About the Recipe
Although I didn’t grow up in a super religious household, we still celebrated a lot of traditionally religious holidays. It wasn’t so much about the religious symbolism—it was more about the traditions and family time. Three Kings Day was one of those holidays for us. Also called Epiphany, it’s celebrated on January 6th in Switzerland and many other countries across Europe and South America. The day marks when the three wise men (or three kings) visited baby Jesus, bringing him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
For our family, it was more about having fun and enjoying a special meal of sweet bread. And, of course, the game of “Who will be King or Queen?” In Switzerland, the holiday is traditionally celebrated with family and friends gathering for a festive meal. Some classic foods include Rösti (a crispy grated potato dish) and Basler Leckerli (small, spiced gingerbread-like cookies). For us, though, it was all about the sweet bread—a collection of round buns arranged to look like a flower or crown, sprinkled with pearl sugar, with one of the buns hiding a coin or little figurine. The bread comes with a paper crown, and whoever finds the surprise inside gets to be the king or queen for the day.
I absolutely loved it as a kid. The excitement was always over in the first few seconds of the meal because we’d all poke our fingers straight into the buns to see who “won.” But it was so much fun, and whoever found the figurine would wear their new royal title proudly for days—sometimes even weeks!
Now, I’ve continued the tradition with my own kids, and it’s just as fun. We all love the bread so much that sometimes we make it on random weekends for brunch. I mean, why wait an entire year for something so delicious, right?
Whether you’re celebrating Three Kings Day or just looking for a new recipe to try, this bread is easy to make and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even a snack. If you give it a go, let me know how it turns out!
Fun for Everyone: The tradition of hiding a figurine or coin makes this bread more than just food—it’s an event! Watch the excitement as everyone tries to find the surprise.
Soft and Fluffy Texture: This sweet bread is perfectly tender with just the right amount of sweetness.
Customizable: Don’t like raisins? Swap them for chocolate chips or skip them entirely. You can also experiment with adding citrus zest or spices for extra flavor.
Versatile: While it’s traditionally served for Three Kings Day, this bread is also fantastic for weekend brunches or special occasions.
Beautiful Presentation: The flower-like shape and pearl sugar topping make it look as good as it tastes. Add a paper crown for a festive touch!
What You'll Love
Can I use instant yeast instead of dry yeast? Yes, you can substitute instant yeast for dry yeast in the same quantity (20g or 2 tablespoons). Since instant yeast doesn’t require proofing, you can mix it directly with the dry ingredients.
What can I use if I don’t have pearl sugar? You can use coarse sugar, crushed sugar cubes, or sprinkle with your favorite nuts. The bread will still be delicious without the decorative sugar.
Can I make this bread ahead of time? Yes! You can prepare the dough the night before, let it rise, then refrigerate it. Allow the dough to come to room temperature before baking. Alternatively, you can bake it, then reheat gently before serving.
What if I don’t have a small figurine or coin? You can get creative! Use a shelled almond, a dried bean, or any oven-safe trinket. Just make sure to let everyone know there’s a surprise hidden inside.
Can I freeze this bread? Absolutely. Once baked, let the bread cool completely, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and warm before serving.
How do I know if my milk is warm enough? The milk should be warm to the touch but not hot, around 100–110°F (37–43°C). Too hot, and it could kill the yeast.
Frequently asked Questions
Ingredients
Bread:
500g All-Purpose Flour (4 cups)
100g Granulated Sugar (½ cup)
1 teaspoon Salt (1 teaspoon)
60g Unsalted Butter (softened) (4 tablespoons or ½ stick)
20g Dry Yeast (2 tablespoons)
225ml Milk (warmed) (1 cup)
1 Egg
For Decorating:
1 Egg
1 tablespoon Water
1 teaspoon Sugar
Pearl Sugar (as needed)
Paper Crown (optional, for fun)
For Hiding:
Small Bakeable Figurine
Coin (wrapped in Aluminum Foil)
Almond or other nut
Preparation
This recipe is easy to put together. All you will need is two mixing bowls a lined baking sheet a pastry brush and some patience.
Here are the Step-By-Step Instructions on how to make Three Kings Bread:
Prepare your yeast: In one bowl, warm your milk so that it is warm to the touch but not hot. To it, mix in your yeast. I also like to take a big pinch of sugar and mix it in as well. The sugar helps activate the yeast. Mix well and let the yeast mixture sit for a few minutes until it starts to for a bubbly film at the top (15 minutes or so).
Combine the dry ingredients: In the second bowl, mix together your flour, sugar and salt.
Mix yeast, butter and egg: Once the yeast has started activating (you will be able to tell when it has a forthy layer at the top) use a hand mixer to mix in your softened butter and egg. Beat until you have a smooth mixture and everything is well incorporated.
Making the dough: Make a well in the center of your flour mixture (like a volcano) and pour your wet ingredients into the center.
Knead the dough: I always like to do, this is the part of the recipe that might feel a little messy to some, but I find it so satisfying. Use your hands to knead and incorporate everything together until you have formed your dough. (If you own a stand mixer, you can use this aswell). To knead by hand, take a portion of the dough and press it down with the heel of your hand to flatten it. Fold the dough in half, and then press it down again with the heel of your hand. Repeat this process for about 10 minutes or until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Make sure to scrape any bits from the sides of the bowl so that you have captured all the wet and all the dry ingredients and that they are well blended. If you find the dough too dry or if it is not coming together easily, add in a little more warmed milk until you have a smooth dough.
Let the dough rest and rise: Now cover your bowl with cling wrap or a lightly dampened kitchen towel and let the dough sit for about 45 minutes - 1 hour until it has risen. (You want to make sure that it is covered so that it does not dry out whilst in the rising process).
Forming the bread: Flour your work surface. Once the dough has risen, remove the dough from the mixing bowl and divide it into 6 pieces with one portion being slightly bigger than the rest (for the center ball). With the help of a bit of flour roll each piece into a round shape roughly the size of a tennis ball.
Hiding the treasure: Prepare your secret treasure that you plan on hiding within one of the buns. I usually use a penny and wrap it in tin foil or an alamond. However, you can find little bakeable figurines online especially for this purpose. Use your finger to poke a hole halfway through a bun and put the treasure inside. Seal the hole up all the way and make sure to disguise it as best you can so that it is not obvious where the treasure is hidden.
Prepare to bake: Next, lay out your buns on a lined baking sheet so that they form a flower. One larger ball in the center and the 6 remaining around. It is ok if the balls that frame the sides do not touch one another, they will poof up during the baking process. Cover and let sit for another 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven: In the meantime preheat your oven to 375F and prepare your egg wash.
Egg wash for a golden finish: To make your egg wash mix together the egg, water and sugar. When your bread has risen for the second time, use a pastry brush to paint the egg wash onto the surface of your dough. This will give it that nice shiny golden finish.
Decorate and Bake: Sprinkle some pearl sugar or raisins on top and pop it in the oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until crust is hard and golden and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
Decorate with a crown and enjoy the fun! Remember, choose wisely ;)
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