Spanish Roscon De Reyes Twelfth Night Bread Recipes

ROSCóN DE REYES RECIPE (SPANISH CHRISTMAS CAKE)

Steps:

• Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl, and make a well in the middle.
• In a smaller bowl, dissolve the yeast into the lukewarm milk and water. Once the yeast is completely dissolved, pour the mixture into the well of the flour.
• Scrape in just enough flour from around the well to create a thick batter, sprinkle some extra flour on top, and cover with a kitchen towel. Leave the bowl in a warm place for around 15 minutes, or until the batter is doughy and sponge-like.
• Meanwhile, in another medium mixing bowl, use an electric beater to combine the butter and sugar until creamy.
• Once the dough is appropriately spongy, add the eggs, brandy, orange rind, and a splash of water to it. Mix well, until the dough is elastic and a bit sticky.
• Add the butter and sugar mixture to the dough and mix until smooth.
• Shape the dough into a ball and cover in oiled plastic wrap. Keeping it in the large mixing bowl, cover it once more with a kitchen towel and leave in a warm place away from draft. As the dough proves, it will double in size. This can take anywhere between 1 to 2 hours depending on the strength of the yeast culture.
• While the dough rises, grease a large baking sheet for later use.
• Once the dough has doubled in size, remove the plastic wrap. Punch down the dough and place it on a lightly floured countertop or cutting board.
• You need to knead the dough for two or three minutes, and then roll it into a large rectangle; roughly 2 feet by 1/2 a foot.
• Next, roll the dough inwards from the long edge to create a sausage shape. Bring the ends together to create the iconic donut, and place on the baking sheet. Want to add the bean or a ceramic toy? Do it now by poking it withing the dough.
• Wrap the dough once more with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place for roughly one hour to again double in size.
• Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
• Once the dough has risen, lightly beat the remaining egg white and brush it across the top. Cover the cake in the assorted dried fruits, pushing gently so they do not fall off of the cake while it is baking.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until golden. Cool on the rack before serving.

LA MEXICANA'S ROSCA DE REYES (KING CAKE)

Steps:

• Combine yeast and water in a small bowl, stirring until dissolved, and set aside until yeast is proofed.
• In a large mixing bowl combine the milk, sugar, and butter, stirring until dissolved.
• Add the salt, eggs, and yeast mixture and blend thoroughly.
• Beat in 3 cups of flour to make a smooth batter Add additional flour to make a soft dough (dough will be very sticky).
• Turn out onto a floured board and knead approximately 8 minutes or until smooth and elastic, adding more flour as needed.
• Dough may be made with a standing mixer and dough hook.
• Round into a ball and place in a warm buttered bowl, turning to lightly coat top with some of the butter.
• Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled.
• Punch down the dough and divide in half.
• To prepare rings, divide dough in half and flatten into a long oval.
• Spread 1/2 can of Solo almond filling on each oval, place one bean into each oval, and roll each piece into a rope.
• Join ends together leaving large oval hole in the middle.
• Cover and let rise until double, about 1 hour.
• While the bread is rising, preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bake rings for 30 minutes in the preheated oven or until golden brown and sound hollow when thumped.
• Remove and let loaves cool on wire racks.
• Icing: Mix all the icing ingredients together until fluffy and well blended.
• To serve, frost cooled loaves with icing.
• Decorate with different colored sugars or candied fruit.

BREAD MACHINE BRIOCHE DOUGH /SPANISH ROSCóN DE REYES

Steps:

• The Dough.
• This makes a high-rising, soft but very springy dough. I use the sweet bread, not the dough setting, because it requires two full kneadings and risings before shaping. I take the dough out just before the baking cycle starts, punch it down and flatten it into a long 1" thick, 5" wide rectangle, sprinkle it with the cinnamon streusel or other filling and roll it up, shaping the long roll on a buttered cookie sheet.
• I pinch the ends together to make a full circle. Let rise in a warm place covered by a damp towel for about 50 minutes, then place in a cold oven, turn on to 375 degrees, and bake about 45 minutes until well risen and a deep golden brown.
• The filling: After it cools, glaze generously with a thin, lemony sugar glaze, then sprinkle with colored sugars in stripes. Use a traditional boiled white frosting with 2 cups of sugar, 1 cup of water and two egg whites, flavored with lemon, butter and vanilla, or try the light lemon glaze.
• If making the Light lemon glaze. Mix until mixture is smooth and can be drizzled onto the cake. A boiled icing recipe with two cups of sugar is low fat and a good alternative.
• Color sugar crystals (green, purple) by working in a few drops of food coloring and add gold dragées. As soon as the glaze is poured, sprinkle colored stripes on the glaze.
• A tiny china or plastic baby doll or a red bean is inserted underneath before glazing- I put mine in AFTER I bake the roll!
• Store the king cakecovered at room temperature- it is really a bread, and dries out in the refrigerator. I use a foodsafe plastic trash bag (small white Glad).