Filhós and Bolo Rei for Sale – December 10th

Portuguese Desserts: Filhós and Bolo Rei

Volunteers at Our Lady of Fatima Portuguese Parish in Vancouver will be making and selling Filhós and Bolo Rei this month to sell to the public. Stop by and pick up some delicious Portuguese pastries for your Christmas party. 

What Are Filhós and Bolo Rei?

Depending on where you are from in Portugal,  filhós or malasadas are Portugal’s answer to the doughnut but without a hole. It’s flatter and usually wider than a Canadian style doughnut. The dough is stretched by hand before being dropped into a vat of hot oil. After turning an acceptable shade of golden dark brown, the fried dough is fished out of the oil and is then coated with either white sugar or a combination of cinnamon and white sugar. They’re a treat best eaten right away.

Bolo Rei which means King Cake, is similar to the fruitcakes you see here at the grocery store, but instead of being in the shape of a log, it is round with a large hole in the centre and not as dense or heavy. Plus, I think it looks so much prettier than the traditional North American fruitcake.  The shape of the Bolo Rei is important as it is meant to resemble a crown and the dried crystallized fruit represent the jewels on a crown.  Bolo Rei is eaten around Christmas and until January 6th which is known as Epiphany or King’s Day for the Three Wise Men, hence one more reason for the name, Bolo Rei.

If you’ve never tried either dessert, then stop by the Portuguese Parish. Otherwise, you will have to wait until next year, especially for the Bolo Rei. You can always wait until the next festa for some filhós though.

Dates & Times:
Sunday, December 10 from 9:30 am – 1:30 pm
Sunday, December 17 from 9:00 am – 1:30 pm
Where:  Our Lady of Fatima Portuguese Parish, 1423 East 13th Avenue, Vancouver
Website:  Our Lady of Fatima