Rosca De Reyes - King Cake

The Day of Kings (el Dia de Tres Reyes), or Epiphany, is celebrated on January 6 to commemorate the day the magi arrived bearing gifts for the infant Jesus. The Day of the Kings is observed by Latin cultures with the making and eating of a rosca de reyes, a sweet bread on the order of Louisiana's King cake, with a hidden tiny plastic baby (or a dried bean), representing the baby Jesus, inside. If you get the slice with the "baby", you will have good luck all year. Serve with delicious hot chocolate. From Ofelia Escobedo as published by the North County Times in California.

• Ready In: 3 hrs 40 mins
• Serves: 16

Ingredients

• 1  packet  yeast
• 1⁄4 cup  lukewarm milk
• 3 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour (more may be needed)
• 3⁄4 cup granulated sugar
• 7  eggs
• 1⁄3 cup  melted butter
• 1  dash salt
• 2  teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon anise seed
• 1⁄2 cup raisins
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped candied figs
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped  candied orange
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped candied lemon peel
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped  candied cherry
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped candied citron peel
• 1  egg, beaten
•  granulated sugar
•  dried beans (or a small baby figurine)

Directions

1. Dissolve yeast in five tablespoons lukewarm milk and let sit five minutes.
2. Add the flour, sugar, eggs, melted butter, the remaining milk, salt, cinnamon, aniseed, raisins and vanilla.
3. Combine and knead dough until no longer sticky.
4. Grease dough with some butter, cover and let rise until the dough doubles in size.
5. Grease a baking sheet.
6. Punch down dough and knead lightly.
7. Form dough into a ring or"rosca" about 12 inches in diameter.
8. Place the dough ring on baking sheet.
9. Decorate the top of the ring with the candied fruit.
10. Let the dough rise again until doubled.
11. Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
12. Brush with the beaten egg and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
13. Bake 40 minutes or until done.
14. Insert the baby figurine or bean from the underside.