Pan de Muerto

Name: Pan de Muerto
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1/2 cup whole milk; 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut in pieces; 2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) instant yeast; 1/2 cup sugar, plus 1/2 cup for coating; 3 large eggs, room temperature; 1 tbsp finely grated orange zest; 1 tsp orange blossom water or 1 tsp vanilla; 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp anise seed, lightly crushed (optional); 3 tbsp melted butter, for brushing

The soft, orange-scented sweet bread baked for Día de Muertos, shaped into a round loaf with dough 'bones' on top and rolled in sugar while it's still warm.

Prep40 min

Cook35 min

Total1 hr 15 min

Serves8

What you'll need

Mixing bowl setFor mixing and marinating

Amazon Walmart

Nonstick baking sheetsFor roasting and baking

Amazon Walmart

Silicone baking matsFor no-stick baking

Amazon

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Ingredients

1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut in pieces

2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) instant yeast

1/2 cup sugar, plus 1/2 cup for coating

3 large eggs, room temperature

1 tbsp finely grated orange zest

1 tsp orange blossom water or 1 tsp vanilla

3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp anise seed, lightly crushed (optional)

3 tbsp melted butter, for brushing

Steps

Warm the milk and butter until the butter just melts, then cool to lukewarm. Stir in the yeast.

In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup sugar with the eggs, orange zest and orange blossom water. Add the milk mixture, then the flour, salt and anise, and mix into a soft, sticky dough.

Knead 8 to 10 minutes, until smooth and elastic (it will stay slightly tacky). Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.

Cut off about 1/5 of the dough for decorations. Shape the rest into 2 round loaves and set them on a lined baking sheet.

Roll the reserved dough into ropes, pressing your fingers along them to make knobby 'bones', and lay two crossed over each loaf. Top each with a small ball of dough in the center. Cover and let rise 45 minutes.

Bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes, until deep golden and hollow-sounding underneath. Tent with foil after 20 minutes if browning fast.

Brush the warm loaves all over with melted butter and roll or sprinkle them generously with sugar. Serve with hot chocolate.

TipLightly brush the bones with beaten egg before baking so they stay put as the loaves rise in the oven.