most important part of the recipe, of course! You will need two packs of canned cinnamon rolls (the type with 8 rolls each) for this recipe. I used these Pillsbury Flaky Cinnamon Rolls ... they worked perfectly, and they have a great flavor and texture!
• Frosting - While you can definitely used the icing that comes with the canned rolls, I recommend leveling up this recipe by making your own. I've included the recipe for my delicious homemade Cream Cheese Frosting (without Butter), and it's so quick and easy to make! You only need cream cheese, powdered sugar (also known as confectioner's sugar), vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to make this delectable frosting (and about five minutes time).
• Sprinkles - You'll also need three colors of sprinkles to decorate the cake: purple, yellow (gold), and green. I like to use colored sugar crystals because it gives the finished dessert a little sparkle that's so fun!
• Baby - Traditionally, a miniature baby figurine is inserted into into King Cake before it's frosted. The trinket symbolizes the baby Jesus, and whoever finds it will be blessed with luck and prosperity. They're also supposed to bring a King Cake to the next Mardi Gras Party! I purchased two versions of these babies, and loved them both: these plastic babies and these colorful purple, gold, and green babies.

You'll Also Need

You'll need a large baking sheet (these Circulon sheet pans are my fave!) to bake the cake. I recommend using a stand mixer or hand mixer to make the cream cheese frosting.

How to Make a Cinnamon Roll King Cake

This is the easiest King Cake you'll ever make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:

1. Arrange cinnamon rolls. Start by removing the cinnamon rolls from the cans, then separating them. Next, arrange them on a baking sheet in an oval or round shape with the rolls overlapping each other (see image #1 below). Tip: Traditional cakes are typically oval-shaped to symbolize a king's crown.
2. Bake cake. Transfer the rolls to your oven, then bake the cake just until it's cooked through. I recommend giving it a quick squeeze (don't burn yourself!) to make sure it isn't squishy in the middle and undercooked. Tip: Most King Cake babies are made of plastic these days, so it isn't safe to bake them the cake. You'll insert the figurine in the next step.
3. Insert baby. Let the cinnamon rolls cool, then cut a small slit in the cake and insert the baby.
4. Frost cake. Next, you'll prepare the cream cheese frosting. Use a stand mixer (or hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, then continue mixing until smooth. Generously spread the frosting over the cooled cake (you may have a little left over).
5. Add sprinkles. As the final step, sprinkle the colored sugar crystals over the cake in alternating stripes of purple, gold, and green. Tip: To avoid overlapping colors, hold the container as close to the cake as possible while sprinkling. You can also hold a small piece of paper towel (or paper) just above the previous color to shield it while sprinkling.

And that's all there is to it ... time to enjoy your beautiful and delicious Cinnamon Roll King Cake! Wasn't that easy to make?

Tip: If you're serving the cake to someone who's never tried it before, or who is unfamiliar with the tradition, make sure to warn them about the baby!

Variations

I think this recipe is pretty perfect as-is, but if you'd like to change things up, here are a few easy ideas to try:

• Individual Cinnamon Rolls - Making individual desserts (AKA King Cake Cinnamon Rolls) is one of my favorite ways to change up this recipe! Simply bake the cinnamon rolls separately on a sheet pan (or together in a round pan). Then frost them and decorate with sprinkles once they've cooled.
• Serve Warm - There's nothing better than a hot cinnamon roll, am I right? Feel free to serve this recipe warm from the oven, just keep in mind that the frosting will melt into more of a glaze. Still delicious, just different!
• Icing Instead of Frosting - If you'd like to simplify the recipe, you can use the icing that comes with the canned cinnamon rolls. Or you can make a simple icing by combining 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 to 3 tablespoons of milk (just enough to thin it to the desired consistency), and ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract. You could also turn the cream cheese frosting recipe into an icing by using less sugar (start with one cup powdered sugar and thin with a little milk, if needed). Cover the cake with the icing when it's still warm to create a glaze or drizzle it over the cooled cake.
• Extra Cinnamon Flavor - For an extra boost of cinnamon flavor, add a ½ teaspoon of cinnamon to the frosting.
• Alternate Frosting - Not a fan of cream cheese frosting? No problem! Make the recipe with your favorite frosting, or try my favorite light and fluffy Sour Cream Frosting that I used to make these Sour Cream Cut Out Cookies.

