There’s something so magical about Mardi Gras season — the colors, the music, the joy in the air — and nothing says celebration quite like king cake. But this year, we’re giving that beloved New Orleans classic a fun little twist! These King Cake Cookies capture all the warm cinnamon-sugar goodness and festive flair of traditional king cake, but in a soft, buttery cookie form that’s perfect for sharing (or not sharing… I won’t judge ).
Each bite is packed with cozy brown sugar, a swirl of cinnamon, and topped with a sweet glaze that gets showered in vibrant purple, green, and gold sprinkles. They’re festive, flavorful, and just so much easier to whip up than a full yeast cake. Whether you’re hosting a Mardi Gras party, bringing treats to work, or just craving a taste of carnival season at home, these cookies deliver all the celebration without the fuss. Let’s bake up a batch and let the good times roll!
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Ingredients
- Flour— 3 cups
- Baking Powder—1 tablespoon
- Cornstarch— 1 teaspoon
- Milk Powder— 1 teaspoon
- Cinnamon— 2 teaspoons
- Nutmeg— 1/8 teaspoon
- Salt— 1 teaspoon
- Butter— 1 cup (softened)
- Vanilla— 1 tablespoon
- Almond Extract— 1/4 teaspoons
- 2 Eggs
- White Sugar— 1 cup
Makes 24 Medium Sized Cookies
Powdered Sugar
- Powdered Sugars— 1-1/2 cups
- Milk or Cream— 3 tablespoons
What You’ll Need
- Cookie Scoop
- Cookie Sheet
- Hand Mixer
- Mixing Bowl
- Sanding Sugar Sprinkles
How to Make King Cake Cookies
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on medium speed to cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy then add in eggs and continue mix.
- Now fold in vanilla and almond extracts by hand.
- Add in the flour, baking powder, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and milk powder then mix until well combined.
- Cover dough and chill for 30 minutes or overnight if you wish to make the dough in advance.
- Now use a cookie scoop to form cookies then place them 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet lined with a silicone baking mat.
- Bake for 10 minutes then allow cookies to cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
- Once the cookies have completely cooled, prepare powdered sugar glaze. Combine powdered sugar and milk then adjust to desired consistency.
- Pour glaze over cookies then decorate with sprinkles.
Let us know what you thought of these King Cake Cookies. Check out some of our other dessert recipes and feel free to browse our digital baking magazines.