06/06/2026
Mexican Sweet Bread Guide
A beginner-friendly guide for non-Mexicans in the United States
Mexican bakeries (panaderías) offer dozens of sweet breads, pastries, cookies, and cakes. Names can vary by region, and many items are known by multiple names even within Mexico. This guide explains what each item is, what it tastes like, and what you might see it called in Mexican bakeries throughout the U.S.
⚫️Co**ha
Common English Name: Shell Sweet Roll
Mexico’s most iconic sweet bread. A soft, fluffy yeast roll topped with a crunchy sugar crust scored to resemble a seashell.
Flavor:
* Vanilla
* Chocolate
* Strawberry
* Coffee (less common)
Other Names You May See:
* Vanilla Co**ha
* Chocolate Co**ha
* Pink Co**ha
* Shell Bread
⚫️Co**ha de Chocolate
Common English Name: Chocolate Shell Sweet Roll
A chocolate version of the classic co**ha with a cocoa-flavored topping.
Flavor:
Chocolate, lightly sweet.
Other Names:
* Chocolate Co**ha
* Cocoa Co**ha
⚫️Marranito
Common English Name: Little Piggies
A pig-shaped molasses-style cookie made with piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar) and spices.
Flavor:
* Brown sugar
* Molasses
* Cinnamon
* Anise or ginger (sometimes)
Other Names:
* Puerquito
* Cochinito
* Piggy Cookie
* Mexican Gingerbread Pig
⚫️Polvorón con Grajea
Common English Name: Sprinkle Shortbread Cookie
A crumbly shortbread-style cookie covered with colorful sprinkles.
Flavor:
Buttery vanilla.
Other Names:
* Sprinkle Cookie
* Polvorón de Colores
* Polvorón con Chochitos
⚫️Cortadillo
Common English Name: Mexican Pink Cake
A dense vanilla cake topped with pink icing and colorful sprinkles.
Flavor:
Vanilla cake and sweet frosting.
Other Names:
* Pink Cake
* Mexican Bakery Cake
* Dominó (some regions)
⚫️Barras de Mantequilla
Common English Name: Buttercream Bars
A soft bread topped with a sweet buttercream-like spread.
Flavor:
Vanilla and butter.
Other Names:
* Pan de Manteca
* Lenguas
* Butter Bars
⚫️Yoyos
Common English Name: Raspberry or Coconut Yo-Yo Cookies
Two sponge cookies sandwiched together with jam or filling and often rolled in coconut.
Flavor:
* Raspberry
* Strawberry
* Coconut
* Vanilla
Other Names:
* Besos (Kisses)
* Enamorados (Sweethearts)
* Yo-Yo Cookies
⚫️Polvorón Napolitano
Common English Name: Neapolitan Shortbread
A tri-colored cookie inspired by Neapolitan ice cream.
Flavor:
* Vanilla
* Chocolate
* Strawberry
Other Names:
* Tricolor Cookie
* Payaso
* Napolitano
⚫️Empanadas
Common English Name: Hand Pies
Sweet pastries filled with fruit, pumpkin, sweet potato, or other fillings.
Flavor Depends on Filling:
* Pineapple
* Apple
* Pumpkin
* Guava
* Sweet Potato
* Cajeta
Other Names:
* Sweet Empanada
* Coyota (Sonoran variation)
⚫️Hojarascas
Common English Name: Mexican Shortbread Cookies
Traditional crumbly cookies made with lard or shortening and coated with cinnamon sugar.
Flavor:
* Cinnamon
* Vanilla
* Butter
Other Names:
* Pan de Polvo
* Biscochitos
* Wedding Cookies
⚫️Ojos
Common English Name: Bull’s Eye Pastry
A pastry ring with a soft center filling cake-like texture
Flavor:
Vanilla and egg
Other Names:
* Ojo de Buey
* Ojo de Pancha
* Vanilla Cake Tart
⚫️Mantecada
Common English Name: Mexican Muffin
A rich oily cupcake-like pastry traditionally baked in colorful paper cups.
Flavor:
Vanilla, butter, and egg.
Other Names:
* Panquecito
* Mexican Cupcake
* Kekito
⚫️Elote
Common English Name: Sweet Corn-Shaped Pastry
A sweet bread shaped like an ear of corn.
Flavor:
Vanilla and butter.
Other Names:
* Gusano
* Purito
* Cocodrilo
⚫️Pan de Mu**to
Common English Name: Day of the Dead Bread
What is it?
A traditional bread made for Día de los Mu**tos celebrations.
Flavor:
* Orange
* Butter
* Orange blossom water
* Anise
Other Names:
* Hojaldra (certain regions)
* Bread of the Dead
⚫️Campechanas
Common English Name: Mexican Puff Pastry
A crispy, caramelized puff pastry.
Flavor:
Butter and caramelized sugar.
Other Names:
* Costras
* Banderillas
* Sugar Puff Pastry
⚫️Conos de Crema
Common English Name: Cream Cones
A flaky pastry cone filled with cream, custard, or whipped filling.
Flavor:
Vanilla cream and butter.
Other Names:
* Cream Horns
* Barquillos
* Pastry Cones
⚫️Polvorón
Common English Name: Shortbread Cookie
A simple, crumbly cookie that melts in your mouth.
Flavor:
Vanilla and butter.
Other Names:
* Mexican Shortbread
* Polvorón de Manteca
⚫️Semita
Common English Name: Plain or Sesame Seed Sweet Roll
A lightly sweet bread covered in sesame seeds or plain.
Flavor:
Mildly sweet with toasted sesame flavor.
Other Names:
* Cemita Dulce
* Sema
* Sesame Sweet Roll
⚫️Cuernitos
Common English Name: Horns or Mustaches
A son dough or crescent-shaped pastry often coated in sugar.
Flavor:
Buttery and lightly sweet.
Other Names:
* Bigotes (Mustaches)
* Sugar Crescent
* Mexican Croissant (not technically a croissant)
⚫️Orejas
Common English Name: Elephant Ears or Palmiers
A crispy puff pastry folded into a heart-like shape and coated with caramelized sugar.
Flavor:
Butter and caramelized sugar.
Other Names:
* Abanicos (Fans)
* Elephant Ears
* Palmiers
🔴Fun Fact
Most Mexican bakeries carry 100–300 different varieties of pan dulce, and many breads have different names depending on the state, city, or even the individual bakery. That’s why you’ll often hear customers asking for the same bread by completely different names across Mexico and the United States.
