Mardi Gras Bundt Cake

This mardi gras bundt cake transforms classic King Cake into a rich almond celebration. It bakes into a moist, tender pound cake with Bourbon glaze and a flawless crumb.

This cake is my version of a traditional King Cake, but without the yeast dough and rising time. If you’re used to cinnamon rolls during Mardi Gras season, this almond version is a richer twist. And if you love sour cream pound cake texture, you’ll love this one too — just with a Bourbon twist. It tastes like a party.

It also lives comfortably alongside the other cakes in my cake recipes collection, but this one always gets pulled out when it’s time to celebrate. And if my husband is to be believed, it should be in every grocery store everywhere!

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Butter: Use room temperature butter so it blends smoothly into the sugar without over-aerating.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar keeps the crumb tight and traditional.
• Eggs: Room temperature eggs incorporate more evenly.
• Almond Extract: Do not skip this. It carries the flavor.
• Sour Cream: Adds moisture and subtle tang. Full fat works best.
• Bourbon or Whiskey: Adds warmth and depth. Any whiskey works.
• Kosher Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances almond flavor.
• Baking Soda: Just enough for lift without altering texture.
• All Purpose Flour: Structure.
• Almond Flour: Adds richness and moisture.
• Confectioner’s Sugar: For the glaze.

See the recipe card below for full ingredients and quantities.

Variations on Mardi Gras Bundt Cake

• Add traditional color. Finish with purple, yellow, and green sanding sugar while the glaze is still wet.
• Bake the baby inside. If you want the full King Cake experience, tuck a small plastic baby into the cooled cake from the bottom. Hope you get the lucky slice!
• Skip the booze. Replace Bourbon in the glaze with milk or cream for a family-friendly version. Or make this vanilla glaze instead!

Professional Tips

• Do not overcream the butter and sugar. You want a thick paste, not fluffy and airy.
• Scrape the bowl frequently when adding eggs. Pound cake batter can separate if ignored.
• Bake until a tester has a few clinging crumbs — not wet batter and not bone dry.
• Let it cool exactly 20 minutes before turning out. Too soon and it sticks. Too long and steam locks it in.

How to Make This Mardi Gras Bundt Cake

Use these instructions to make the perfect cake every time! Full details are in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Preheat the oven. Preheat to 325°F convection.

Step 2: Prep the pan. Spray with cooking spray, flour thoroughly, tap out excess.

Step 3: Whisk dry ingredients. Whisk flour, almond flour, salt and baking soda together.

Step 4: Combine sour cream. Whisk sour cream and Bourbon together until smooth.

Step 5: Cream butter and sugar. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar just until a thick paste forms.

Step 6: Add eggs gradually. Beat in eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl every couple eggs. Add almond extract with the last egg.

Step 7: Alternate additions. On low speed, alternately add flour mixture and sour cream mixture. Do not wait for full incorporation between additions.

Step 8: Finish batter. Scrape the bowl and ensure the batter is silky and smooth.

Step 9: Fill and smooth. Pour into the prepared pan and smooth the top.

Step 10: Bake slowly. Bake 60–85 minutes, until a tester comes out with a few clinging crumbs. Mine takes about 70 minutes.

Step 11: Cool properly. Cool for 20 minutes, loosen edges with a paring knife, then turn onto a rack and cool completely.

Step 12: Make glaze. Whisk Bourbon into confectioner’s sugar until it flows freely. Adjust consistency with more sugar or more whiskey.

If you prefer a richer finish, you could swap the glaze for my caramel swiss meringue buttercream for a more decadent presentation.

Step 13: Finish and decorate. Drizzle glaze over cooled cake and add festive sugars if desired.

Recipe FAQs

Before You Go

I hope you enjoyed this festive almond pound cake. If you’re in the mood for more celebration-worthy desserts, browse all my cake recipes like my german chocolate cake recipe, or revisit my favorite applesauce cake next!