King Cake Bites
King Cake Bites are mini, flavorful treats inspired by the traditional Mardi Gras King Cake, featuring cinnamon-spiced dough with a vibrant cream cheese filling and festive sugar topping.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 12 bites
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for topping)
- Colored sanding sugar (purple, green, and gold) for garnish
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon until smooth.
- Unfold the puff pastry sheet and cut into 12 equal squares.
- Place about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture in the center of each square.
- Fold each square into a triangle, pinching the edges to seal well.
- In a small bowl, combine granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
- Brush each pastry bite with beaten egg and then dip or sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over them.
- Place the bites on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15–18 minutes or until golden brown.
- Once slightly cooled, sprinkle each bite with purple, green, and gold sanding sugar to mimic traditional King Cake colors.
- Serve warm or at room temperature as a festive snack or dessert.
Notes
For extra indulgence, drizzle the bites with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and milk before adding the colored sugar topping.