Rosca de Reyes
Roscas de reyes is a ring of kings or three King's bread. The cake itself is an oversized version of kingcake colored with candy fruit. Raisins, milk, anise, cinnamon, vanilla, and colorful candy fruit are used depending on the recipe.
At least one plastic miniature figurine of the baby Jesus can be hidden inside the cake. The person who finds it is seen as the lucky winner of the prize (whatever that might be). In many traditions, the person who finds a plastic baby first must host a dinner party, and anyone who finds another plastic baby must bring a dish. The dinner party is hosted on 2 February, which is called "Dia de la Virgen de la Cadelaria" ("Day of the Virgin of Cadelaria"). After eating the rosca, the children leave their shoes near the doorstep so they can receive a small gift.
Ingredients
CAKE
- ½ cup of warm water
- 1 Envelope 2 ¼ teaspoons or 7 grams of dry active yeast
- 4 cups 565 grams or 20 oz all-purpose flour plus 2 or 3 Tbsp. more for dusting
- ¾ cup of sugar 150 grams if you want sweeter add ¼ cup extra.
- 3 large whole eggs
- 3 egg yolks mixed with 4 Tablespoons of milk
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ Tablespoon orange extract
- 1 ½ stick unsalted butter softened 169 grams, or ¾ cup Plus more for the mixing bowl and plastic wrap.
- Freshly grated orange zest from one orange
TOPPINGS:
- 1 egg yolk
- ¾ cup of all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons margarine or shortening.
- ½ cup of confectioner sugar
- Dry fruit like figs candied citron quince paste stripes, orange peels or cherries.*
- 1 egg beaten for glazing the bread
- 1 tablespoon whole milk or water
- White sugar to sprinkle on top of the bread
- 2 or 3 plastic baby dolls the prize inside the cake
Instructions
- Pour lukewarm water into a bowl, and sprinkle with yeast. Stir with a fork until yeast has dissolved, then let stand until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in ½ cup of the flour, and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let stand in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 25 minutes.
- In the meantime, mix flour, eggs, egg yolks, sugar, orange extract, orange zest, salt and butter in a large bowl. Mix until crumbly. You can knead the dough by hand or use a large mixer and do these steps in your Kitchen Aid.
- Add yeast mixture to the bowl and mix. It will be very sticky but manageable, add flour if needed. Place on a lightly floured surface and start kneading until you have a smooth dough. It will take about 15-20 minutes to get this results. 7 minutes in your Kitchen Aid. DO NOT add too much flour to your working area, the texture should be very soft, sort of wet but manageable. If you add more flour than needed your bread will be dry.
- Once your dough is smooth and soft, place in a buttered bowl, and cover with buttered plastic wrap. The pictures don’t show the texture and feel of the dough, but it must be wet and elastic. Let dough stand in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 and ½ hours. Make sure your kitchen is warm to help your dough to rise. If the dough doesn’t double in volume after this time let it rest longer. The fermentation process develops flavor, so slower and longer is always best.
- While the dough is resting, mix the following ingredients for the decoration: margarine with the confectioner sugar until it creamy. Then add in the flour and egg yolk. Until you have a smooth paste.
- After the first resting period. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead a few times, then shape into a round cushion and making a hole in the middle shape into a large ring. Transfer to a greased rimmed baking sheet, and loosely cover with buttered plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes or more until almost double in volume. Gather all your decorations and the egg wash. For the egg wash whisk remaining egg with milk or water.
- Preheat oven at least 20 minutes before baking at 375 degrees, with rack in lower third.
- Brush the dough with the egg wash two times for a golden crust. Form strips with the confectioner sugar paste and decorate the dough. Place some of the dried fruit pressing them gently into the dough. Sprinkle with sugar and bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 10 more minutes until bread is a nice golden brown color. Depending on your oven it will require more time. (Some readers had reported baking for 30 minutes)
- Transfer the bread to a wire rack to cool. After the bread has cooled insert the plastic baby dolls from the bottom of the bread. Do not forget to let your guests know that there is a baby toy inside the bread. Rosca de Reyes can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Video
Notes
• Read all the instructions from top to bottom before you start baking
• Make sure you have all the cooking utensils needed.
• Ingredients must be lukewarm as indicated in the list.
• Make sure your oven is preheated 20 minutes before baking to help the dough rise.
• Insert plastic doll from the bottom before baking.Â
• If you don’t find the traditional decorations, use prunes, pecans, walnuts, or fruit cake mix.
• Make sure you have all the cooking utensils needed.
• Ingredients must be lukewarm as indicated in the list.
• Make sure your oven is preheated 20 minutes before baking to help the dough rise.
• Insert plastic doll from the bottom before baking.Â
• If you don’t find the traditional decorations, use prunes, pecans, walnuts, or fruit cake mix.
Nutrition
Calories: 257kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 6gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 108mgPotassium: 61mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 323IUCalcium: 20mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!