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Rosca de Reyes – Mexican King Cake

Rosca de Reyes is a traditional Mexican sweet bread baked in a ring shape and decorated with colorful candied fruit. Soft, buttery, and lightly citrusy, it’s shared on January 6th to celebrate Three Kings Day.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Rise time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Dough:
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 ¼ tsp instant yeast 1 packet
  • ½ cup warm milk
  • 4 large eggs room temperature
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Decoration:
  • ½ cup candied or dried fruits figs, cherries, citron, pineapple
  • ½ cup chopped almonds or pecans optional
  • 1 egg for egg wash
Optional Fillings:
  • Sweet cream cheese
  • Dulce de leche
  • Guava paste

Method
 

Activate the Yeast
  1. In a small bowl, mix warm milk, a teaspoon of sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 10 minutes until it looks foamy. That means it’s ready.
Make the Dough
  1. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, and salt. Add eggs, orange zest, vanilla, and the yeast mixture. Mix until it starts coming together, then add butter a bit at a time.
  2. Knead until smooth and elastic—about 10 minutes by hand or 6–7 in a mixer.
First Rise
  1. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let it rise in a warm spot for 1½–2 hours, or until doubled.
Shape the Rosca
  1. Punch the dough down gently and shape it into a large ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  2. If you want to keep tradition, tuck a small figurine or dried bean inside the dough.
Second Rise
  1. Cover and let it rise again for about 45 minutes, until puffy.
Decorate
  1. Brush the top with egg wash. Arrange strips of candied fruit and sprinkle nuts if using. It should look like a colorful crown.
Bake
  1. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown. If it browns too fast, cover loosely with foil halfway through.
Cool and Serve
  1. Let it cool a bit before slicing. Serve warm with coffee or hot chocolate and enjoy!

Notes

  • Let the dough rise fully—don’t rush it! That’s what gives it the soft texture.
  • Use real butter, not margarine, for the best flavor.
  • You can skip the figurine if you like, but it’s fun to include it if you’re celebrating Kings Day.
  • Leftovers are amazing toasted with a bit of butter the next morning.