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–+ servings

Bread of the Dead

A traditional Mexican sweet bread, often made to celebrate the Day of the Dead.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

Dough Ingredients
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour plus extra for dusting
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk warm
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon anise seeds
Topping Ingredients
  • 1 egg egg wash beaten
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar for sprinkling
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest for garnish

Method
 

Prepare the Dough
  1. In a mixing bowl, combine warm milk and yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
  2. In another bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, orange zest, and anise seeds.
  3. Add melted butter and eggs to the yeast mixture, then combine with the dry ingredients.
  4. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth.
  5. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a cloth, and let it rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Shape and Bake
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Once risen, punch down the dough and shape it into a round loaf.
  3. Place the shaped dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  4. For decoration, take a small piece of dough, shape it into bones or skulls, and place on top.
  5. Brush the loaf with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.
  6. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
  7. Let cool before serving, garnished with additional orange zest if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 6gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gFiber: 2gSugar: 15g

Notes

This bread is often enjoyed with hot chocolate or coffee and is a symbol of remembrance during the Day of the Dead celebrations.

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