A bit of background on this classic Christmas celebration cake : the 6th of January, according to Christian tradition, it would be the day that the newborn Jesus Christ had been visited by “the wise men from the East”, Three Wise Men. The night of the 5th and morning of the 6th January is known as “Twelfth Night”.
The date marks, for Catholics, the day for worship of the three wise men, this custom arose in the eighth century. This cake is just one of the many types baked around the world for celebrations during the Twelve Days of Christmas and Twelfth Night. This date marks the end of Catholic Christmas festivities – and the day that the cribs are unarmed. Therefore, all the Christmas decorations are removed.
The date marks, for Catholics, the day for worship of the three wise men, this custom arose in the eighth century. This cake is just one of the many types baked around the world for celebrations during the Twelve Days of Christmas and Twelfth Night. This date marks the end of Catholic Christmas festivities – and the day that the cribs are unarmed. Therefore, all the Christmas decorations are removed.
Tradition says to hide a mini crown, a figure of the baby Jesus or a vanilla bean to present the guest who finds them. In Spain, it’s the day of exchange of presents. Tradition has it that the Wise men arrive on January the 6th bearing gifts. This cake has many different recipes and variations, but the main characteristic is the shape of a crown. This particular recipe is very Brazilian as it requires grounded Brazilian Nuts.
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| Bolo de Reis |
Three Wise Men Cake – Cake of Kings
Ingredients:
3 apples chopped
½ cup brown muscavado sugar
½ cup of sugar
3 eggs
½ cup oil
½ cup raisins
½ cup of candied fruit – if you like it, I don’t so I left it out.
½ cup of grounded Brazil nut (or almond)
½ cup chopped dried apricots
1 tablespoon all spices
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch of salt
Dried fruit, almonds and sugar to decorate
Method:
1.Preheat the oven.
2.Finely chop the apples. Add both sugars, eggs, oil, raisins, grounded Brazil nuts, apricots and cinnamon and mix.
3.Then add the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Mix well with a wooden spoon.
4.Butter a mold with a hole in the middle.
2.Finely chop the apples. Add both sugars, eggs, oil, raisins, grounded Brazil nuts, apricots and cinnamon and mix.
3.Then add the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Mix well with a wooden spoon.
4.Butter a mold with a hole in the middle.
5.Bake at 120C degrees for about 50 minutes. Do the toothpick test to see if it was done.
6.After cooling, garnish with bits of dried fruit , almonds and sugar glaze.
Feliz Dias de Reis!
Sounds really good! Thanks for the recipe!
It is delicious do try. Thanks for stopping by.