On the third day of joy...

it was the twelfth night

Today we are going to bake Rosca de Reyes (Three kings cake) to mark the end of the christmas period as well as to use it tomorrow when we have our epiphany!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup milk (or dairy free equivalent)

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (or dairy free equivalent)

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 2 large eggs

• 2 teaspoons instant yeast

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit

• 1/2 cup chopped nuts

• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest

• 1/4 cup melted butter (or dairy free equivalent)

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Heat the milk to a simmer in a small saucepan or at medium power in your microwave. Pour the hot milk over the butter, sugar, and salt, and stir occasionally until the butter melts. Cool the mixture to lukewarm.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine the milk mixture, eggs, and yeast. Add the flour 1 cup at a time, mixing and kneading until a soft, smooth dough forms.

3. Place the dough in a greased container, cover it, and set it in a draft-free place to rise until doubled (about 1 to 1 1/2 hours).

4. After the first rise, deflate the dough, cover, and let it rest for 10 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface; roll into a 20" x 12" rectangle.

5. Brush the surface of the dough with the melted butter, leaving a 1/2" border bare along one of the long edges. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add the nuts, mixed fruits, and zest, and stir to coat. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the buttered section of the dough.

6. Roll up the dough cinnamon-roll-style, working toward the edge with no filling on it. Pinch the seam together to seal it firmly, then bring the ends together to form a ring. Pinch together the seam again where the two ends meet to ensure the ring is sealed. Flatten the ring slightly, and using a pair of scissors, make cuts in the dough at 1 1/2" intervals around the outside edge.

7. Hide a small trinket inside the bread. (Whoever finds it is said to have good luck for the coming year.) Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise until nearly doubled (about 30 to 40 minutes).

8. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the cake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until it’s golden brown. Remove it from the oven, and cool it on a rack.

Enjoy your delicious Three Kings Cake! 🎂👑.

Keep it safe, you will need it tomorrow!

Enjoy :-)

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Your fate awaits you. Accept it in body and spirit. To get used to the life you'll most likely be leading soon, get rid of your low-class trappings.”