Bolo Rei (Portuguese Christmas King Cake)
In short: A ring of soft, orange-scented yeast dough studded with raisins, candied fruit, walnuts and pine nuts, baked for Christmas. It takes about 1 h 20 min in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 45 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Resting
- 3 h 15 min
- Total
- 1 h 20 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 385 kcal
Bolo rei, or king cake, is the ring-shaped sweet bread that appears in Portuguese bakeries from early December to Epiphany in January. An enriched dough scented with orange, lemon and a splash of port wine is filled with raisins, candied fruit, walnuts and pine nuts, then crowned with more candied fruit. It is eaten for breakfast, with coffee, or as dessert. The dough takes patience, but the process is simple.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar, salt and citrus zest in a large bowl. Add the eggs, milk and port and knead for 5 minutes. Add the butter in pieces and knead for 8 to 10 minutes more, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Cover and leave in a warm place for 1 hour 30 minutes, until doubled in size.
- Drain the raisins. Toss them and the candied fruit with a spoonful of flour, then knead them into the dough with the walnuts and pine nuts until evenly spread.
- Shape the dough into a ball, push a hole through the center and stretch it into a ring about 28 cm (11 in) across, with a wide hole. Set it on a parchment-lined tray with an oiled ovenproof glass in the middle to hold the hole open.
- Cover and leave for 45 minutes until puffy. Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Brush the ring with beaten egg, decorate with extra candied fruit and sprinkle with the sugar. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until deep golden and the base sounds hollow.
- Brush with the warm apricot jam while hot. Cool on a rack before slicing.
Tips
- Toss the candied fruit and raisins in a spoonful of flour before kneading. This stops them from sinking to the bottom of the ring.
- Keep the hole large when shaping, since the ring closes as it rises. A glass or a ball of foil in the center holds it open.
Questions and answers
Can I make bolo rei ahead of time?
Bake it up to 2 days ahead and keep it wrapped at room temperature. It also freezes for 1 month, and should be thawed overnight.
Can I make bolo rei without alcohol?
Yes. Replace the port with orange juice, both in the dough and for soaking the raisins.
How is bolo rei different from other king cakes?
The Portuguese version is a yeast bread studded with nuts and candied fruit, not a filled puff pastry or a sponge. It is eaten from Christmas until Epiphany on 6 January.
How long does it take to make Bolo Rei (Portuguese Christmas King Cake)?
About 1 h 20 min in total: 45 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Bolo Rei (Portuguese Christmas King Cake)?
About 385 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 56 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 385 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 56 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 28 g |
| Sodium | 170 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
