Rosca de Reyes is a traditional Mexican sweet bread shaped into a large ring and decorated with candied fruits. It is soft, slightly sweet, and flavored with vanilla and orange zest, perfect for celebrating Three Kings Day.
Total Time:2 hours 20 minutes
Yield:8 servings
Ingredients
Dough
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm milk
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp orange zest
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
Decoration
Candied fruits for decoration
1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk and let it sit until frothy, about 10 minutes.
Mix Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the yeast mixture, eggs, vanilla extract, orange zest, and softened butter. Mix until a dough forms.
Knead Dough: Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Shape Dough: Punch down the dough and shape it into a large ring. Place it on the prepared baking sheet.
Decorate: Decorate the ring with candied fruits, pressing them gently into the dough.
Egg Wash: Brush the dough with the beaten egg to give it a shiny golden finish.
Bake: Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Cool and Serve: Allow the bread to cool completely before serving.
Notes
Ensure the milk is warm, not hot, to activate the yeast properly without killing it.
You can substitute orange zest with lemon zest for a slightly different citrus flavor.
Kneading the dough well is crucial to develop gluten for a soft and elastic bread.
Letting the dough rise in a slightly warm environment helps yeast fermentation for a better rise.
Brush the dough with egg wash right before baking to get a shiny crust.
Let the bread cool fully to allow it to set and enhance flavor before slicing.
You can add a small figurine or bean inside the dough before the second rise, following tradition.
