Mexican Sweet Bread

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Mexican Sweet Bread can easily be made at home with simple ingredients. These sweet and fluffy Conchas are a popular sweet bread that are delicious.

A stack of Mexican sweet breads, or conchas, in pink, chocolate, and vanilla flavors are artfully arranged on a wooden serving board. The background features a hexagonal tile pattern with a small plate and wooden spatulas nearby.

If you have ever visited a Mexican bakery than you probably have seen this Mexican Sweet Bread. This sweet bread Mexican recipe is a popular Mexican Pan Dulce and now you can make it at home.

These easy steps will show you how to make this popular bread at home with simple ingredients. There are many flavors of Mexican sweet breads pan dulce which include pan de muerto and they are served for breakfast or dessert any day of the week.

If you love this sweet bread recipe, then you may want to make Copycat Disney Churro Recipe and Cinnamon Chips.

What is Mexican Sweet Bread?

Mexican Sweet bread is a light, fluffy, and airy bread. It has a crunchy topping that makes it the perfect bread. You may also hear it called Pan dulce which means sweet bread.

There are many different types bread but they are not overly sweet. There are different types of sweet bread which come in soft, dense, salty, and crumbly.

This bread is the perfect amount of sweetness and is enjoyed by all. We hope these tips will help you learn more about this popular sweet bread and how to make it.

Ingredients

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

Flour – You can easily substitute the all purpose flour with whole wheat flour or bread flour.
Topping – These popular pan dulce are even better with a streusel topping for even more flavor.
Additions – For a hint of orange flavor add in a tablespoons of orange zest. For even more flavor add in a teaspoons of anise seeds.

How to Make Mexican Sweet Bread

Step 1 – Heat the milk in a microwave safe bowl in 20 second intervals until the milk is warm to the touch. Stir in active dry yeast and sugar then cover with plastic wrap.

A glass bowl filled with milk sits on a hexagonal-patterned countertop, ready to be transformed into Mexican sweet bread. Nearby are three eggs, a packet of active dry yeast, a bowl of melted butter, and a patterned kitchen towel.

A glass bowl contains a mixture of liquid and yeast granules, hinting at the start of a Mexican sweet bread recipe. Surrounding the bowl are three eggs, a cup of sugar, a small bowl of melted butter, and a white checkered cloth on a hexagonal patterned surface.

A bowl covered with plastic wrap, containing a liquid mixture for Mexican sweet bread, sits on a hexagonal patterned countertop. Surrounding it are glass bowls with melted butter and sugar, three eggs, a wooden spoon, and a white checkered towel.

A glass bowl containing a light, thick batter for Mexican sweet bread sits on a hexagonal tiled surface. Nearby are three white eggs, a cup of sugar, melted butter, and a striped kitchen towel with a spatula.

Step 2 – In the bowl of a stand up mixer, stir together the flour, remaining sugar and salt. You can also use bread flour which will change the texture of the bread.

A mixing bowl containing flour and sugar sits on a hexagon-patterned countertop. Nearby are three eggs, a bowl of melted butter, and a towel, with a whisk ready to craft delicious Mexican Sweet Bread amidst bowls brimming with more ingredients.

A mixing bowl filled with flour sits on a hexagonal-tiled surface, ready for Mexican sweet bread. Nearby are a whisk, a white and brown checkered towel, three eggs, a small bowl of melted butter, vanilla extract, and additional flour in a bowl.

Step 3 – Place the bowl in your stand mixer and attach the dough hook to the mixer. Then add in the melted ½ cup butter, eggs and yeast mixture.

A red KitchenAid stand mixer with a dough hook attachment sits over a bowl filled with flour, ready to craft Mexican sweet bread. It's placed on a hexagonal tiled surface, accompanied by a white dish towel with a striped pattern nearby.

A red stand mixer with a dough hook attachment is vigorously blending ingredients for Mexican sweet bread. The bowl contains flour, eggs, and water. Nearby, a white and brown checkered towel rests on a hexagonal patterned countertop.

