Roscon de Reyes (Spanish Kings' Cake)

2 hours 30 mins cooking time
Roscon de Reyes (Spanish Kings' Cake) Roscon de Reyes (Spanish Kings' Cake)

Roscon de Reyes (Spanish Kings' Cake)

  • 40 mins preparation time
  • 2 hours 30 mins cooking time
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Method

1
To make the dough, add the flour, yeast, sugar & salt to a medium bowl. Add the wet ingredients before bringing the dough together into a slightly sticky smooth ball.
TIP
When making the dough, you can choose to use a mixer with a dough hook.
2
Place the dough into an oiled mixing bowl, cover firmly and leave in a warm place to prove for around an hour, or until doubled in size.
3
Once the dough has doubled in size, shape it to form a ball. Take 120g of the dough and form into 6 equal sized balls. Form the remaining dough into a round ring shape. Leave the dough to prove for around 30 minutes.
TIP
You can use a savarin tin to make and hold the shape of the dough.
4
Preheat the oven to 190c/170fan/gas 5/350f.
5
Roll out the retained balls of dough into 15cm long oblongs.
6
Turn the dough out onto a lined baking sheet. Glaze generously with egg yolk. Add the oblong sheets at intervals.
7
Sprinkle with flaked almonds and add sugar crystals to the top.
8
Embed the cherries and other glace fruits of your choice lightly into the surface.
9
Bake in a pre-heated oven for 15-20 minutes, until golden and well risen.
10
  Remove from the oven and leave to cool on a rack.
11
To serve, slice in half horizontally. It is recommended to top the base with whipped cream and sandwich with the top half.
Orange glaze
1
Mix the juice of the orange and sugar to form a sticky glaze.
2
One cooled, using a pastry brush evenly stroke the surface of the cake with the glaze. Top with a light dusting of additional sugar.

Everything about Roscon de Reyes

  • These are traditional Spanish cakes which in English translates to “Three Kings Cake”, celebrating the arrival of the three wise men who visited baby Jesus.

  • Roscon de Reyes are traditionally eaten on January 6th, the day celebrating the Epiphany of Three Kings Day, marking the three wise men’s visit to baby Jesus.

  • Our recipe does not make gluten-free or vegan Roscon de Reyes due to the wheat flour, butter, eggs and milk which means the ingredients contain both gluten and animal products.
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Enjoying your Roscon de Reyes

In Spain, this recipe makes more than just food, it brings together family and friends to celebrate the conclusion of the holiday season. You can enjoy your buttery treat in the morning or afternoon, served with a creamy hot chocolate or coffee. Immerse yourself and learn how to make this joyful sweet treat which brings people together at Christmas time!

The Tradition of the Roscon de Reyes surprise

If you’re looking to go traditional with this recipe, you can make your Spanish Christmas cake that bit more festive by joining in with the Roscon de Reyes tradition of hiding a hidden figurine of a king in one cake and a bean in another. The lucky figurine finder is “king for the day” while the bean finder typically must buy the Roscon the following year.

Crowning the Roscon De Reyes

Cook, here’s your chance to really get creative... Get ready to top your Roscon de Reyes with vibrant candied fruits. The reds, greens and yellows mimic the jewels of a crown and sit splendidly upon your creation to really create the feeling of a royal cake. It’s not all just about the decoration though, these jewels represent the treasures brought by the three kings to baby Jesus in the nativity and also add a nice fruity taste to pair with the rich buttery dough.

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