These Mardi Gras King Cake Crescent Rolls with cinnamon sugar and cream cheese filling are super easy to make! Just insert a plastic baby and let the good times roll!

Mardi Gras season is officially here! And do you know what that means? KING CAKE!!

I fell in love with King Cake on my first trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. It's been years since my first Carnival experience, but I still keep the tradition of ordering a King Cake from NOLA every Mardi Gras season. It's no secret that my favorite King Cake is from Sucre...but since I only splurge for delivery once a year, I curb my cravings with Mardi Gras King Cake Crescent Rolls. Yes, you heard me. King Cake Crescent Rolls!

These little gems are super simple to make and satisfy my sweet tooth during Mardi Gras season and beyond. They aren't a substitute for a true King Cake, but in a pinch, mini King Cake Crescent Rolls with cream cheese filling do the trick....especially when you strategically place a plastic baby inside like a real King Cake!

If your family isn't able to experience a King Cake from New Orleans, these King Cake Crescent rolls are the perfect way to get a taste of Mardi Gras without breaking the bank.

Mardi Gras King Cake Crescent Rolls Recipe

Ingredients:

1 (8 ct) can crescent rolls
1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar
8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon lemon juice

For the glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon milk
Colored sugars - purple, yellow and green
Optional: plastic King Cake baby

How to Make Mardi Gras King Cake Crescent Rolls:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a large cookie sheet or place parchment paper on it and set aside.

2. Add cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, vanilla and lemon juice to a medium mixing bowl. With an electric mixer, mix until light and fluffy.

3. Separate the crescent dough along the perforated lines, into eight triangles. Sprinkle each piece with cinnamon sugar.

4. Spread 1 to 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture towards the large end of each dough triangle. Roll up each crescent, folding both sides.

5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool for 10 minutes before adding icing. If adding plastic baby, do so now, sticking through the underside of the crescent roll.

6. Add the remaining powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a medium mixing bowl. Stir until all a thick glaze forms.

7. Generously drizzle the vanilla glaze on top of each crescent roll.

8. Sprinkle the purple, yellow and green colored sugars on top.

See below for printable recipe

Mardi Gras King Cake Crescent Rolls Recipe

Author: Stefanie Fauquet

Ingredients

1 8 ct can crescent rolls
1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar
8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon lemon juice

For the glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon milk
Colored sugar purple, yellow and green

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a large cookie sheet or place parchment paper on it and set aside.
Add cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, vanilla and lemon juice to a medium mixing bowl. With an electric mixer, mix until light and fluffy.
Separate the crescent dough along the perforated lines, into eight triangles. Sprinkle each piece with cinnamon sugar.
Spread 1 to 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture towards the large end of each dough triangle. Roll up each crescent, folding both sides.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool for 10 minutes before adding icing. If adding plastic baby, do so now, sticking through the underside of the crescent roll.
Add the remaining powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a medium mixing bowl. Stir until all a thick glaze forms.
Generously drizzle the vanilla glaze on top of each crescent roll. Sprinkle the purple, yellow and green colored sugars on top.