Bolo Rei, or King’s Cake, is a traditional sweet bread/cake that is eaten during the Christmas season until Dia de Reis on January 6th.
I have always had a weakness for this holiday cake and used to always pick it up from our local Portuguese bakery as soon as it was available.
When I saw this Chocolate Bolo Rei recipe in a Portuguese magazine, Cozinha Maravilha, I knew I had to try it.
Chocolate Bolo Rei
Ingredients
- 4 ⅛ cups all-purpose flour 600 gr
- 2/3 cup sugar 150 gr
- 1 pinch salt
- zest of one orange
- 1 package active dry yeast 8 gr
- 1/4 cup warm milk
- 7 oz chocolate bar 200 gr, chopped
- 1/2 cup almonds whole, blanched
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/2 cup pine nuts
- 3/4 cup candied mixed fruit diced
- large candied fruit pieces for decorating
- 1/4 cup butter, melted 100 gr
- 5 eggs
- 1 egg yolk for brushing over cake
- Extra flour for dusting
- icing sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Mix the flour, sugar, salt and orange zest together in a large bowl.
- Make a well in the centre, add the eggs and the melted butter; continue to mix until a dough is formed.
- Dissolve the active yeast in warm milk.
- Add yeast mixture into the dough and knead until well mixed.
- Place dough in a lightly floured bowl, cover with a damp cloth and let it stand until it doubles in volume.
- Spread dough out on a clean surface, then add the diced candied fruit, walnuts, almonds and pine nuts (reserve a few assorted nuts for decorating).
- Knead until ingredients are well combined. Add the chocolate pieces and mix into dough.
- Knead dough into a ball, dust with flour and make a hole in the center to form a doughnut-shaped cake.
- Place on a floured baking sheet. Brush dough with the egg yolk and decorate with large pieces of candied fruit and extra nuts.
- Cover cake with damp cloth and allow to rise for an additional 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees (180 C).
- Bake cake in preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes, until it reaches a rich brown colour. Cover with foil if browning too quickly.
- Allow to cool, dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Last year’s Chocolate Bolo Rei before it went into the oven.
I have to admit that this recipe may be a little time-consuming, but well worth it!
Give it a try and you will be sure to impress your guests!
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays,
Margaret
Lisa I am not sure how the cake will come out with out any fruit. I have never had King’s cake without the fruit. I have had it with just raisins and nuts and that is very good. If you make it with the nuts and chocolate it should be good. Let me know if you try it.
Could i leave out the fruit my family doesnt like it i will only put chocolate chips will this still with the ingredients for this recipe
Hi Margaret! It looks delicious! Fiquei com água na boca!
I have a similar recipe, bu I’ll try your!
Merry Christmas dear! And a 2016 full of joys!