Who remembers their mom baking a birthday cake with a coin in it? My mom never did but I remember going to birthday parties where other moms did. As if a birthday cake in itself wasn’t exciting enough, now there was the added element of surprise. Who would find that lucky coin that symbolized good things in the year to come? Okay, so it was just a superstition, but it sure added to the fun at a birthday party.

Today, January 6th, is King’s Day here in Mexico. That is synonymous with Rosca de Reyes. And it is every bit as delicious as it looks in the photo. This amazing oval loaf of bread doesn’t contain coins. But it does have small figurines of the baby Jesus baked inside. If you are lucky enough to find one, then you bring the tamales and the atole to the celebration on February 2nd, Dia de la Candelaria. And adults are just as gleeful about this as children.

When I lived in Mazatlan, I took a cooking course where I learned to make a variety of traditional Mexican foods. And yes, Rosca was one of them. But like many other dishes I learned to cook or bake, it is far easier to buy this wonderful delicacy than to make it yourself. At this time of year bakeries are filled with Rosca. And speaking of filled, there are lots of variations. Fillings of cajeta, Nutella, cream cheese, almond paste, fruits and nuts are quite popular.

Buenelas move over. Rosca is here.