The tradition of Rosca de Reyes bread in Mexican culture
Commonly known as kings cake the oval shaped cake-like bread takes its name from the biblical three kings. In Catholic tradition, it celebrates the visit of the three kings to the Christ Child. The oval represents the kings’ crowns. Video: John Walker/The Fresno Bee
North Texas bakeries prepare thousands of Rosca de Reyes or 'King Cake' in honor of Three Kings Day
Jan. 6 is one of the busiest days of the new year for North Texas bakeries. They start baking for Three 'King's Day,' preparing Roscas de Reyes.
Rosca de Reyes - Three Kings Bread Recipe
Every year on January 6th, families and friends gather to partake in the celebration of Día de Los Reyes Day by cutting a slice of the Rosca de Reyes. A small plastic figurine is placed inside the Rosca bread prior to cutting, this figurine represents baby Jesus. It is considered to be good luck if the figurine is in the slice you receive. The person who finds the figurine is designated to throw a fiesta and provide tamales on Día de la Candelaria which falls on February 2nd.
Step One:
Activate the yeast with the following ingredients.
1 Packet Active Dry Yeast (2 1/4 Tsp)
1/2 Cup Warm Milk
1 Tbsp Sugar
2 Tbsp All-Purpose Flour
Ingredients for the Dough
4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
1/2 Tsp Salt
6 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
2/3 Cup Milk
Orange Zest from one medium orange or 1 Tbsp Orange Extract
1 Tbsp. Vanilla
1 Large Egg
Ingredients for the Filling
8 oz Cream Cheese
1 Tbsp Vanilla
1/2 Cup Regular or Confectioner sugar
Variety of dry fruits for garnishing and for the filling.
I used papaya, mango, papaya, maraschino cherries, guava paste, and apricots.
1/2 - 1 Cup Chopped Walnuts or Pecans
Ingredients for sugar paste:
3/4 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1 Egg Yolk
1/2 Cup Confectioner Sugar
1/3 Cup Milk
Ingredients for the glaze:
1 Cup Confectioner Sugar
1 Tsp Vanilla
2 Tbsp Milk - More if Needed
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Roscon de Reyes (King cake) - recipe
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The Roscon de Reyes is the traditional Spanish king cake that is eaten on the day of the arrival of the Three Wise Men and usually hides little toys for kids! Find this and many more recipes with pictures on the Giallozafferano App (in English)
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The three wise men must have been very hungry after all that wandering... that's why in Spain they make the Roscon de Reyes, a delicious king cake that hides little toys for kids, or a black or white bean: whoever finds it has to pay the next roscon... let's see how to make it!
Roscon de Reyes
(for 12 servings)
• 4 1/3 cups (600 g) of cake flour + as needed for the pastry board
• ½ oz (15 g) of fresh yeast or ½ tbsp (5 g) of active dry yeast
• ½ cup (100 g) of softened butter
• 2/3 cup (130 g) of white sugar
• just under 1 cup (220 ml) of slightly warm milk
• 2 medium eggs
• the grated zest of 1 orange
• 1 pinch of salt
For garnishing
• 2 tbsp of heavy cream
• 1 egg yolk
• ½ oz (15 g) of candied fruit
• powdered sugar, to taste
First of all, crumble the fresh yeast into a small bowl... add a little milk... stir to dissolve... and set aside. Now put the sifted flour in the bowl of a stand mixer... then break 2 eggs into a large bowl... add the sugar... and beat with an electric beater until nice and frothy. That's it... now turn on the mixer... at a medium speed... and beat in the yeast mixture... the remaining milk... and the egg and sugar mixture. Once the ingredients have come together, replace the paddle with the dough hook. It's time to add the rest of the ingredients, but before that replace the paddle attachment with the dough hook. Turn it on again... and beat in the grated orange zest... the salt and, lastly, the softened butter, one piece at a time... don't add more butter until the previous addition has been incorporated.
Well, the dough is ready, adding all the butter took about 15-20 minutes, as you can see it's wrapped around the hook, so it's kneaded to perfection. Now remove the dough from the hook, place on a work surface and knead briefly to form a ball of dough. So dust with just a little flour, as you can see it's nice and elastic, and not sticky at all... then bring the dough together into a ball in this way, place in a bowl, cover with cling film and let it rise for about 4 hours, until doubled in size, in a warm place free from drafts... here we are.
This is the risen dough, now turn it out onto a work surface... knead briefly... then shape into a ring, so punch a hole in the centre... stretch it out in this way... then place on a baking tray, lined with parchment paper... brush with an egg yolk, that has been beaten with 2 tablespoons of cream... then decorate with the candied fruit. Start with the cherries... perhaps push down a bit so they won't fall off... the citron... inwards rather than outwards, to prevent it from falling off when the cake is rising... then let it rise for at least 2 hours in a warm place, like the turned off oven with the light on. Until doubled in volume, of course.
And here's our beautiful risen cake, now I'll add the candied orange peel, without pushing down or it will deflate, that is my favourite, then bake the king cake in a static oven at 350°F (180°C) for at least 30 minutes.
The Roscon de Reyes is ready, sprinkle with powdered sugar, then all you have to do is wait for the magi and their presents, I did my best to draw them here... see you next videorecipe!