Prepare bread: Mix flour, eggs, egg yolks, sugar, water, dry yeast, orange zest, lime zest, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon butter; mix until dough is elastic and shiny, about 5 minutes.
Form dough into a ball. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes.
Punch down dough gently; roll into a long cylinder. Join the ends of the cylinder together in the shape of an oval ring. Place ring on a greased baking sheet; cover and let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Whisk eggs whites in a small bowl. Brush egg whites evenly over dough.
Prepare topping: Mix sugar and butter in a small bowl with your fingers to form a paste. Add enough flour to give paste the consistency of Play-Doh; divide into 5 or 6 balls. Place each ball between two 3-inch squares of parchment paper. Press with the bottom of a 1-cup measuring cup to make circles about 1/8 inch thick.
Space circles evenly around dough ring. Arrange candied citrus peels on top of dough.
Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes before slicing.
Cook's Notes:
Don't worry too much if you do not see much change in the dough, especially in cold climates.
You do not need to use all 3 egg whites to brush the dough. If your paste is too dry in step 6, you may add 1 teaspoon of egg white.
Use candied citrus peels in 2 or 3 different colors if available.
FAQs
If you find the baby Jesus in a slice you cut, you are responsible for making tamales and hosting a party on Día de la Candelaria, also known as the Presentation of Jesus Christ, a religious holiday held every February 2, based on the biblical story of Jesus being brought to the Temple for the first time.
What do you do if you get the baby in the Rosca? ›
The bejeweled-looking bread is meant to symbolize the gifts given to baby Jesus, and inside the bread is a little plastic baby, symbolizing the newborn messiah. If you get the baby in your slice, you have to cook tamales for everyone on Feb. 2, or Candelaria Day.
What is the meaning of the baby Jesus in the Rosca de Reyes? ›
The Hidden Baby Jesus
The plastic figurine hidden in the rosca represents Baby Jesus. It is hidden in the Rosca de Reyes because it alludes to the biblical persecution suffered by the child along with his parents by King Herod.
Is it good luck to get the baby in a Rosca de Reyes cake? ›
It is a really fun time for the family to endure the suspense of possibly getting a Jesus toy in your slice. It is good luck but some people amusingly try to avoid it so they do not have to host a party. The best part of it all is that it is another excuse to bring the family together and have a good time.
What is the plastic baby in the Rosca de Reyes? ›
The Rosca itself symbolizes the King's crown, the dried fruit symbolizes jewels, while the plastic baby symbolizes Jesus in hiding. If you find the plastic figure, you're a symbolic godparent and must sponsor a tamalada celebration on February 2nd, or Día de la Candelaria.
What are the rules for the Rosca de Reyes? ›
Traditionally, on January 6th, the Rosca is cut and dispersed among family, friends, or co-workers. Each person who is participating is given a piece. Whoever gets the plastic toy in their piece is tasked with throwing La Fiesta de La Candelaría.
What happens if you find a dried bean in your roscon? ›
We hide a bean, and a small ceramic King figure in the cake. Per tradition, if you find the bean you must buy the Roscón next year, but if you find the King, you get to wear the crown and will have good luck for the whole year.”
What does the crown mean in a Rosca de Reyes? ›
The Rosca de Reyes has an oval shape to symbolize a crown and has a small doll inside, which represents baby Jesus. The doll figure symbolizes the hiding of the infant Jesus from King Herod's troops. Traditionally, roscas are adorned with dried and candied fruits to symbolize the many jewels that a crown would have.
What happens if you get the baby from the bread? ›
In Mexican tradition, finding the baby Jesus in your slice of Rosca de Reyes means that you (and the other people who get a baby in their slice) will host a party on February 2nd (Dia de la Candelaria).
What happens when the guest finds the hidden plastic baby Jesus figurine in the Rosca? ›
The plastic baby Jesus figurine hidden in the ring carries the promise of future celebrations: The person who finds the baby in their piece gets good luck, but also has to throw a tamale feast on Feb. 2, called Día de la Candelaria, or Candlemas.
One of the key differences between Rosca de Reyes and a traditional King Cake is the type of pastry used. Rosca de Reyes is made with a sweet, buttery dough that is similar to brioche, while King Cake is made with a denser, richer dough that is more similar to a pastry.
Why is la Rosca de Reyes round responses? ›
Rosca de Reyes tends to be tender enough on day one but the sweet bread petrifies at a startling rate. The circular shape of Rosca de Reyes signifies God's infinite love and much like the rite of holy communion, eating the pastry represents communion with Christ.
What happens if you get the doll in Rosca de Reyes? ›
The tradition of sharing Rosca de Reyes bread with your loved ones is not without some risk; when you cut a slice of the bread, a plastic baby doll -- symbolizing baby Jesus -- might appear, and the person who gets the plastic doll will need to throw a party on Feb.
What happens if you get the Baby Jesus in the cake? ›
When a king cake is served at a Mardi Gras celebration, everyone wants to know who was served the slice with the king cake baby—but what does it mean if you find one? Tradition dictates that finding the baby in your cake symbolizes luck and prosperity. As such, the finder becomes the “king” or “queen” of the evening.
How many babies should a Rosca have? ›
Along with enjoying a delicious sweet bread, we always anticipated who would be the “lucky” ones to get baby Jesus in their rosca as Mexican bakeries usually add at least three plastic baby Jesus figurines baked into the bread.
What does it mean when you get the doll in the Rosca? ›
The tradition of sharing Rosca de Reyes bread with your loved ones is not without some risk; when you cut a slice of the bread, a plastic baby doll -- symbolizing baby Jesus -- might appear, and the person who gets the plastic doll will need to throw a party on Feb.
What happens if you get the baby Jesus in the cake? ›
When a king cake is served at a Mardi Gras celebration, everyone wants to know who was served the slice with the king cake baby—but what does it mean if you find one? Tradition dictates that finding the baby in your cake symbolizes luck and prosperity. As such, the finder becomes the “king” or “queen” of the evening.
