Nana's King Cake Earthquake Cake - Gooey Mardi Gras Dessert
Y’all, if you love king cake but don’t have time to braid dough and wait for it to rise... this is for you.
King Cake Earthquake Cake takes all the flavors we love about Carnival season and turns it into a gooey, messy, "earthquake" style cake. Cinnamon swirl, cream cheese, and purple-green-gold sprinkles on top.
It’s "Made with Love" and it disappears fast at parties. No yeast, no braiding, no stress. Just pure Mardi Gras joy in a 9x13 pan.
Grab my favorite dessert tools→ [Linked HERE]
Nana's King Cake Earthquake Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
1 box yellow cake mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup butter, melted
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 lb powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
Purple, green, and gold sugar sprinkles
Optional: 1 small plastic baby for tradition 😉
Instructions:
Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 baking dish.
Bottom layer: In a bowl, mix cake mix, 2 eggs, and melted butter. It will be thick. Press into the bottom of your pan.
Cream cheese layer: In another bowl, beat cream cheese, 2 eggs, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Pour over the cake mix layer.
Swirl: Sprinkle cinnamon over the top and use a knife to gently swirl it. Don’t overmix!
Bake: Bake 40-45 minutes. The edges should be set but the center will be gooey. Remember Nana's tip!
Finish: Let cool 10 minutes. Drizzle with a little extra glaze if you want, then cover with purple, green, and gold sprinkles.
Grab my favorite dessert tools→ [Linked HERE]
Nana's Kitchen Tips
1. Don’t overbake.
You want that gooey center. It firms up as it cools. If you bake it till a toothpick comes out clean, it’ll be dry.
2. Hide the baby
Under a piece before serving if you want to keep tradition 😊
Whoever gets the baby buys the next king cake!
3. Serve warm
with coffee, or cold from the fridge. Both are good. Warm is my favorite.
4. This cake disappears fast
at parties. Make two pans if you’ve got a crowd. I’m telling you now!
Grab my favorite dessert tools→ [Linked HERE]
How to Serve & Store
How to Serve:
Cut into squares and serve warm. It’s amazing with a cup of chicory coffee or cold milk. For Mardi Gras parties, set it out with beads and let people grab a piece right from the pan.
How to Store:
Cover tightly and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. It’s actually really good cold the next day!
To reheat: Microwave a slice for 15 seconds to get that gooey center back.
You can also freeze it for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t traditional king cake, but it’s traditional Nana style. Easy, sweet, and made to share.
It’s got the spirit of Carnival without all the work. And that gooey center? Lawd have mercy.
Who’s making this for their next Mardi Gras party? Tag me when you do! 💜💛💚
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