Small Batch King Cake Scones

These small batch King Cake scones combine the bright citrus flavor and festive colors of a classic Mardi Gras King Cake with the tender, buttery texture of scones. Shaped into a circle and baked in about 15 minutes, they’re finished with a simple glaze and purple, green, and yellow sugar for a fun, perfectly portioned treat.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy to Make: Simple steps and basic ingredients make this recipe approachable, even if you don’t bake often.
• Perfectly Portioned: This small batch recipe makes just enough to enjoy without extra leftovers.
• Buttery, Tender Texture: Shaped like a King Cake but baked as scones, giving you a soft, rich crumb.
• Great Any Time of Day: Enjoy with coffee or tea for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon treat.
• Mardi Gras Inspired: Finished with purple, green, and yellow sugar for a festive look that celebrates the season.

Bright colors, citrus flavor, and a simple glaze are what draw me to these King Cake scones. I love how the dough bakes up tender and lightly sweet, then gets finished with a drizzle of icing and those classic purple, green, and gold sugars that instantly feel like Mardi Gras.

Shaping the dough into a circle and slicing it into wedges keeps the spirit of a traditional King Cake while making it easier and more approachable to bake at home. It’s a small batch recipe I turn to when I want something festive, familiar, and fun to share at the table.

If you’d like to explore more single serving New Orleans-inspired recipes, try our small classic King Cake, mini muffuletta, small slow cooker red beans and rice, seafood gumbo for one, jambalaya for one, and small batch crawfish beignets.

Ingredients

If you have any ingredients leftover from this Mardi Gras scones recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.

• Flour: All purpose flour provides the structure for the scones. Other types of flour have not been tested and may affect the texture.
• Granulated Sugar: A small amount of sugar lightly sweetens the dough without overpowering the citrus flavor.
• Baking Powder and Baking Soda: These leavening agents help the scones rise and create a light, tender crumb.
• Cinnamon and Salt: Cinnamon adds warmth while salt balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
• Butter: Cold salted butter is key to a tender texture. Keeping the butter cold helps create flaky layers as the scones bake.
• Egg Yolk: One egg yolk adds richness and moisture. Save the egg white for another egg white recipe like small batch meringues, mini white cake, or small batch chocolate cupcakes.
• Milk: Milk adds moisture and brings the dough together. Cow’s milk or unsweetened plant based milk such as almond or soy both work well.
• Orange Juice and Orange Zest: Fresh orange juice and zest give the scones a bright citrus flavor. Extra orange juice can be used in small batch morning glory muffins or mini orange oatmeal cake.
• Confectioners’ Sugar and Milk or Cream: These are whisked together to make a smooth, lightly sweet glaze.
• Granulated Sugar and Food Coloring: Granulated sugar mixed with food coloring creates a festive topping. I use Watkins food coloring because it is free of artificial dyes and made with vegetable juices and spices, making it a cleaner option.

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How To Make King Cake Scones

These step by step instructions show how to make a small batch of King Cake scones with classic Mardi Gras flavors. The dough is shaped into a circle, baked until lightly golden, then sliced into scone sized pieces. For exact ingredient amounts, see the recipe card below.

Step 1: Make the Dough

1. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
2. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture looks like fine crumbs.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolk, milk, orange juice, and orange zest.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until the dough comes together.

Step 2: Shape and Bake

1. Lightly knead the dough on a floured surface just until it comes together.
2. Shape the dough into a circle, adding a small amount of flour if it feels sticky.
3. Roll the dough into a long strip, then form it into a circle, pressing the ends together to seal.
4. Place the dough on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until lightly golden.

Step 3: Make the Icing and Colored Sugar

1. Whisk the confectioners’ sugar and milk together until smooth, then drizzle over the warm scones.
2. Divide the granulated sugar evenly among three small bowls. Tint the sugar with Mardi Gras colors, purple, green, and yellow, using food coloring.
3. Sprinkle the colored sugars over the icing, slice into wedges, and serve.

Expert Tips

• Keep Ingredients Cold: Use cold butter and milk to help create a tender, flaky texture.
• Handle the Dough Gently: Mix and knead just until the dough comes together to avoid dense scones.
• Check Dough Texture: The dough should feel moist but not sticky. Add a small amount of flour or liquid as needed.
• Adjust the Glaze Consistency: Add more confectioners’ sugar for a thicker glaze or more milk or cream for a thinner drizzle.
• Seasonal Decorating: Change the sugar colors to match the occasion, such as purple, green, and yellow for Mardi Gras or red and green for Christmas.

Frequently Asked Questions

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