The holidays are here again, and what more can these season be more festive than wonderful traditional desserts. Rosca de Reyes is one of those traditional dessert that honors the Mexican heritage in the Yuletide Season. Also known as the Ring of the King or the king's cake, this bread is typically served on Three Kings Day or the 6th day of January.In the Nativity Story, there where the Three Wise Men who came from the east bearing gift of gold, of incense and of myrrh for the baby Jesus.
Because of this, the traditional gift giving does not only happen in Christmas but well into the New Year. If the western have their Santa, in Mexico they have The Three Kings. Rather than stocking, children leave their shoes out on the eve of Three Kings Day with hopes that it will be filled with goodies when morning comes. Its another time for good holiday cheer in most part of Mexico, more particularly in San Miguel de Allende.
Here the shops open till dawn, there is a parade where kids dress up like the Three Kings and bakeries sell specially made Rosca de Reyes.
This sweet bread is shaped like a wreath, imitating a kings crown. Colorful candied fruits serve as the jewels that decorate this bread. The best part its the surprise when you cut into the bread, a little baby Jesus is baked inside.The significance of this tradition shows that the deep commitment of their Catholic faith and that through this way they celebrate the safety of the baby Jesus from Herod's diabolical plan.
This recipe roots from the strong Christian faith of the Mexican people, and it show in how they honor this day by preparing delicious pastries such as Rosca de Reyes.
Ingredients
1/4 cup milk
1 packet of yeast
4-5 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon anise seed
4 large eggs, beaten
3/4 cup butter, softened
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tsp. orange zest
2 candied fruit - citron, orange, lime peel, cherries, figs and mangoes
1 egg, beaten (for glaze)
1/3 cup crystal sugar (regular or colored)
>>Directions...
*Preheat oven to 350°F
*Warm the milk in a sauce pan
*Turn off the heat and add yeast
*Mix them well and leave it to cool in room temperature
*In a bowl, sift the dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, anise seed, sugar and salt.
*In a separate bowl add together the wet ingredients: egg, butter, yeast mixture and orange zest
*Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients
* Mix it with your hand or a spatula until it becomes a soft dough
*Sprinkle a bit of flour on the board and knead the dough with your hands until it becomes elastic and smooth
*Grease a bowl and the place dough
*Cover bowl with a cloth and let it rise for 2 hours or until it has doubles its size
*When dough has risen, knead and shape into a ring
*You can braid the dough for a more festive design or just just roll it into a simple ring.
*Decorate the dough with the slice candied fruits
*Leave the dough to rise for 1 hour *Grease baking sheet
*Beat egg and brush it on the dough
*Sprinkle sugar on dough
*Bake the bread for 30 minutes until the top has is slightly brown
*Serve this bread warm with hot chocolate
Note: In this recipe the plastic baby Jesus is optional, if you can find one make sure it is made for baking.
>>Champurrado: Mexican Hot Chocolate Drink.
A hot chocolate drink for breakfast sounds so inviting especially in a cold fall morning. Whipping up a batch of hot chocolate drink is easy, why not try something new, like champurrado.
Champurrado is a traditional Mexican drink or an atole which is a corn meal gruel based drink, infused with milk, sugar,water, chocolate and usually flavored with cinnamon, vanilla and anise seed, it's thick, sweet and very delicious.The traditional way of blending these ingredients together where done by hand using a wooden whisk, but a blender or food processor works well too.
Typically served in the morning with pastries like churros, a fried dough pastry that can be dipped in the champurrado but you can have this anytime of the day. This is also a great snack especially for kids who love chocolate. Instant champurrado mix are now available in most Mexican specialty store or in the groceries but there is nothing like a homemade drink peppered with love and sweet dreams. Try this recipe out and discover the wonderful chocolaty goodness it has to offer.
Ingredients
12 cups Milk, divided
3 cinnamon Sticks
1 1/2 cups Masa harina flour (Mexican corn flour)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large Piloncillo chunks/ dark brown sugar
1 oz. unsweetened chocolate baking bar, broken into small pieces 2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
>> Directions...
*In a pan, add together 8 cups of milk and cinnamon sticks
*Mix them well and let it boil
*In a blender, add 4 cups of milk and masa harina/corn flour
*Cover and set it to blend until it becomes smooth
*Strain milk and flour mixture in a bowl
*Add flour-milk mixture to the cinnamon-milk mixture in the pan
*Let it boil and stir constantly
*Gradually reduce heat and whisk the mixture for 5 minutes or until it thickens
*Add in chocolate, sugar and vanilla
*Stir constantly until chocolate has melted
*Serve this drink hot
TIP: Top the drink with some whipped cream or condense milk for extra goodness.
Delicious Mexican Dessert: Churros con Chocolate.
A popular dessert in Latin cooking is Churros con Chocolate.
This delightful snack is enjoyed in Latin American countries as well as some parts of the United States. A fried dough recipe similar to what a Spanish doughnut rather than round it is shaped like a flute or like a short stick. The Mexican version is a tad longer and is usually has a custard filling inside.
A thick chocolate dipping sauce is served alongside this delicate confection, great for breakfast, brunch or as an afternoon snack.
Churros Ingredients 8 cups vegetable oil, for frying
1 cup water ½ cup margarine
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
3 eggs
¼ cup white sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
>> Directions...
*Heat the oil on a deep pan until the temperature reaches 360°F
*Boil the water and margarine in a separate pan
*In a separate bowl, mix together salt and flour and add to margarine mixture
*Lower the heat and stir the mixture constantly until a soft dough has formed
*Turn heat off and beat one egg at a time to the soft dough
*Pour the mixture in a pastry bag, choose a star tip to pipe on your dough
* Pipe in( 3-4 inches) mixture in the hot oil, make sure they are spaces in the pan so that it will won't stick with each other
*Let it fry until slightly golden brown approximately 2 minutes per side
Optional: Mix together cinnamon and sugar
Sprinkle churros with cinnamon sugar and serve hot.
Chocolate Dipping Sauce
Ingredients:
4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
2 cups milk 1 tablespoon cornstarch
4 tablespoons granulated sugar
>> Directions...
* In a saucepan set to low heat, mix together 1 cup milk and chopped chocolate
* Stir them well together until chocolate has melted
*Mix together cornstarch ,milk and sugar, add them into the chocolate mixture
*Mix them all together using a whisk for 5 minutes or until it becomes a thick sauce
Tip: For a more thicker sauce, add more cornstarch to the mixture.
Serving Tip: In a plate, arrange warm churros with a cup of chocolate sauce for dipping.
- A Mexican food expert and aficionado - Mateo Gomez is a Mexican food enthusiast, and the founder of Allaboutmexicanfood.com. Check out allaboutmexicanfood.com for mexican breadsrecipes.