Three Kings Day Bread

Celebrate the three wise men with this traditional recipe for Three Kings Day Bread (Rosca de Reyes), made into the shape of a crown and decorated with dried fruit “jewels.”

Serves: 10Prep: 3 hours 30 minutesCook: 25 minutesTotal: 3 hours 55 minutesDifficulty: Medium

Serves: 10

Ingredients

  • 2 packages (.75 oz. each) active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. whole milk, lukewarm (105°F)
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar, divided
  • 2 eggs
  • 5 egg yolks, divided
  • 1 stick plus 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons orange extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 3 1/3 cups plus ¼ cup Simple Truth Organic™ Unbleached All-Purpose Flour, divided
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup dried fruit
  • Vegetable oil

Directions

  • In a cup, add warm milk, yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar; stir to dissolve. Cover with plastic and let stand 5 minutes.
  • In a stand mixer, mix yeast with eggs, 4 egg yolks, ½ cup sugar, 1 stick butter and orange extract. Swap out mixer paddle with dough hook. Add salt and 3⅓ cup flour mix. Knead dough for 5 minutes.
  • Grease hands with vegetable oil, then shape dough into a ball and place in greased glass bowl. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let dough rise for 2 hours (in a warm place) or until ball doubles in size.
  • In a bowl, mix ¼ cup remaining all-purpose flour, powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons butter until a soft streusel forms.
  • On a slightly floured surface, with greased hands, shape dough into a 20” roll, then close both ends to form a circle. Transfer to lightly greased cookie sheet.
  • Grease the rim/outside of a 6 oz. glass custard cup and place it upside down inside the circle (so dough will keep its shape while baking).
  • Combine remaining egg yolk with 1 tablespoon milk to make egg wash; brush on dough circle. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Place assorted dried fruit and pieces of streusel on dough circle, alternating between the two. Let rise for 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake bread 10 minutes. Lower the temperature to 350°F and continue baking 15 more minutes until golden brown. Once cool, remove custard cup and transfer bread onto serving platter.