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Gluten Free King Cake for Mardi Gras

If you want a recipe for a Gluten Free King Cake just in time for Mardi Gras ( or anytime of the year), you are in the right place!

gluten free king cake with mardi gras beads

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Being a HUGE fan of the Mardi Gras festivities, I still remember my first king cake.

It was glorious!

Since then, I’ve had my share of this New Orleans Tradition during carnival season.

However, my son is gluten free and I wanted him to experience the beloved king cake tradition on Fat Tuesday but of course, the prices for a gluten free king cake in New Orleans or to get one delivered can be outrageous! So i set out to make my own. Because people with gluten intolerance and celiac disease deserve King Cake too!

So as mardi gras season approaches, I want to share this Gluten Free King Cake Recipe

What is King Cake?

king cake on a plate with mardi gras beads

A king Cake is a mixture of a french pastry and a coffee cake . It usually has an oval shape and the original version features the colors of mardi gras :purple, gold and green.

It is believed that King cake originated in France and was brought to New Orleans in 1870. In the Roman Catholic tradition, 12 days after Christmas on January 6th, Epiphany ( or three kings day) is celebrated. This is the day where people celebrate how a star led the magi to visit baby jesus after he had been born.

King Cake Season officially begins on this day and ends on Mardi Gras Day. A miniature plastic baby ( symbolizing baby Jesus) is placed inside of each cake to signify Epiphany. the person who gets the slice that contains the baby is known as the king!

What you need to make a Gluten Free King Cake

This took a lot of experimentation with gluten-free flours, but I’ve managed to make a gluten-free king cake recipe as close to a traditional king cake as possible! All of these ingredients can be found in your grocery store ( whole food and amazon are the easiest ways to find them though)

ingrediants needed fr bakin g

For the dough:

warm water

granulated sugar

gluten free yeast

unsalted room temperature butter

warm milk

large egg, room temperature

All Purpose Gluten Free Flour ( Like Cup4Cup)

xanthan gum

baking powder

salt

For the filling:

brown sugar

cinnamon

Let’s Make a Gluten Free King Cake!

use your mixer to mix the dough

Make the Dough

Cream butter and 3 tablespoons sugar in a the bowl of your stand mixer until light and fluffy.

*If whisking by hand, continue to whisk 7-9 mins continuously until light and fluffy.

Add in the egg and warm milk. Mix.

*It may not be smooth when mixing, that’s okay.

Add the AP flour, baking powder, salt and yeast mixture

Mix fully .

dough being prepared for a king cake

Line your large baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray with a non stick baking spray.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and Roll the dough out into a rectangle shape, like a jelly roll.

dough ready

The longer the dough, the bigger the ring will be.

make a ring for the king cake

Use a pastry brush to spread melted butter on top of the dough.

Sprinkle the cinnamon-brown sugar mixture over the length of the dough.

Using a bench scraper or a large sharp knife , carefully begin to roll a tight log, like a jelly log.

Curl the ends of the roll to form a circle or oval.

Use water or milk to seal the ends together.

Cover with a towel and let sit in a warm spot (preferably on the stove top)

to let the dough rise.

After 20-30 min brush with milk and bake in 350 degree oven for 25-30 mins or until golden brown.

add icing to dough

All cake to cool and make the icing or use a store bought icing.

For store bought icing, remove the lid and foil covering, and microwave for 40 seconds. Stir and pour over cake. Add green, yellow and purple sprinkles immediately.

Gluten Free King Cake!

To make the icing: Combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla and ¼ cup water or milk. Icing should be thick but pourable. 

Pour on store bought sanding sugar or make your own .

For Best Results:

If there is a small tear in the dough, be advised it will grow during the proofing and baking phases. If you have too many tears in your dough, intentionally make some slits so it looks like it was on purpose. 

THERE!

I hope this recipe helps you to experience a delicious king cake gluten free this carnival season! Enjoy!

Gluten Free King Cake for Mardi Gras

LaShawn Wiltz
Gluten Free King Cake Recipe for Mardi Gras

Ingredients
  

  • For the dough:
  • ½ cup warm water
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 package 2 ½ tsp gluten free yeast
  • ½ cup unsalted room temperature butter
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup warm milk
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 3 cups All Purpose Gluten Free Flour
  • 2 teaspoons xanthium gum
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • For the filling:
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 200 degrees


  • Remove egg from fridge and place into a bowl of warm water
    for 5 mins to bring it up to room temperature.


  • Add water, yeast and sugar to a bowl and stir with a fork or
    whisk.  Let sit for 5-10 mins.


  • *If the yeast does not begin to bubble or grow in size,
    throw it out and start over*


  • Cream butter and 3 tablespoons sugar in a stand mixer until
    light and fluffy.


  • *If whisking by hand, continue to whisk 7-9 mins
    continuously until light and fluffy.


  • Add in the egg and warm milk.  Mix.


  • *It may not be smooth when 
    mixing, that’s okay.


  • Add the AP flour, baking powder, salt and yeast mixture


  • Mix fully and then add in the one cup bread flour.


  • Prepare a parchment lined baking sheet and lightly spray
    with a non stick baking spray.


  • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.


  • If the dough is very wet, it will need extra flour at this
    point, if its not wet, a light dusting will do.


  • Roll the dough out into a rectangle shape.  The longer the dough, the larger the ring
    will be.


  • Melt the additional butter and pour onto the dough.  Use a pastry brush to spread it around.


  • Sprinkle the cinnamon-brown sugar mixture over the length of
    the dough.


  • Using a bench scraper, carefully begin to roll a tight log,
    like a jelly log.


  • Using the bench scraper as a guide, roll the dough
    completely and transfer to a baking sheet.


  • Curl the ends of the log to form a circle or oval.


  • Use water or milk to seal the ends together.


  • Cover with a towel and let sit in a warm place (preferably
    on the stove top)


  • After 20-30 min brush with milk and bake in 350 degree oven
    for 25-30 mins or until golden brown.


  • All cake to cool and make the icing or use a store bought
    icing.


  • For store bought icing, remove the lid and foil covering,
    and microwave for 40 seconds.  Stir and
    pour over cake.  Add green, yellow and
    purple sprinkles immediately.


  • To make the icing: Combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp
    vanilla and ¼ cup water or milk.  Icing
    should be thick but pourable. 


  • Pour on store bought sanding sugar or make your
    own

Notes

If there is a small tear in the dough, be advised it will grow during the proofing and baking phases. If you have too many tears in your dough, intentionally make some slits so it looks like it was on purpose.
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