Traditional Portuguese Bolo Rainha

Name: Traditional Portuguese Bolo Rainha
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Cuisine: Portugal
Ingredients: 500 g of flour (T45); 80 g of sugar; 80 g of butter (softened); 25 g of baker's yeast (fresh); 2 eggs; 120 ml of whole milk; 1 pinch of salt; 1 zest of orange; 1 zest of lemons; 50 ml of white wine ((or sweet wine)); 80 g of raisins; 60 g of walnuts (coarsely chopped); 1 egg yolks ((egg wash)); 30 g of powdered sugar

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Bolo Rainha is a Portuguese Christmas cake made from a yeasted dough enriched with dried fruit and nuts, without colored candied fruit. It is known for its soft, lightly sweet crumb and a golden crust topped with almonds and walnuts. A great recipe for the holidays that keeps for several days and can be made ahead.

Total time: 1 h 10
Prep: 30 min
Cook: 40 min
Rest: 2 h
Difficulty: Medium
Per person: €1.06

By the CookinBreak team

Goes well with

🎅 Christmas: all recipes

As a starter

Christmas Salad

20 minEasy

As a main

Air Fryer Roast Chicken with Potatoes and Onions

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To drink

5.0

Christmas Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

15 minEasy

Nutrition facts

per serving · estimate

420kcal

Protein9 g9%
Carbs52 g51%
Fat18 g40%
Fiber4 g

Share of each nutrient in the calories of one serving.

Good to know

Chef's tip

👉 Use eggs and butter at room temperature for a more elastic dough.
👉 Don't go above 170°C: baking too hot dries out the crumb before the center is cooked 🔥.

Freezing : Can you freeze this recipe?

Yes

Sliced or whole, up to 2-3 months in an airtight freezer bag.

Storage : How long does it keep?

Keeps 3 to 4 days max in an airtight container at room temperature.

Making ahead : Can you make it the day before?

Yes

The dough can be prepared and left to rise the day before in the refrigerator.

Reheating : How do you reheat it?

Oven (150°C, 5-10 min for slices) or microwave (a few seconds on low power) to restore softness.

Variations

Dust with powdered sugar once cooled.
Add a few dried fruits on top before baking.
Use a white wine or a sweet wine.

Mistakes to avoid

Using hot milk: the milk should be lukewarm.
Cutting the rise short: 1 hour 30 minutes, until the dough doubles in size.
Adding the dried fruit too early: work it in at the end of kneading.

Frequently asked questions

Comment faire un bolo rainha ?

Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm milk, knead with the flour, sugar, eggs, butter, zests and wine for 10 to 15 minutes, work in the raisins and nuts, let rise for 1 hour 30 minutes, shape into a ring, let rise another 30 minutes, and bake for 40 minutes at 170°C.

Qu'est-ce que le bolo rainha ?

Bolo Rainha is a Portuguese Christmas cake made with a yeasted dough enriched with dried fruit and nuts. It is known for its soft crumb and the absence of colored candied fruit.

Comment former la couronne ?

After the first rise of 1 hour 30 minutes, gently deflate the dough, shape it into a ring on a baking sheet, let it rise another 30 minutes, then brush with egg yolk and add a few dried fruits on top.

Combien de temps cuire le gâteau ?

Bake at 170°C for 40 minutes, until golden, then let cool on a wire rack and dust with powdered sugar if you like.