King Cake Cinnamon Rolls
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King Cake Cinnamon Rolls are my favorite way to bring a little Mardi Gras magic into the kitchen without the hassle of a full-sized King Cake. These soft, pillowy rolls are packed with a warm, spiced pecan-raisin filling and topped with a rich, buttery glaze—plus those classic purple, green, and gold sprinkles, of course! They’re perfect for when you want something festive but don’t have hours to spare. The dough comes together beautifully, and the heavy cream trick before baking makes them extra soft and gooey. Whether you’re celebrating Fat Tuesday or just need an excuse to bake something sweet, these rolls will hit the spot. Grab a cup of coffee and get ready for some seriously good homemade cinnamon rolls!
Why You’ll Love King Cake Cinnamon Rolls
- Festive & Fun: You get all the classic flavors of a King Cake in an easy-to-make cinnamon roll form.
- That Gooey Texture: Pouring cream over the rolls before baking makes them extra soft and rich.
- Warm, Spiced Filling: A mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, and pecans gives these rolls an irresistible depth of flavor.
- Buttery, Sweet Glaze: The icing is thick, creamy, and melts beautifully over warm rolls.
- Perfect for Celebrations: Whether it’s Mardi Gras or just a cozy weekend brunch, these rolls make any occasion feel special.
Ingredients Needed To Make King Cake Cinnamon Rolls
Make sure you scroll down to the recipe card to see the full list of ingredients needed for this recipe.
Dough
- Butter
- Milk
- Honey
- Sugar
- Warm water
- Kosher salt
- Greek yogurt
- Instant active yeast
- Flour
- Heavy cream
Filling
- Brown sugar
- Raisins
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Pecans
Glaze
- Butter
- Powdered sugar
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
- Purple, yellow, and green sprinkles
Oven Temperatures
Oven temperatures can vary significantly from one oven to another. To achieve consistent results, it’s crucial to know the exact temperature inside your oven. The safest and most accurate way to determine this is by using an oven thermometer. This simple tool can help you avoid underbaking or overbaking your treats.
How To Make King Cake Cinnamon Rolls
- Make the Dough: Activate the yeast, warm the milk and butter, then mix everything together until a soft dough forms. Let it rest.
Prepare the Filling: Stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, and pecans.
Roll & Fill: Roll out the dough, spread the filling over the top, and roll it into a log. Slice into rolls.
Get all the best baking tips!
Wondering how in the world to get the BEST bake every time? We’ve laid it all out for you.
Let Them Rise: Place the rolls in a baking dish, cover, and let them rise until puffy.
Bake: Pour cream over the rolls and bake until golden brown.
Make the Glaze: Whisk together the glaze ingredients until smooth.
Decorate & Serve: Spread the glaze over the rolls, top with sprinkles, and enjoy!
The Secret To Cinnamon Rolls
Introducing heavy cream to your cinnamon rolls is like adding a secret ingredient that takes them to the next level. The cream brings a luxurious tenderness to the rolls’ texture, making each bite soft, moist, and incredibly satisfying. As the rolls bake, the cream works its magic, creating a golden, slightly caramelized exterior that adds a subtle richness to every bite. It’s an insider’s tip to crafting cinnamon rolls that are not just good but exceptional.
How much do we add?
When pouring heavy cream into the pan for cinnamon rolls, you don’t need to entirely submerge the dough. The goal is to provide a generous amount to ensure moisture and flavor enhancement, but not so much that it drowns the dough. Aim to cover about 2/3 of the dough with the cream, leaving some parts exposed.
Commonly Asked Questions
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes! You can prep the rolls the night before, cover them, and store them in the fridge. In the morning, let them sit at room temp for about 30 minutes before baking.
What’s the purpose of pouring cream over the rolls?
The cream seeps into the dough while baking, making the rolls extra soft, gooey, and rich. It’s a game-changer!
Want to simplify the process?
