During Christmas Portuguese tables around the world will hold a special place for the Bolo de Rei, or Kings Bread. It’s a tradition to commemorate the Epiphany- the day the three kings found the baby Jesus and presented him with the gifts of gold, frankincense, and mur. Also traditionally the final day of the 12 days of Christmas.
Epiphany was a tradition my Avó shared with me when I was little. She’d have a Christmas stocking full of small gifts for her grandchildren, accompanied by the story of how it was growing up in the Azores. She said that Christmas eve and Christmas day was about going to Mass and the community. If they were lucky enough to receive gifts, it would have been on January 6, the day of the epiphany. Families would go caroling with candles, come home, have a big family get together and gift the children in the family.
At the family gathering you could expect bacalao, pasteis natal, and Bolo de Rei, a Portuguese sweet bread with nuts and candied or dehydrated fruits in it, and sometimes eggs would be folded into the top of the loaves, or a bean would be put in the batter and whoever got the piece the bean would be hosting next year’s festivities. My version of this traditional Kings bread does not include dried or candied fruit or nuts. I really can’t stomach dehydrated fruit, it’s not yummy to me. So I substituted the dried fruit for frozen fruit, and it still hit just as good.
Ingredients
1 pkg yeast
1Tbs honey
1 cup of tepid water
1/2 cup granulated sugar infused with lemon or orange rind
1/2 cup room temperature milk
2 room temperature eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 cup frozen fruit medley
1/2 cup of nuts of choice (optional)
Instructions
- Peel the rind of lemon or orange and place in a bowl with 1/2 cup of granulated sugar. Cover rinds in sugar and put aside.
- Pour milk and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl dissolve honey in tepid water, then add yeast packet. Mix and let bloom for about 20 to 30 minutes.
- Once yeast has bloomed add the milk, eggs, and infused sugar. (Make sure to remove rinds before adding to the wet mixture)
- Add and beat 1 egg at a time.
- Add flour and salt. Mix in a little at a time, until incorporated.
- Cover in plastic and let rise until it’s doubled in size. 30-45 minutes.
- With well oiled hands, punch down dough, fold in fruit and nuts.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees farenheit.
- Separate into 2 loaf pans that are generously greased or lined with parchment paper. Cover in a plastic bag and let the dough sit for another 30-45 minutes.
- Remove bread loaves from plastic bags and bake in the oven for 30-45 minutes.
- Let sit and cool before removing loaves from the pans.
- Cut, eat, enjoy!
My family and I really enjoyed our Bolo de Rei this year. It makes for great toast, however you like it. And it was a unique addition to the big family breakfast. And an even tastier way to wrap up the Christmas holiday season.
Do you have any end of the holiday traditions? Share in the comments to keep our traditions going.
It's Nicky Lynn 