Easy One-Dish King Cake

🎂 Ingredients

Dough (Shortcut Method):

  • 2 cans refrigerated crescent roll dough OR 1 package (450g) thawed sweet bread dough
  • 4 tbsp (60g) unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ cup (100g) brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • Optional: ½ tsp nutmeg
  • Optional: ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Cream Cheese Filling (Optional but traditional):

  • 4 oz (115g) cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Glaze:

  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
  • 2–3 tbsp milk
  • ½ tsp vanilla or almond extract

Decorations:

  • Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar or colored sprinkles
  • Optional: a plastic baby figurine (hide after baking!)

🧁 Instructions

1. Prepare the Filling (if using)

  • Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Set aside.

2. Assemble in One Dish

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  • Unroll crescent dough and lay pieces overlapping in the pan to cover the bottom. Pinch seams closed.
  • Brush with half the melted butter.
  • Mix brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over dough.
  • If using, drop spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture evenly over the cinnamon layer.
  • Top with chopped nuts if desired.

3. Top Layer

  • Unroll and arrange more crescent dough over the filling (doesn’t have to be perfect). Brush with remaining melted butter.

4. Bake

  • Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
  • Let cool for 10 minutes.

🌟 Finish with Glaze & Sprinkles

  1. Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and extract until smooth.
  2. Drizzle glaze over warm cake.
  3. Immediately sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sugar in sections or stripes.

🎉 Optional: Hide the Baby

  • If using a plastic baby figurine, insert it underneath after baking and cooling.

✅ Tips:

  • Best served slightly warm!
  • You can reheat individual pieces in the microwave for 10–15 seconds.
  • Store covered at room temp up to 2 days or refrigerate for 4–5 days.

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