This Crown-shaped sweet bread is served on January 6, the Day of the Kings, or Twelfth Night. A small doll representing the Christ child is randomly inserted when the bread has almost finished baking, and whoever gets the slice with the doll must then hold a party on February 2, the Feast of Candelaria.

Ingredients:
2 packages (1/4 oz/7 g each) dry yeast
½ cup (4 fl oz/125 ml) lukewarm water
4 cups (1 lb/500 g) all-purpose (plain) flour
3 eggs
3 egg yolks
1/3 cup(3 oz/90 g) sugar
½ teaspoon grated lime or orange peel
2 tablespoons orange-flower water or milk
¾ cup (6 oz/180 g) butter, softened

For decorating the bread

6 tablespoons (3 oz/90 g) margarine
½ cup (3 oz/90 g) powdered (icing) sugar
2 egg yolks
¾ cup (3 oz/90 g) all-purpose (plain) flour
3 oz (90 g) citron, cut into strips
3 candied figs, cut into strips
1 candied orange, cut intro strips
1 egg, lightly beaten
Sugar for sprinkling

*Sprinkle the yeast over the lukewarm water, add 2 tablespoons of the flour and let stand for 20 minutes in a warm place.

*Place the remaining flour in a large bowl, make a well in the center and place the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, salt, lime peel, orange-flower water, butter and dissolved yeast in the well. Mix the ingredients together with your fingers, then knead on a floured board until the dough is smooth. When small bubbles start to form, in about 15 minutes, shape into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume.

*Meanwhile, to prepare the decoration, cream the margarine in a small bowl, then beat in the sugar, egg yolks and flour. Set aside.

*Knead the bread dough one more time and shape into a large ring loaf. Transfer to a greased baking sheet and let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes.

*Preheat the oven to 475° F (250° C). Decorate the ring with strips of the powered sugar mixture and strips of the candied fruit, pressing them into the dough. Glaze the ring with egg, sprinkle the strips with sugar and bake for 10 minutes. Lower the temperature to 400°F (200°C), remove the ring from the oven and press 1 or 2 little plastic dolls into the underside. Return to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes.

Serves 12