Description
Enjoy Mardi Gras with these easy King Cake Bars! They capture the classic flavors of a traditional King Cake in a simple, bakeable bar perfect for your celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup colorful sprinkles (green, purple, and yellow)
- 1/4 cup pearl sugar (optional)
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Gently fold in the colorful sprinkles.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the bars cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the bars are cooling, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth.
- Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until combined. Add the milk and vanilla extract and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Once the bars are completely cool, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top.
- Decorate with additional sprinkles and pearl sugar if desired.
- Cut into bars and serve.
Notes
- For an authentic King Cake look, use green, purple, and yellow sprinkles.
- Pearl sugar adds a delightful crunch and traditional King Cake appearance.
- You can add a drop of purple and green food coloring to portions of the frosting for a swirled effect.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: Approximately 250-300 kcal (will vary based on specific ingredients and frosting)
- Sugar: Approximately 25-30g
- Sodium: Approximately 75-100mg
- Fat: Approximately 15-20g
- Saturated Fat: Approximately 8-10g
- Unsaturated Fat: Approximately 5-7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: Approximately 30-35g
- Fiber: Approximately 1-2g
- Protein: Approximately 2-3g
- Cholesterol: Approximately 40-50mg