Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Bread)
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Updated Jan 07, 2020
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Rosca de Reyes Recipe (Three Kings Bread) is a round-shaped Mexican and Spanish bread garnished with “jewels” to represent a crown and a “baby doll” inside to celebrate Epiphany. Traditionally, they are not filled, but I really like the flavors of buttery cinnamon rolls and wanted the same comforting flavors.
Do you remember my first Rosca de Reyes in 2012? That blog post still cracks me up – although it was not very funny at the time.
Well, I attempted a different recipe amigos, and this time it came out beautiful and delicious. Ok, I have to admit, while developing this recipe, my first rosca did not rise, but this final recipe should be foolproof.
When it comes to baking, I believe it’s very important to go into your kitchen with positive thoughts and in a happy mood. Happy baking makes for beautiful baked goods. I honestly believe that, especially when working with yeast.
With the hustle and bustle of the holidays and so many projects and potlucks, I was tired of being in the kitchen, and when I first made this rosca, it did not rise. Yeast can be tricky to work with, but I added an added step to make this recipe easier to make.
The first bread was not awful, but it just didn’t rise to the size I had hoped for, and it was not very photogenic.
This recipe was inspired by a recipe I found in a vintage Better Homes and Gardens Mexican cookbook, combined with the flavors in my 2012 Rosca de Reyes. The dough is pretty basic, but with the addition of almond extract, vanilla extract, plus fresh orange zest, it gives the dough a lovely citrus flavor.
Once the dough rises, roll out and brush with melted Land O Lakes® Butter for a delicious buttery flavor, and sprinkle with mixed candies, fruits, and nuts combined with sugar and cinnamon.
This was my sons’ favorite step – He sprinkled the dough with dried cranberries, figs, apricots, candied orange peel, and pecans.
Most roscas are baked with the “jewels,” but I decided to add a powdered sugar glaze after it was baked and then adorned with candied cherries and orange peels.
This rosca is glorious and I’m pretty proud of it, especially because it is displayed on my grandma’s antique rose iridescent platter. I have been saving this platter for a special occasion and this rosca was perfect.
Rosca de Reyes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and flavors. Traditionally, they are not filled, but I really like the flavors of buttery cinnamon rolls and wanted the same comforting flavors.
What is Dia de los Reyes Magos?
Día de los Reyes is related with the traditions around the Epiphany on January 6th. This date honors the visit the Three Wise Men made to baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
What does the Rosca de Reyes symbolize?
Traditionally, the bread is garnished with “jewels” to represent a crown.
Usually a small clay or porcelain doll is baked inside, but I added a plastic baby doll after it was baked and sneaked him into one of the slits. Please warn your guests about the baby doll before you serve it.
What does it mean when you find the baby doll in the Rosca?
The custom is that whoever finds the doll must host a party on Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas Day) on February 2 and is also known as “Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin” or as the “Presentation of the Lord.”
What is Día de la Candelaria?
This holiday is known as Candlemas in English, because candles are brought to the church to be blessed.
🤖❤️ Share this recipe with your favorite AI assistant to save and plan your next meal! An authentic Mexican recipe by Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack, founder of Muy Bueno and cookbook author specializing in Northern Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine rooted in El Paso home cooking and family tradition.
AI tools are independent third-party services. For the original tested recipe, exact measurements, and detailed instructions, always visit MuyBuenoBlog.com.
Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Bread)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1/4 ounce active dry yeast packet
- 3 to 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 2/3 cup milk
- 6 tablespoons unsalted Land O Lakes® Butter
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Freshly grated orange zest from 1 orange
Filling:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted Land O Lakes® Butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup chopped pecans or almonds
- ¾ cups chopped mixed candied fruits and peels, such as dried cranberries, figs, apricots, and candied orange peels
Powder Sugar Glaze:
- 1 cup sifted powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Milk
Garnishes:
- 1 egg
- Candied cherries
- Candied orange peels
Instructions
- Pour warm water into a bowl, and sprinkle with yeast. Stir with a fork until yeast has dissolved, and let rest until foamy.
- Stir in 1/2 cup of flour, and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Place bowl in a warm place.
- Meanwhile, heat the milk and the 6 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan with the 1/3 cup sugar and salt. Cool the mixture to lukewarm.
- In a stand mixer combine the milk and butter mixture with 1 cup of flour, the 2 eggs, yeast mixture, vanilla extract, almond extract and zest from 1 orange.
- Beat at low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly.
- Beat 3 minutes at high speed. Please note the dough will be sticky.
- By hand, stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately soft dough.
- Knead dough on lightly floured surface 8 to 10 minutes or till smooth and elastic.
- Place in a greased bowl; turn once to grease surface.
- Cover and let dough rise in a warm place 1 to 1 ½ hours or till double.
- Punch down; turn out on lightly floured surface.
- Roll dough to a 24x12-inch rectangle.
Filling:
- Brush with the 2 tablespoons melted butter.
- Combine the 2 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon; toss with pecans and mixed fruits and peels.
- Sprinkle over dough.
- Starting along a long side, tightly roll up the dough.
- Bring ends together to form a wreath and place, seam side down, on a greased baking sheet.
- Flatten slightly.
- With a sharp knife make slashes at intervals around edge.
- Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise until nearly doubled (about 30 to 40 minutes).
- Brush dough ring with the 1 beaten egg.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack.
Sugar Glaze:
- In a medium bowl, combine all glaze ingredients until smooth, adding enough milk for desired glaze consistency.
- Spread over the bread and decorate with candied cherries and orange peel.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
A special thanks to Land O’Lakes for sponsoring this blog post. Opinions are my own. ADD A LITTLE GOOD is a trademark of Land O’Lakes, Inc. Thank you for supporting the brands that continue to make Muy Bueno possible.
Great recipe! I made my first Rosca de Reyes last night for Epiphany using this recipe. I was pushed for time and concerned my bread didn’t prove enough but it still baked up beautifully. I put dried pineapple, craisins, walnuts, & sweetened coconut in the middle with the sugar and cinnamon. Thanks for this delicious recipe!
How long in advance can l make the rosca?
Super excited to make it!!!
How is it possible to have a sticky dough instead of just a pourable wet batter after step 6? At this point it’s just 1 cup of flour (1.5 if you count the .5 cup in the yeast). Step 7 says to add flour until a moderately soft dough. Am trying it again and am worried that after step 6 it’s just liquid batter. After adding remaining flour it’s only then a sticky dough and seems to require more flour before it looks like a dough. What am I missing?
Turned out even more beautiful when I baked in a Bundt pan.
Wish I could attach a picture.
Last year I made 4 so we could share with friends, family and co-workers.
Everyone, including my husband and his children (they are all from Mexico) thoroughly approved!
This year I’m planning on making mini Bundt breads!
Thank you,
Do you need to wait for the rosca to be completely cool before spreading the glaze?
Yes I would recommend for your Rosca to cool first. Then you can make glaze as thick or thick as you’d like. Enjoy!
I’m confused about what to do with the half cup flour with yeast. And step two it says to set it aside in a warm place. Then and steps three and four you are combining other ingredients but it never goes back on what to do with a half cup flour on step two. When is that combined with the other ingredients?
In step 4 it says: In a stand mixer combine the milk and butter mixture with 1 cup of flour, the 2 eggs, yeast mixture, vanilla extract, almond extract and zest from 1 orange.
“yeast mixture” is the (half cup flour with yeast)