The traditional Christmas dessert in Portugal is Bolo Rei, or “king cake.”
Bolo Rei is a ring-shaped, yeast-raised cake decorated with crystallized and dried fruit, raisins and nuts. Its crown-like form and name connect it with the Three Kings and the Feast of the Epiphany. Portuguese bakeries commonly sell it from the start of December through January 6.
The modern Portuguese version is derived from the French gâteau des rois. It became established in Portugal through Lisbon’s Confeitaria Nacional, which introduced the cake in the 19th century. The recipe was adapted to local tastes and became one of the defining foods of Portuguese Christmas.
A traditional Bolo Rei contained a dried fava bean. The person who found it was expected to pay for the next cake, a custom shared with several European king-cake traditions. Bolo Rei is not the same as fruitcake, German Stollen or Italian Panettone: although it contains fruit, its ring shape, soft dough and Epiphany associations distinguish it. A nut-focused variation called Bolo Rainha is also found in Portugal.