13 Authentic Mexican Bread Recipes to Bake at Home

Discover the warm, comforting magic of freshly baked Authentic Mexican Bread Recipes that bring the flavors of my childhood in Guanajuato straight to your kitchen.

Please be sure to bookmark this page and come back often to check out the new recipes. Meanwhile, indulge in their vibrant colors and shapes through my Mexican Pan Dulce Guide, which features different types of Mexican bread and more than 100 names and photos.

Mexico's rich culinary heritage extends beyond savory dishes to include a diverse array of traditional breads that Mexicans love for their unique flavors, textures, and cultural significance.

From sweet conchas, to fluffy bolillos and everything in between, this list will transport you from your home to the streets of Mexico City,  the winding staircases of Guanajuato, and the warm sands of Zihuatanejo.

I hope you are inspired to bring the flavors of Mexico to your home. Let's bake!

13 Authentic Mexican Bread Recipes

Get the recipes by clicking on the links in the first paragraph of the descriptions of each delicious Mexican bread below.

1. Mantecadas

Mantecadas boast a spongy consistency and golden crust on top. Bakers typically prepare them in red liners, which adds to their distinct appearance, and you can find them in nearly every Mexican bakery.

Considered a staple pan dulce in Mexico, they look like cupcakes, but their texture is similar to a muffin. They come in various flavors, with vanilla being the most traditional and popular. 

The flavor of oranges is one of my very favorites, so much so that I prepared these in the third episode of PBS’ The Great American Recipe, and the judges loved them. 

In my opinion, this is one of the easiest Mexican sweet breads you can make at home, so if this is your first time adventuring into baking, this is the perfect recipe to try first.

2. Niño Envuelto

Niño Envuelto, which translates literally as “swaddled baby,” is a classic cake featuring a light sponge rolled around a sweet filling, usually strawberry preserves.

Bakers then cover the cake with more strawberry marmalade and shredded coconut.

People often make and enjoy Niño Envuelto as a festive treat during special occasions, like baby and bridal showers, but you can also find them sliced, which reveals a beautiful pinwheel pattern, in Mexican bakeries.

3. Mirror Mexican Cookies (Espejos)

Espejos, or Mirrors in English, are my kids’ favorite pan dulce. My family in Mexico knows this very well, so when we visit, they already have a bag of these popular Mexican cookies waiting on the kitchen table for us to enjoy with a cup of warm milk.

Bakers make Espejos with a buttery, cumbly dough and vanilla extract, forming them into round cookies. A sugary glaze covers them, creating a reflective surface like a mirror, hence the name.

You can find them in different colors, white or pink are the most popular; however, sometimes they have a rich, chocolatey glaze.

4. Bolillos

Bolillos are a type of bread that resembles a small baguette with a crunchy crust and a soft, fluffy interior. We commonly use these versatile rolls for making tortas (Mexican sandwiches) or serve them as a side to accompany meals (especially soups), making them a staple in Mexican cuisine.

Nothing is better than a freshly baked bolillo slathered with butter and covered with salsa or cinnamon sugar for a sweet twist, or dipped in Mexican hot chocolate.

My favorite way to eat them is as Molletes, toasted bolillo halves covered with a generous layer of refried beans and topped with salsa and queso fresco.

Their versatility makes them a delicious option for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

5. Telera Bread (Telera rolls)

Also known as telera rolls, this traditional “pan de sal,” or savory bread, are similar to bolillos, but have a softer texture thanks to the unsalted butter and a distinct oval shape with two lines in the middle.

This spongy bread tipically serves as the base for tortas or pambazos (tortas filled with chorizo and potato, then dipped in a spicy red sauce). Also, like bolillos, you can fill them with savory or sweet foods.

6. Mexican Cheesecake

Mexican cheesecake, also known as Pay de Queso, is a creamy dessert similar to the cheesecake we know in the United States. However, it’s less sweet and has a lighter texture.

A popular dessert in my family, one of my aunts started making it for my family’s gelatina business years ago with huge success. Since then, it’s been a favorite for Christmas and New Years celebrations.

7. Tres Leches Cake

Tres Leches Cake, or Three Milk Cake, is a beloved Mexican dessert that needs no introduction. Its moist and tender crumb is irresistible. It’s one of the most popular recipes on this blog.

The light sponge soaks a mixture of three types of milk and is often features a top with whipped cream and fresh fruit. I’ve made it with strawberries, peaches and mangoes.

Try it out with lemon curd, it’s scrumptious!

8. Santa Claus Concha

The Santa Claus Concha is a festive variation on the classic concha, an iconic Mexican sweet bread known for its colorful and crumbly sugar toppings and distinctive shell-like shape.

The inspiration for the creation of this concha recipe came from my abuelita, my mom’s mom. She loved the holiday season and was a big fan of Santa.

She used to get a new Santa ornament every year. Every time I see an image of Santa, I think of her.

This whimsical concha is a popular treat during the holiday season and adds a touch of festive cheer to any dessert table. It needs a little bit of work and patience since you need to let the bread dough rise for along time, but it’s worth it!

9. Traditional Pan de Muerto

This traditional Pan de Muerto or “Day of the Dead Bread” is a unique festive bread families eat or place on an “ofrenda” during Day of the Dead celebrations.

This bread typically has a round shape and features dough decorations shaped like bones. Bakers make Pan de Muerto with dry active yeast, bread flour, eggs, butter, and sugar.

Then flavor it with orange blossom water or orange juice.

10. Day of the Dead Bread Anima

Another popular type of pan de muerto in the states of Michoacán and Guanajuato, is the “pan de muerto anima” or “bread of the soul.” It has an oval shape covered with a citrus glaze and pink sugar.

My original recipe features a lime-flavored bread with a sweet and tart meringue.

11. Rosca de Reyes

Rosca de Reyes is a festive Mexican bread that celebrates the festivity of Three Kings Day on January 6th each year.

Bakers often shape this sweet bread into an oval ring, but you can also find it as a round wreath.

Nuts, dried fruit, and sugar “costrones” made of vegetable shortening or butter, confectioner's sugar, and flour adorn it. Bakers hide small figurines representing baby Jesus inside the bread.

Whoever finds them is responsible for throwing a tamales and atole party for Candlemass on February 2nd.

12. Three Kings Day Muffin

Three Kings Day muffins are a modern twist on the traditional Rosca de Reyes bread. Since they don't contain yeast but use all-purpose flour and baking powder instead, you can prepare them in about half an hour.

Orange zest flavors them, candied fruit decorates them, and their size makes them the perfect bread for a single-serving dessert.

13. Capirotada

Capirotada, a type of bread pudding, tops the list of traditional Lenten dishes in Mexico. This warm and flavorful dish combines sweet and savory flavors like cinnamon, cloves, dried fruit, nuts and cheese.

Our recipe includes cranberries and piloncillo syrup.

I invite you to chose one recipe to try out at home (let me know in the comments which one you are making first) then grab a cup of coffee, a glass of milk, hot chocolate, or atole and enjoy! Buen provecho!

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