A quick guide to Roscón de Reyes and the best supermarket options
Everything you need to know about Roscón de Reyes, from the hidden surprises and traditional fillings to the best supermarket options this year
Every year on Three Kings Day, January 6, families across Spain gather to enjoy Roscón de Reyes, a sweet, round cake that has been part of the holiday season for centuries. The ring shape represents a crown, celebrating the Three Kings.
Traditionally, a roscón has something hidden inside. One is a small figurine, usually representing a king, and the other is a dried bean. The person who finds the king is “king for the day,” while the one who finds the bean is expected to buy next year’s roscón. It adds a bit of fun to the Three Kings celebrations.
Most roscones are filled with whipped cream (nata), custard (it’s actually something called crema, which is not exactly custard but similar), whipped creamy chocolate spread, or cream cheese and decorated with candied fruit to look like jewels in a crown. You can also have it without any filling and dip it into a hot chocolate, yummy.
The combination of sweet, bready dough and the creamy filling makes it a cake that’s always popular this time of year. So popular, in fact, make sure to get it in advance!
It can be ordered at your local bakery in advance and then collected closer to the day. If you order from the bakery, you can choose any filling you like and any combination. You can have one side cream and the other side chocolate, for example. As they are so big and shared by families, you might need to suit everyone's taste!
These days, as it gets more popular, you may find more modern roscones. Some bakeries make very elaborate roscones with Kinder Bueno chocolate bars on top, and there are some pistachio-filled roscones around this year too.
The best supermarket roscones
If you decide to get your roscón from the supermarket, the Spanish Consumers and Users Organisation (OCU) has put together a list of the top six supermarket roscones. They tested 13 supermarket roscones and highlighted six that stood out for taste, texture, and quality of ingredients. Some of the others had vegetable fats instead of real cream or too many additives, but the top picks stick closer to tradition.
Here are the OCU’s favourites:
Lidl, 100% Cream (€12.66/kg) - Top scorer with 71 out of 100. Soft texture, real cream, and a perfect balance of orange blossom and butter flavour.
El Corte Inglés Selection, 100% Cream (€20.88/kg) - Premium option with tender texture and rich, well-balanced flavours.
Día Dulce Noel (€19.95/kg) - Affordable and tasty with classic cream filling.
Alcampo, Filled with Pure Cream (€15.28/kg) - Generous filling and flavour, perfect for sharing.
La Despensa, Filled with Cream (€7.99)- Budget-friendly, soft texture, and delicious taste.
Carrefour Extra, Filled with Cream (€15.45/kg) - Some compromises in the cream, but a good balance of price and quality.
The OCU also gave some tips for choosing a roscón. They advised checking the label to avoid roscones with palm, coconut, or rapeseed oils. Look for ones filled with real cream (if that is the filling you want) and made with butter. And enjoy in moderation, these treats are rich with around 17% fat and 21% sugar.
So run don’t walk to Lidl to get the top-rated roscón before they run out!
Image: Archive