Bubble Up King Cake
This King Cake Bubble Up is a fun twist on the traditional Mardi Gras dessert. This easy recipe creates a fluffy cake from cinnamon roll pieces and is topped with creamy icing and sprinkles.
King Cake Bubble Up for Mardi Gras
Growing up, my dad used to travel a lot for work. On a couple occasions, he had to visit a site near New Orleans, so he brought back Mardi Gras beads and trinkets as souvenirs for us kids. I loved the colorful beads and couldn’t wait to visit New Orleans on my own someday!
Now that I’m all grown up and living in Texas, I’ve been able to make that happen, as New Orleans is only a few hours away. There is something so unique about the city: from the old houses to the decadent food. I’ve never been during Mardi Gras (I’m not sure I’m quite up for those type of crowds!) but you sort of get that vibe any time you visit the city, near Bourbon Street.
This Cinnamon Roll King Cake Bubble Up is a family friendly way to celebrate the Mardi Gras experience. It is a spin on the traditional King Cake recipe, it is easy to make, and so so delicious!
Related: For another fun and easy recipe that uses canned biscuit dough, try these Rainbow Air Fryer Donuts!
What is a King Cake?
A King Cake is a traditional Mardi Gras dessert. It is usually round or oval-shaped and decorated in the three Mardi Gras colors: purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. It is served between January 6th (Epiphany, or Three Kings Day) and Mardi Gras (the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras 2022 falls on Tuesday, March 1st.
Often, a small Baby Jesus figurine is baked into the cake. Whoever finds Baby Jesus is said to have luck for the coming year.
This bubble up cake is a twist on the traditional King Cake dessert because it is not an oval or bundt cake. However, it is similar in texture because it is also fluffy and coated in frosting.
What is a Bubble Up Cake?
“Bubble Ups” are a casserole-style dish that combines canned biscuit pieces with liquid ingredients. When it bakes in the oven, the biscuit pieces expand, or bubble up, to create a moist and fluffy dish. This King Cake Bubble Up is a dessert, but you can also make savory bubble up casserole dinners.
Ingredients
- 3 cans refrigerated Pillsbury cinnamon rolls
- 1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs, room temp
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup milk
- purple, yellow, green sprinkles
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
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Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and coat a 9×13″ casserole dish with non-stick baking spray.
Remove the cinnamon rolls from the cans and separate them. Cut each circle cinnamon roll into 4 equal quarters and place them in the prepared pan. Set the icing aside to use later.
Beat together cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Finally, mix in the milk and pour the entire mixture over the pan of cinnamon roll pieces.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, then remove the pan from oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
Once the cake is cool enough to handle safely, use a knife to cut a slit into the cake, and slide the Baby Jesus figurine inside. Push the cake back together so that the figurine’s location is concealed.
Pour the cinnamon roll icing on top of the baked cinnamon roll pieces, using a spatula to spread if needed.
Decorated with Mardi Gras colored sugar or sprinkles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Bake the Baby Jesus Figurine into a King Cake?
No, I do not recommend baking the figurine in the cake. There is always a risk that a plastic or resin figurine will melt and seep into the cake. Other materials, such as porcelain, could break under the heat.
It is always best to hide the baby figurine in the already-baked cake.
Does this Cake Need Refrigerated?
If your cinnamon rolls use regular sugar-based icing, this cake does not require refrigeration. If your cinnamon rolls have cream cheese icing, you will want to refrigerate the cake. Either way, you’ll want to keep the cake covered.
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Grab your free printable copy of our Mardi Gras Bubble Up Cake recipe:
King Cake Bubble Up
This King Cake Bubble Up is a fun twist on the traditional Mardi Gras dessert. This easy recipe creates a fluffy cake from cinnamon roll pieces and is topped with creamy icing and sprinkles.
Ingredients
- 3 cans refrigerated Pillsbury cinnamon rolls
- 1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs, room temp
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup milk
- purple, yellow, green sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and mist a 9x13" casserole dish with non-stick baking spray.
- Remove the cinnamon rolls from the cans and separate them. Cut each cinnamon roll into 4 equal quarters and place them in the prepared pan. Set the icing aside.
- Beat together cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Finally, mix in the milk and pour the entire mixture over the pan of cinnamon roll pieces.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, then remove the pan from oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Once the cake is cool enough to handle safely, use a knife to cut a slit into the cake, and slide the Baby Jesus figurine inside. Push the cake back together so that the figurine's location is concealed.
- Pour the cinnamon roll icing on top of the baked cinnamon roll pieces, using a spatula to spread if needed.
- Decorate with Mardi Gras colored sugar or sprinkles.
Notes
Nutrition information is an estimate only. Actual values will vary based on ingredients used and serving size.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 112Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 151mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 0gSugar: 13gProtein: 2g
Nutrition information is an estimate only. Actual values will vary based on ingredients used and serving size.
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