Flavorful King Cake Cookies Recipe for Easy Mardi Gras Treats
These King Cake Cookies capture the festive spirit of Mardi Gras with warm spices, citrus zest, and colorful icing swirls. They are quick, easy, and perfect for celebrations or sweet treats.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk (dairy or plant-based)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring in purple, green, and gold/yellow
- Optional: colored sanding sugar for extra sparkle
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract and orange zest.
- Gradually add the dry ingredient mix to the wet, beating on low speed until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized dough balls onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until edges are lightly golden but centers still look soft.
- Let cookies cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- While cookies cool, whisk powdered sugar with milk and vanilla extract until smooth. Divide into three bowls.
- Tint each bowl with gel food coloring: one purple, one green, one gold/yellow.
- Drizzle the three icing colors onto each cookie and swirl gently with a toothpick or small spatula.
- Allow icing to set at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving or storing.
Notes
Use firm, fresh butter and room temperature eggs for best dough consistency. Chill dough for 15 minutes if too soft to shape. Add milk a drop at a time to icing if too thick. Avoid overbaking to keep centers soft. Gel food coloring provides the brightest hues for icing. For gluten-free, substitute flour with gluten-free blend; for vegan, use coconut oil, flax eggs, and plant-based milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Protein: 2
Keywords: King Cake Cookies, Mardi Gras Cookies, cinnamon cookies, festive cookies, colorful icing, easy cookie recipe, holiday treats