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5.0 from 21 votes

Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Bread)

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. 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.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Resting
2 hrs
Total Time
3 hrs
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 270 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican

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

    Cup of Yum
  1. Pour warm water into a bowl, and sprinkle with yeast. Stir with a fork until yeast has dissolved, and let rest until foamy.
  2. Stir in 1/2 cup of flour, and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Place bowl in a warm place.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Beat at low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly.
  6. Beat 3 minutes at high speed. Please note the dough will be sticky.
  7. By hand, stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately soft dough.
  8. Knead dough on lightly floured surface 8 to 10 minutes or till smooth and elastic.
  9. Place in a greased bowl; turn once to grease surface.
  10. Cover and let dough rise in a warm place 1 to 1 ½ hours or till double.
  11. Punch down; turn out on lightly floured surface.
  12. Roll dough to a 24x12-inch rectangle.
Filling:
  1. Brush with the 2 tablespoons melted butter.
  2. Combine the 2 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon; toss with pecans and mixed fruits and peels.
  3. Sprinkle over dough.
  4. Starting along a long side, tightly roll up the dough.
  5. Bring ends together to form a wreath and place, seam side down, on a greased baking sheet.
  6. Flatten slightly.
  7. With a sharp knife make slashes at intervals around edge.
  8. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise until nearly doubled (about 30 to 40 minutes).
  9. Brush dough ring with the 1 beaten egg.
  10. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  11. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack.
Sugar Glaze:
  1. In a medium bowl, combine all glaze ingredients until smooth, adding enough milk for desired glaze consistency.
  2. Spread over the bread and decorate with candied cherries and orange peel.

Notes

  • Please warn your guests about the baby doll before you serve it.

Nutrition Information

Calories 270kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 41.64g (14%) Protein 5.39g (11%) Fat 9.31g (14%) Saturated Fat 4.26g (21%) Cholesterol 46.76mg (16%) Sodium 219.76mg (9%) Potassium 93.68mg (3%) Fiber 1.55g (6%) Sugar 19.52g (39%) Vitamin A 235.95IU (5%) Calcium 34.53mg (3%) Iron 1.59mg (9%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 16servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 270

% Daily Value*

Calories 270kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 41.64g 14%
Protein 5.39g 11%
Fat 9.31g 14%
Saturated Fat 4.26g 21%
Cholesterol 46.76mg 16%
Sodium 219.76mg 9%
Potassium 93.68mg 2%
Fiber 1.55g 6%
Sugar 19.52g 39%
Vitamin A 235.95IU 5%
Calcium 34.53mg 3%
Iron 1.59mg 9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.