Authentic Mexican Recipes
Day of the Dead Bread (Pan de Muerto) Recipe
4 1/2 cups flour
1 package granulated yeast
6 eggs
6 egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup orange blossom water
200 grams butter or margarine
2 teaspoons cinnamon
icing and sprinkles
Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Mix in 1/2 cup flour. Leave mixture in a warm place until it doubles in size.
Sift together dry ingredients (sugar, salt, flour and cinnamon). Add the remaining ingredients, but only half the butter. Now add the yeast dough and mix until it forms a thick, but not hard, dough. Pound dough on table until it no longer sticks to it. Place dough in a large greased bowl and cover it with a cloth. Let dough rise until it doubles in size. Then lightly pound it again, gradually adding the rest of the butter.
Divide the dough into three equal parts. Shape two parts into separate round loaves. Use third as decoration for loaves.
Let loaves double in size. Glaze with egg yolks if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until nicely browned. Sprinkle with sugar while warm. When the loaves are cooled, decorate as desired with icing and other pastry confections to create skulls, flowers, birds or names of the deceased.
Yield: 2 loaves
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 25 min
Difficulty: Medium
