Description
These Festive King Cake Bars are a delicious twist on the classic Mardi Gras King Cake! Featuring a buttery graham cracker crust, a rich cinnamon-cream cheese filling, and a sweet glaze topped with purple, green, and gold sugar, these bars are a perfect Mardi Gras dessert for any celebration. Whether you’re hosting a Mardi Gras ball, parade party, or masquerade event, these easy-to-make bars will be a hit!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Crust:
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
For the Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
For the Topping:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×9-inch baking dish.
- In a bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and granulated sugar. Press firmly into the baking dish to form a crust.
- In another bowl, beat cream cheese, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and egg until smooth. Pour over the crust.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until set. Let cool completely.
- In a small bowl, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to create a glaze. Spread over the bars.
- Immediately sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sugar. Let set before slicing into squares.
Notes
- For a crunchier crust, bake the graham cracker base for 5 minutes before adding the filling.
- Let the bars cool completely before adding the glaze to prevent melting.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: New Orleans, Mardi Gras
