Pan de Muerto (“bread of the dead”) is an important part of Mexican culture, eaten on November 1st and 2nd as part of Dia de Los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead”, celebrations, and given as an offering to deceased loved ones to enjoy in the afterlife.
There are different varieties of Pan de Muerto found across Mexico, but generally it is a round loaf of sweet bread, decorated with dough arranged in shapes to represent tears and bones. Most Mexicans will buy their Pan de Muerto from a bakery or grocery store these days, but for those who love to bake, it’s a great thing to try it in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
4 ounces room-temperature butter (not margarine)
3/4 cup white sugar
3 teaspoons whole aniseed
1 teaspoon salt
6 cups bread flour or all-purpose white flour
4 large room-temperature eggs
1 1/4 cups warm water but not to exceed 110° F
2 tablespoons orange zest
2 packets (4 1/2 teaspoons) instant dry yeast
Your choice of glaze (see below)
Directions
- In a large bowl, mix together butter, sugar, anise, salt and 1/2 cup of the flour.
- In a separate small bowl, combine the eggs, water, and orange zest. Add this mixture to the butter-sugar and add another 1/2 cup of the flour.
- Add the yeast and another 1/2 cup of flour. Continue to add the rest of the flour 1 cup at a time until a dough forms.
- Knead on a floured surface about 1 minute. Cover with a slightly damp dishcloth and let rise in a warm area for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Separate about 1/4 of the dough and use it to make bone shapes to drape across the loaf. See the Note below.
- Shape the rest of the dough into a semi-sphere. Place bone shapes on the loaf. Let it rise for 1 more hour.
- Bake in a 350 F (177 C) oven for about 40 minutes (30 minutes if you have made smaller loaves).
Cool and glaze before serving.
Glazes for Pan de Muerto
Choose one of these glazes to finish your Pan de Muerto. After glaze is applied, sprinkle your loaf with plenty of white or colored sugar using granulated table sugar, superfine (not powdered) sugar or table sugar pulverized in a blender or food processor.
Orange Juice Glaze: Bring to a boil 3/4 cup sugar and 1/2 cup fresh orange juice. Brush on bread after it has baked and cooled.
Orange Juice-Egg White Glaze: Mix 3 tablespoons orange juice concentrate and 1/3 cup sugar with 2 raw large egg whites. Brush on bread during the last 10 minutes of baking.
Brown Sugar-Cranberry Juice Glaze: Bring to a boil 1/4 cup piloncillo (or dark brown sugar), 1/4 cup white sugar, 2/3 cup cranberry juice, and 2 tablespoons orange zest. Brush on baked loaf after the bread has cooled.
*recipe courtesy of thespruce.com
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