The holidays are here again, and what more can these season be more festive than wonderful traditional desserts. Rosca de Reyes is one of those traditional dessert that honors the Mexican heritage in the Yuletide Season. Also known as the Ring of the King or the king's cake, this bread is typically served on Three Kings Day or the 6th day of January.In the Nativity Story, there where the Three Wise Men who came from the east bearing gift of gold, of incense and of myrrh for the baby Jesus. Because of this, the traditional gift giving does not only happen in Christmas but well into the New Year. If the western have their Santa, in Mexico they have The Three Kings. Rather than stocking, children leave their shoes out on the eve of Three Kings Day with hopes that it will be filled with goodies when morning comes. Its another time for good holiday cheer in most part of Mexico, more particularly in San Miguel de Allende. Here the shops open till dawn, there is a parade where kids dress up like the Three Kings and bakeries sell specially made Rosca de Reyes. This sweet bread is shaped like a wreath, imitating a kings crown. Colorful candied fruits serve as the jewels that decorate this bread. The best part its the surprise when you cut into the bread, a little baby Jesus is baked inside.The significance of this tradition shows that the deep commitment of their Catholic faith and that through this way they celebrate the safety of the baby Jesus from Herod's diabolical plan. This recipe roots from the strong Christian faith of the Mexican people, and it show in how they honor this day by preparing delicious pastries such as Rosca de Reyes.
Ingredients
1/4 cup milk
1 packet of yeast
4-5 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon anise seed
4 large eggs, beaten
3/4 cup butter, softened
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tsp. orange zest
2 candied fruit - citron, orange, lime peel, cherries, figs and mangoes
1 egg, beaten (for glaze)
1/3 cup crystal sugar (regular or colored)
Direction
*Preheat oven to 350°F
*Warm the milk in a sauce pan
*Turn off the heat and add yeast
*Mix them well and leave it to cool in room temperature
*In a bowl, sift the dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, anise seed, sugar and salt.
*In a separate bowl add together the wet ingredients: egg, butter, yeast mixture and orange zest
*Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients
* Mix it with your hand or a spatula until it becomes a soft dough
*Sprinkle a bit of flour on the board and knead the dough with your hands until it becomes elastic and smooth
*Grease a bowl and the place dough
*Cover bowl with a cloth and let it rise for 2 hours or until it has doubles its size
*When dough has risen, knead and shape into a ring
*You can braid the dough for a more festive design or just just roll it into a simple ring.
*Decorate the dough with the slice candied fruits
*Leave the dough to rise for 1 hour *Grease baking sheet
*Beat egg and brush it on the dough
*Sprinkle sugar on dough
*Bake the bread for 30 minutes until the top has is slightly brown
*Serve this bread warm with hot chocolate
Note: In this recipe the plastic baby Jesus is optional, if you can find one make sure it is made for baking.
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