Bolo Rei - Cake For Kings

• Place on the stone of the table 150g flour. Open a cavity in the middle and put the yeast inside, add 1 dl of warm water.
• Mix with the flour and form a ball. Do to the surface two blows in cross and leave the mass to rest for 15 minutes.
• Put remaining flour (500gr) on the table, open a cavity int he middle and put the butter inside, the sugar with lemon and orange peel.
• Work these ingredients well and add the eggs and rested dough.
• If the consistency of the dough is too hard, add some milk.   
• After these ingredients are well kneaded, join the rum and incorporate it well with the dough.
• Mix the fruits, previously pricked, and knead again, forming a ball.
• Put the dough inside of a bowl sprinkled with flour, close it with a cloth and let it rest for 5 hours.
• Divide the dough as desired, form balls with the dough and open a hole in the middle, in circle form.
• Place the cakes in baking tray and allow to rest for another hour at room temperature.
• Brush cake with egg yolk and decorate them with crystallized fruits, pricked    almonds and sugar cubes. Cook for 25 minutes at 190 degrees Celsius.
• Remove from the heat and brush fruit with jelly.
  

Portuguese people are very religious and what better way to celebrate faith with great recipes!

On 6th January, Portugal celebrates this day in honour of the 3 kings
that went to visit baby Jesus.

In the old traditional recipe, a silver prize was used to be hidden inside the Bolo Rei cake.

I do remember as a child, how fun it was to guess who would get the lucky slice with a small fairy or coin.  However for safety reasons, this has now been changed.