Celebrate Mardi Gras with this Mini King Cake recipe. A perfectly sweet, festive, tender and delicious king cake drizzled with icing and topped with colored sugar. Easy to make and the perfect size for serving one or two people.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time15 minutesmins
Cool10 minutesmins
Total Time40 minutesmins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, French
Diet: Vegetarian
Keyword: cake, king cake, mardi gras, mini cake, mini king cake
Line a rimmed baking sheet with silpat or parchment paper and set aside.
In a bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.
Using a pastry blender or your hands, cut the butter into the flour mixture until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk, milk, orange juice, and orange zest. Pour into the flour mixture and stir until just combined.
Shaping and baking the king cake
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead very lightly and form a circle. Add a little more flour to the dough if the dough becomes too sticky to handle.
Roll the dough out so that it forms one long piece of dough.
Shape the dough into a circle and gently press the edges of the circle together.
Place the dough on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden.
Make the icing and colored sugar
Whisk together confectioners' sugar and milk in a bowl. Drizzle over the cooled king cake.
Place 1 tablespoon of the sugar into three small bowls. Add in 1 to 2 drops of the food coloring in each bowl. Make a separate bowl for the purple, the green, and the gold sugars.Spoon a little of each of the the colored sugars over the icing.
Notes
Embrace the Texture: Keep in mind that this is a scone-like king cake, so expect a texture that’s different from traditional king cakes.
Use Cold Ingredients: For the best results, ensure your ingredients, especially butter, are cold.
Handle Dough Gently: Avoid overworking the dough to maintain its tender quality.
Dough Consistency: The dough should be moist but not sticky. Adjust with a bit more flour or liquid as needed.
Glaze Thickness: For a thicker glaze, add more powdered sugar. For a thinner glaze, add more milk or cream.
Versatile Decorating: Tailor the sugar colors for different holidays – red or pink for Valentine’s Day, green for St. Patrick’s Day, or red and green for Christmas.