The Rosca de Reyes, or king’s ring cake, is a particular dessert delicacy that comes from Hispanic traditions and is usually sold and eaten around the winter holiday, Dia de los Reyes or “Three King’s Day,” which falls on January 6 of every year. This day commemorates the coming of the three wise men to the birth of Christ, and is celebrated in Spain, as well as in many Latin American countries such as Mexico. The Rosca de Reyes is one of various traditions around this holiday.
Essential ingredients for the Rosca de Reyes include many of the the same elements that make up other traditional pastries, such as flour, water, milk, butter and eggs. The cake is often topped with various sweet items, including candied fruits, dried figs, dates, and other sweets. Some types of nuts may also be added. Another similar kind of cake called the Rosca de Pascua is served at Easter, and includes hard-boiled eggs or other elements.
One of the distinctive elements of the Rosca de Reyes is that cooks often hide a small item inside the cake. Traditionally, this “prize” is in the form of the Christ Child. Some historians say that the figure represents the hiding of the Christ Child from Herod during an infamous massacre recorded in the New Testament of the Bible.
On the Three King’s Day, many traditions are practiced in Spain and Latin America. This includes the giving of gifts to children, as well as parades, and the serving of the king’s ring cake. Many of these traditions also relate to the item that is found inside the cake.
Traditional trinkets or prizes inside of the Rosca de Reyes are often made of porcelain or some other hard material. In modern presentations, cooks often use a plastic figurine. In some cases, for food safety and easier handling, cooks might use a dried bean or other natural item. It’s important to use all appropriate safety precautions when baking these items into the cake and selling cakes to customers.
In some traditions, the finder of the prize inside of the Rosca de Reyes has a responsibility to host guests. In other variants of this custom, the prize winner must buy food for others on the 2nd of February, which is known as Dia de la Candelaria, or Candlemas day. In some parts of Mexico, this food is usually in the form of tamales, a kind of snack wrapped in corn bread.