4.5 from 39 votes
King Cake Cookies (Mardi Gras Cookies)
Buttery and rich, King Cake Cookies are the best Mardi Gras dessert! All the flavors of a traditional King Cake, but only take minutes!
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Additional Time
2 hrs
Total Time
2 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 143 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
Cookies
- ¾ cup unsalted butter , softened
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg , room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Royal icing
- 1 egg white , pasteurized
- 1 2/3 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 teaspoons lemon juice
- Purple gel food coloring
- Green Gel Food Coloring
- yellow gel food coloring
Instructions
Cookies:
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar using a stand or hand mixer. Whip the butter until pale and fluffy. Add the egg, salt and vanilla then beat again on high speed for around 1 minute.
- Separately, sift together the flour, baking powder and nutmeg. Add the flour into the butter mixture and mix on low speed until a dough forms. If the dough seems too soft to roll, sprinkle in 1 tablespoon of flour. Cover the cookie dough with plastic wrap, then refrigerate for 1-2 hours or overnight.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350°F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Flour the worksurface, then roll out the dough using a rolling pin. If the dough is too sticky when rolling, sprinkle more flour onto it. The thickness should be ¼ inch.
- Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 24 circles. Use a small cookie cutter or the back of a piping nozzle to cut out ½ inch holes in the middle.
- Place the cookies on the baking sheets, at least 2 inches apart. Bake for 11-12 minutes or until golden-brown on the edges.
- Once baked, let cool for 5 minutes on the sheets, then transfer to a cooling wire to cool completely.
Cup of Yum
Royal icing:
- Combine the egg white and powdered sugar with the help of a hand mixer.
- Add in the lemon juice a few drops at a time, until the mixture reaches the desired consistency.
- Divide the icing into 4 separate containers. Leave one white, the color the other three in yellow, green, and purple.
- In a separate bowl, place dollops of white icing. On top, place small dots of colored icing.
- Dip each cookie face down into the icing, then lift and let the excess drop off. Place the cookies on a wire rack to harden.
- If the colors become too merged, place more white icing on top to create a white canvass. Repeat the process with small dollops of colorful icing on top of the white.
- Optional: sprinkle some edible glitter on top whilst the icing is drying.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.
Nutrition Information
Calories
143kcal
(7%)
Carbohydrates
21g
(7%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
6g
(9%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
2g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
22mg
(7%)
Sodium
31mg
(1%)
Potassium
33mg
(1%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
13g
(26%)
Vitamin A
187IU
(4%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
12mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 24cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 143
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 143kcal | 7% |
| Carbohydrates | 21g | 7% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 22mg | 7% |
| Sodium | 31mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 33mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 13g | 26% |
| Vitamin A | 187IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 12mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.