Pan de Muerto is a traditional Mexican sweet bread baked to honor the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). It’s soft, fragrant, and lightly sweetened, often decorated with bone-shaped dough pieces symbolizing the departed.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (500g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 2 tsp active dry yeast
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup (120ml) whole milk, warmed
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 tsp anise seeds (optional)
- ¼ cup (60ml) orange juice
- Additional flour for dusting
- 2 tbsp sugar (for topping)
- 3 tbsp melted butter (for brushing)
Method of Preparation
Step 1: Activate Yeast
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk with a pinch of sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
Step 2: Mix Dough
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, orange zest, and anise seeds.
- Add the yeast mixture, eggs, orange juice, and butter.
- Mix and knead the dough for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Step 3: First Rise
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until doubled in size.
Step 4: Shape the Bread
- Punch down the dough and reserve about ¼ of it for decoration.
- Shape the remaining dough into a round loaf.
- Roll the reserved dough into strips and arrange over the loaf to resemble bones and a circle in the center (symbolizing the skull and bones).
Step 5: Second Rise
- Place the shaped loaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
- Cover and let rise for another 45 minutes.
Step 6: Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
Step 7: Finish
- Remove from oven and brush with melted butter.
- Sprinkle generously with sugar while still warm.
Tips
- Kneading well is key to a soft, airy crumb.
- The orange zest and juice give it a distinctive, refreshing flavor.
- Decorating with “bones” is traditional but optional.
Serving Suggestions
- Traditionally enjoyed with hot chocolate during Día de los Muertos celebrations.
- Great as a breakfast or snack bread.