DOUGH PREPARATION:

Dissolve the yeast in a little warm water (it should feel warm but not hot to the touch) with 1 teaspoon of sugar. Stir well to break up the yeast and let it sit, covered, for 10 minutes. When it becomes foamy, it's ready to use.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, orange zest, and crushed anise seeds. Mix well. Add the eggs, activated yeast, orange juice, and vanilla. Mix with a spatula until a soft dough forms. Add the softened butter (at room temperature). Knead for 10 minutes with a mixer, or by hand for about 20 minutes or more, until the dough is smooth and elastic and doesn't stick to your hands or the work surface.

If the dough is too sticky, gradually add up to 1/2 cup more flour, but be careful not to add too much. Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 to 2 hours, depending on the temperature.

At this point, you can refrigerate the dough and shape and bake the bread the next day, or continue after the 2-hour rise.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead briefly. Shape into a ring. If you refrigerated the dough, let it come to room temperature and rise again before shaping.

Punch down the dough and knead a few times. Shape it into one or two rings, as you prefer.

One way to shape the bread is to roll the dough into a rectangle, place the baby figurines in different spots, and add fruit filling if you like.

Roll up the dough tightly from the long side. It's important to roll it firmly. Then, join the ends together, slightly unrolling one end to wrap around the other.

TOPPING:

Mix the topping ingredients with a spatula, then form into a ball. Let it rest in the refrigerator for 20 minutes before using.

When decorating, place a piece of topping over the seam to hide it. Divide the topping dough into 4 balls and roll them out to place on top of the bread.

If you don't have powdered sugar, blend 1/2 cup granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a blender.

Brush the bread with beaten egg. Decorate with dried fruit and the topping, pressing gently. Let rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

Before baking:

Preheat the oven and place the bread on the stovetop to help it rise faster in winter. Turn off the oven, then turn it back on 10 minutes before baking so it's hot.

Sprinkle extra sugar over the topping and lightly over the bread.

The Rosca de Reyes represents a crown, decorated with colorful dried and candied fruits to symbolize the jewels in the crowns of the Wise Men, representing peace, love, and happiness.

The hidden baby figurine recalls when Joseph and Mary hid baby Jesus to protect him from Herod. Sharing the bread is a symbol of communion with the sacred newborn. For Christians, the circular shape of the bread represents love.