Enjoy the cake now or keep it frozen until the real Ephiphany--January 6.
Mexican King's Cake (La Rosca de Reyes)
Ingredients
Glaze
Directions
1. Dissolve yeast in warm water.
2. Set aside for 5 minutes.
3. Heat milk, sugar, salt, and butter to warm (105-115 degrees).
4. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, yeast mixture, milk mixture, and egg.
5. Mix thoroughly.
6. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
7. Knead on lightly floured surface about 10 minutes.
8. Place in greased bowl, turning to coat top.
9. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double - about 1 hour.
10. Lightly knead in raisins, candied fruit, and nuts.
11. Place in greased bowl, turning to coat top.
12. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double - about 45 minutes. (This is for the second time.)
13. Punch down dough and insert the baby figurine.
14. Shape a round loaf; make a 4-inch hole in center and push dough into a ring ("rosca") about 8 inches across.
15. Place on greased baking sheet.
16. Butter the outside of a 3 or 4-inch custard dish and set it in the hole.)
17. Let bread rise in warm place for 30 minutes.
18. Make either the glaze and brush on loaf
19. Press whole candied fruits and whole nuts on top
20. Sprinkle top with sugar.
Instead of the glaze, try this alternative:
Icing
1. Mix all the icing ingredients together until fluffy and well blended.
2. Frost cooled loaves.
3. Decorate with different colored sugars or candied fruit.