Step 4 – Mix on medium speed for 5-7 minutes until the dough comes together.

A red stand mixer with a metal bowl containing dough for Mexican sweet bread is in use. The dough, slowly transforming under the dough hook attachment, rests on a hexagon-patterned surface with a checkered cloth beneath.

Step 5 – Coat a large bowl with oil. Shape the dough into a ball and place it in the greased bowl. Cover the bowl with a kitchen town and let it rise until it has doubled in size.

A red mixing bowl with cookie dough, reminiscent of Mexican sweet bread, sits alongside a small bowl with vanilla extract and a large empty glass bowl, all on a hexagonal-patterned countertop. A white kitchen towel with a brown grid pattern is partly draped over the counter.

A ball of yellow dough, reminiscent of Mexican sweet bread, rests in a transparent glass bowl on a hexagonal-tiled countertop. A white cloth with a brown checkered pattern is partially visible at the bottom left corner.

A textured white cloth with a grid pattern of thin brown lines is spread out on a surface with a white hexagonal tile design, reminiscent of the delicate lattice found atop freshly baked Mexican sweet bread.

Step 6 – Then divide the dough into 12 even pieces and roll them into balls. Place them on 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

A ball of dough, destined for Mexican sweet bread, rests in a clear glass bowl on a white hexagonal-patterned surface. A checkered cloth is partially visible in the foreground.

Six evenly spaced dough balls, soon to become Mexican sweet bread, rest on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Nearby are a bowl of flour and a small plate with butter. A checkered cloth graces the foreground against the backdrop of a hexagonal tile surface.

Make the Sweet Bread Topping

Step 1 – With a hand held mixer, cream together the flour, butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Then separate the mixture evenly into 2 bowls. Mix the vanilla extract into 1 bowl to form the white vanilla topping and mix the cocoa powder into the other bowl to form the cocoa topping.

A glass bowl containing flour and butter sits on a kitchen counter, hinting at the making of Mexican Sweet Bread. Nearby are a small bowl of vanilla extract, cocoa powder, a red food coloring bottle, two dough balls, and a whisk. A checkered cloth lies beside them.

A glass bowl with cookie dough sits on a hexagonal patterned countertop, echoing the artful design found in Mexican Sweet Bread. Nearby are small bowls containing cocoa powder and a brown liquid, a red food coloring bottle, and cookie dough pieces on a cutting board. A plaid towel is partially visible.

Three glass bowls with portions of dough, perhaps destined to become Mexican sweet bread, are placed on a white hexagonal tile surface. A white and brown checkered cloth is draped on the left side.

Three glass bowls on a white hexagon-patterned surface contain cookie dough mixtures reminiscent of Mexican sweet bread. One has vanilla extract, another cocoa powder, and the third red food coloring. A white spatula and a checkered towel are beside the bowls.

Three glass bowls display doughs in light brown, dark brown, and pink hues, reminiscent of the vibrant colors of Mexican Sweet Bread. Nearby, a white and brown striped cloth accompanies a cream-colored spatula with traces of brown dough on its edge. All rest on a white hexagonal patterned tabletop.

Step 2 – Form each topping into approximately 6 balls that are approximately 1 ½ tablespoons big. Then flatten them into large disks that are large enough to cover your dough balls.

A baking tray with cookie dough balls, reminiscent of Mexican Sweet Bread, features three red, three brown, and three beige balls. The tray rests on a white hexagonal tiled surface, with a kitchen towel partially visible in the bottom corner.

Balls of red, brown, and beige dough reminiscent of Mexican Sweet Bread are arranged on a white cutting board. A large flattened piece of brown dough rests in the center. A plaid cloth peeks into view at the bottom left corner.

Step 3 – Place each disk over a dough ball on the baking sheets. Lightly pat it down to secure the topping to the dough. Use a sharp knife to cut grooves into the topping in a clam shell pattern.

Six colored dough balls, reminiscent of Mexican sweet bread, sit evenly spaced on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Included are two red, two brown, and two beige balls. A hexagon-patterned surface is visible underneath, alongside part of a striped cloth.