Storage

This easy King Cake recipe with Cinnamon Rolls and Cream Cheese tastes best the day you make it. However, you can store leftovers in an airtight container (a Tupperware pie container works great for this!) in your refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for three to four days. Let the leftover cake sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before eating for the best flavor and texture.

Related Recipes

Looking for similar ideas? These recipes are sure to make your next Mardi Gras party more fun:

• Vegetarian Muffaletta Sandwich - A classic New Orleans sandwich (with a meatless twist) that would also be great for a Mardi Gras get together or anytime of year!
• Raspberry Bread Pudding - This recipe is another fun variation on a NOLA favorite. If you still have a panettone hanging around from Christmas, try this Panettone Bread Pudding, too.
• Sour Cream Cookies - Make a batch of my fave cookies, then cut the dough with these cute Mardi Gras Cookie Cutters!
• Caramelized Bananas - This scrumptious treat takes minutes to make and will remind you of Bananas Foster (no flames or extensive ingredient list required though).
• Fettuccine Alfredo - Add some roasted or sautéed veggies, plus some Creole seasoning, for a quick, easy, and irresistible Carnival season dinner!
• More - Check out all of my appetizers, drinks, and desserts for more party perfect recipes.

P.S. Don't miss my New Orleans Travel Guides for more Big Easy inspiration!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Print Recipe SaveSaved!

5 from 1 vote

Cinnamon Roll King Cake

Learn how to make an easy King Cake with cinnamon rolls using the quick, easy, and super delicious recipe!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time25 minutes mins

Total Time35 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 12 slices (or more)

Calories: 313kcal

Author: Ginnie

Ingredients

For Cake:

• 2 cans cinnamon rolls (with 8 rolls each)

For Frosting:

• 1 (8-ounce / 227 gram) block cream cheese (use full fat)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch salt

For Decorating:

• baby figurine
• purple sugar sprinkles
• green sugar sprinkles
• yellow sugar sprinkles

Equipment

• Baking Sheet
• Stand Mixer (or Hand Mixer)

Instructions

Prepare Cake:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a large baking sheet (or spray with nonstick spray).
• Remove cinnamon rolls from cans and separate into individual rolls. Arrange rolls on baking sheet in an oval (or round) shape with the rolls overlapping each other.
• Bake cake until browned and cooked through, about 25 minutes. (Give cake a quick squeeze to test for doneness. It shouldn't feel squishy in the middle. And remember than ovens may vary, start testing it at 20 minutes to be safe.)
• Let cake cool before decorating.

Prepare Frosting:

• Mix cream cheese until smooth using a stand mixer.
• Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Mix just until smooth.
• Chill until ready to use.

Decorate Cake.

• Cut a small slit in the cooled cake, then push the baby into the cake.
• Spread frosting generously over top. (You may have a little left over.)
• Sprinkle the colored sugar crystals over the cake in alternating stripes of purple, gold, and green.
• Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to eat. Enjoy!

Notes

For the best texture, I recommend making the cake on the day you plan to serve it (especially if it's for a party). If you have leftovers, store them in the refrigerator for up to four days.

I used Pillsbury Flaky Cinnamon Rolls, which have a great flavor and texture, and they worked perfectly! However, you can use your favorite kind. Look for cans with 8 rolls though, rather than the oversize "Grands" rolls, which only come with 5 in a package. They'll work, but you'll end up with a smaller, fatter King Cake.

You can use the icing that comes with the canned rolls, but I highly, highly recommend making the Cream Cheese Frosting! It takes minutes to make and will give your cake a homemade flavor that's super scrumptious. If you're not a fan of cream cheese, try my light and fluffy Sour Cream Frosting that I used to make these Sour Cream Cookies instead.

Don't forget about the baby! I purchased these plastic babies (which are more traditional) and these colorful purple, gold, and green babies. Either would work great. Make sure to insert the baby after baking the cake.

Check out the info before this recipe card for step-by-step photos, helpful tips, variations, and more!

 

Nutrition

Calories: 313kcal

Did you make this recipe?I love seeing what you're cooking! Leave a comment below, or tag @HelloLittleHome or #hellolittlehome on Instagram!