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Recipes King's Cake: La Brioche des Rois

Brioche des rois recipe, French King's cake

Discover the delightful taste of Provence with our authentic Brioche des Rois recipe, a festive King’s Cake made from buttery brioche dough.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course baking, brioche
Cuisine french cuisine
Servings 8
Calories 210 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Brioche Dough:

  • 300 g all purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp dehydrated instant yeast
  • 2 eggs
  • 5 g salt
  • 60 g sugar I prefer to put less sugar as I garnish the brioche with pearl sugar and candied cherries
  • 15 ml orange blossom water
  • 35 ml warm water
  • 100 g butter

To Fill the Brioche:

  • Candied fruits to taste
  • Raisins

For the Glaze:

  • 1 egg yolk
  • Milk
  • Vanilla sugar

For Decoration:

  • Orange or apricot jam
  • Pearl sugar also called nib sugar or hail sugar
  • Candied fruits
  • Candied cherries

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add the water and orange blossom water.
  • Break the eggs one at a time, incorporating them into the mixture.
  • Begin kneading the dough. Gradually add the butter in small pieces, ensuring each piece is fully absorbed before adding the next. Continue kneading until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
  • First Rise: Place the dough back into the bowl and cover it with a clean cloth. Let it rest at room temperature (23–25°C) overnight.
  • The next day, roll out the dough on a floured surface. Fold it, then fill it with candied fruits or raisins. Shape the dough into a long roll, form it into a crown, and place it in a buttered and floured mold.
  • Second Rise: Allow the dough to rise again for approximately 6 hours, depending on the room temperature.
  • Preheat your oven to 180°C. Brush the brioche with a mixture of egg yolk, milk, and vanilla for a golden glaze. Bake for 25–30 minutes, adjusting for your oven (20 minutes worked for me).
  • Once cooled, brush the brioche with jam and sprinkle with pearl sugar. Decorate the top with candied cherries and other candied fruits.