Six dough balls, reminiscent of Mexican Sweet Bread, three light brown and three pink, rest on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Each has three shallow cuts on top. A small knife with an orange handle lies to the left on a surface adorned with a white hexagonal tile design.

A ball of dough, reminiscent of Mexican sweet bread, rests on a countertop partially covered by a white checkered cloth. In the background, a baking sheet cradles a vibrant red and yellow dough ball. The hexagonal pattern of the countertop adds a touch of elegance to the scene.

Step 4 – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for 18-20 minutes until the bottoms are golden brown. Cool on the baking sheets and then serve.

Six round, colorful pastries resembling Mexican Sweet Bread rest on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. With two red, two brown, and two beige delights—each boasting a scored top—they exude charm. A checkered cloth adds a cozy touch at the bottom edge of the image.

A baking tray with six Mexican sweet breads, or conchas, on parchment paper. The conchas feature colorful shells: two pink, two brown, and two beige. Their pattern resembles seashells. The tray rests on a white hexagonal patterned surface.

Six conchas, a classic Mexican sweet bread, rest on a cooling rack. Topped with a sugary crust in chocolate, pink, and beige hues, they tempt the senses. A patterned white cloth peeks from the bottom against a backdrop of hexagonal tiles.

Expert Tips

Yeast – Make sure that your yeast is not expired as expired yeast will not activate correctly.
Flattening the Topping – I make the topping disks by flattening them out with my hands, but you can use a rolling pin or tortilla press if you prefer.
Add Food Coloring – You can easily add in food coloring to the topping if you want to make different colors of this delicious Mexican sweet bread.
Warm Milk – Make sure to heat the milk until it is warm to touch. This will create the best base for your dough.
Yeast Mixture – After adding in the yeast and sugar, make sure it is bubby after 5 minutes. If it is not bubbly, you will have to start over.
Dough – After mixing the wet and dry ingredients together you dough should be sticky. If not, you may need to add in a tablespoon of flour until you reach the right dough texture.
Rest Dough – Make sure you allow the dough the rest after combining the ingredients. We recommend about 2 hours until it is ready to be separated.
Ingredients – For the best results when combining the ingredients, make sure they are at room temperature.

How to Eat Mexican Sweet Bread

Mexican Sweet Bread is usually served as a breakfast or dinner. We enjoy it with a hot coffee so we can dip the bread into the coffee.

It would even be delicious with these Best Hot Chocolate Recipes.

A close-up of a variety of conchas, Mexican sweet bread, showcases pink, brown, and beige sugar shell tops in a decorative pattern. In the background are two wooden butter knives and a stack of plates.

How to Freeze Mexican Sweet Bread

Mexican Sweet Bread can be placed in the freezer so you can enjoy them longer. We like to flash freeze them first by placing them in a baking sheet separately and freezing them.

After about an hour, place the frozen Mexican Sweet Bread in a freezer safe container. This will allow you to take out a small serving at a time. They will last about 3 months in the freezer.

When you are ready to serve, allow them to thaw for about an hour.

A pile of Mexican sweet bread, known as conchas, sits on a wooden board. The conchas are in three colors: pink, chocolate, and cream, each with a distinctive shell-like patterned topping. A hexagonal tile surface is underneath.

How Long will Mexican Sweet Bread last

If the Mexican Sweet Bread is stored properly in an air tight container, it will last about 5 days. We love serve this delicious bread with hot chocolate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Most Popular Mexican Sweet Bread?

Conchas is the most popular type of pan dulce sweet bread that is sold in bakeries in the US and in Mexico. There may be a lot of steps, but it is worth it for this delicious sweet bread.

What are Mexican Sweet Breads called?

The most popular type of Mexican Sweet Breads is called Conchas. These are identified with having a shell shaped sugar topping. They can have different flavors but the most commons ones are vanilla or chocolate.
The inside of the conchas are soft, airy and delicious. The texture of this sweet bread is similar to a puff pastry.

How to Store Leftover Mexican Sweet Bread

Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.