Mexico Rosca de Reyes
Rosca de reyes ("ring of the kings"), a descendant of the French galette des rois, is a ring-shaped cake traditionally served in Mexico on the feast of the Epiphany, January 6. In the past, it was common to bake a dried bean into the cake to symbolize the baby Jesus. Today, many Mexicans insert a small plastic Jesus figurine in the cake after baking. The person who gets the figurine in his or her slice of cake is responsible for throwing a party on Candlemas, February 2. Recipe Serving: Serves 12
Prep Time
30 minutes
+ 310 hours resting
+ 310 hours resting
Cook Time
45 minutes
Total Time
311 hours 15 minutes
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Kosher
Halal
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) warm water
- 1 Tbsp (15 ml) active dry yeast
- 4 cups (480 g) flour
- 1 cup (240 ml) sugar
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- 3/4 cup (180 g) butter, softened
- 1/4 tsp (1.25 ml) salt
- 1 1/2 tsp (7.5 ml) cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) anise seed
- 4 tsp (20 ml) vanilla
- 2 cups (450 g) candied fruit
- 1 egg, beaten for egg wash
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) sugar for topping
- 1 small plastic baby jesus
Directions
- Add yeast and 1 tsp (5 ml) sugar to warm water. Stir and let sit for 10 minutes, until foamy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
- Add yeast, eggs, butter, and vanilla extract, and mix to form a dough.
- Knead the dough for 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
- Cover and let rise in a warm place until dough is doubled in size, 1–2 hours.
- Punch dough down.
- Roll the dough into a log shape, then bend the ends around to form a circle and shape into a ring be about 12–14 inches (30–36 cm) in diameter.
- Press the dried fruit onto the ring in a decorative pattern.
- Cover the ring with a damp towel and let it rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
- Brush top of ring with egg wash, sprinkle with sugar, and bake for approximately 45 minutes at 350ºF (175ºC).
- When the cake is almost cooled, carefully lift one part of the ring and poke a hole on the underside of the cake.
- Press the plastic baby Jesus securely and inconspicuously into the hole.
Notes
After the first rising, dough may be divided into 3 equal pieces, rolled into long ropes, braided, and then shaped into a ring. This is more time-consuming, but it can be easier to hide the figurine in a braided loaf.Copyright © 1993—2024 World Trade Press. All rights reserved.