Try using XO Baking Pizza Crust Mix as a convenient base for your dough. It’s a versatile option that still delivers soft, fluffy cinnamon rolls with that perfect balance of sweetness and spice. See the notes in the recipe card below for full details
Can I leave out the raisins or pecans?
Of course! If you’re not a fan, just skip them. The rolls will still be delicious.
How do I store leftovers?
Store in an airtight container at room temp for a day or two, or in the fridge for up to five days. Reheat in the microwave for about 15 seconds to soften them up.
Can I freeze these?
Yep! Freeze them before baking or after—they hold up great either way. Just thaw overnight in the fridge and warm them up before serving.
King Cake Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
- 1 mixer/mixing bowl
- 1 saucepan
Ingredients
Dough
- 6 tbsp butter
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tbsp honey
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 cup warm water, 110 degrees
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 4 oz Greek yogurt, plain
- 1 pkg instant active yeast
- 3 ½ cups Gluten Free 1.1 flour, plus 1/2-1 cup for working the dough or all purpose flour
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
Filling
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
Glaze
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- purple, yellow, and green sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13 baking dish and set aside.
- Add the warm water, half of the sugar, honey, and yeast to a bowl. Mix to combine and let it sit for 5 minutes until it begins to bubble and foam.
- Add the milk, butter, and remaining sugar to a saucepan over medium heat. Let it come to a simmer and allow bubbles to begin forming around the edges, but don't let come to a boil. This is called scalding. Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly.
- Add the yogurt and salt to a mixing bowl with a paddle. Mix to combine.
- With the mixer running slowly pour in the yeast mixture.
- Slowly pour in the milk mixture.
- With the mixer continuing to run add 1/2 a cup of flour at a time until incorporated. Let it run an additional minute.
- Lightly flour your work surface. Pour the dough out onto the surface and lightly flour the top of the dough.
- Roll the dough out until it is approximately 9×12.
- Mix together the ingredients for the filling. Spread over the dough.
- Tightly roll up the dough into a log. Cut it into 8 pieces.
- Place the cinnamon rolls into the prepared baking dish. Cover it with plastic wrap and a towel. Place it in a warm place and allow the rolls to rise until they are 1 1/2 times their original size.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Remove the towel and plastic wrap from the baking dish. Drizzle the heavy cream over the top of the rolls.
- Let the cinnamon rolls bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool.
- To make your glaze, mix together the butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Spread over the top of the cooled cinnamon rolls.
- Decorate with colored sugar sprinkles.
- Let the good times roll and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Dough
- 1 pkg XO Baking Pizza Crust Mix
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk, warm
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix on high for 3 minutes.
- Cover with a towel and let sit for 30 minutes.
- Butter a 12” round baking dish (at least 2” deep).
- Lightly flour a work surface and roll the dough into a 9”x12” rectangle.
- Spread the filling evenly over the dough, leaving a 1” border around the edges.
- Roll up the dough tightly from the long side and cut into 8 even cinnamon rolls.
- Place rolls into the buttered dish. Cover with saran wrap and a towel. Let rise for 1-2 hours until nearly doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove, top with glaze, and enjoy!
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter, room temp
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ cup raisins (optional)
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- Mix all ingredients together until well incorporated.
- 4 tbsp butter, room temp
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk
- Whisk together until smooth.
- Decorating: Sprinkle with yellow, purple, and green sugar for a festive touch!
If you’ve never made homemade cinnamon rolls, these King Cake Cinnamon Rolls are the perfect place to start. They’re festive, packed with flavor, and easier than they look. Whether you’re baking for Mardi Gras or just want a sweet treat, these will definitely steal the show. So grab your sprinkles, pour a cup of coffee, and let the good times roll!
This Gluten and Dairy Free King Cake Cinnamon Rolls looks delicious, thanks for the recipe, it doesn’t look complicated to make.
https://www.tdchinges.com/
The steps in the recipe keep this from being complicated ???? I agree, it’s delicious!