Learn how to make Pan de Muerto for Dia de Los Muertos
original recipe from https://www.allrecipes.com
| Materials Oven Large bowl Baking Sheet Parchment Paper Measuring cups & spoons Zester Hand or stand mixer Plastic wrap Kitchen Brush Kitchen Thermometer Small pot | Ingredients ¼ cup margarine/butter ¼ cup milk ¼ cup warm water 3 cups of all purpose flour 1 ¼ teaspoon of instant active yeast ½ teaspoon of salt 2 teaspoons of anise seeds ½ cup & 2 teaspoons white sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons & 1 tablespoon of orange zest ¼ cup orange juice |
Instructions:
- Zest and juice your oranges
- In a small saucepan, melt your butter & heat your milk. Once the butter has melted remove from the heat and stir in the water (set aside for a moment)
- In your stand mixer or in a large mixing bowl combine the 1 cup of flour, yeast, anise seeds, ¼ cup sugar and salt.
- With the mixer on stir, slowly add the milk/butter/water mixture, 2 beaten eggs and 2 teaspoons of orange zest. Slowly add the flour a cup at a time to form the dough.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until it becomes soft and smooth. This will take a few minutes. Add flour to your hands and more to the floured surface as needed.
- Once the dough has formed, place it into a large greased mixing bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place the dough in a warm, dry place to rise and double in size. This can take 1-2 hours.
- Once the dough has risen, take it out of the bowl and form 2 small loaves or 1 large loaf. To form the loaf, cut about ¼ of the dough and set aside, then take the large portion of dough and form into a dome. Place the dome on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Then with the remaining ¼ amount of dough, split it into 3 equal pieces. Take one piece and form a long snake/log shape. With your finger, flatten the middle and place on the top of the dome. Take the second piece and form the same shape but then split it in half and place it on either side of the first, with the flat part still in the middle. Take the final piece of dough and roll a small ball and place that into the flattened middle of the long snake/log piece. I chose to make 2 small loaves.
- Place your formed loaves/loaf into an oven that has been preheated to 350 degrees for about 40-45 minutes
- While the bread is baking, make the orange glaze. In a small saucepan add the orange juice, 1 tablespoon of orange zest and ¼ cup of sugar. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes, while stirring. Once made, set aside. (I do this when the bread is close to coming out of the oven so I can glaze quickly)
- Remove the bread from the oven when it is done and glaze the loaf/loaves while still warm. Once glazed dust with the 2 tablespoons of sugar.
- Place your Pan de Muerto on a plate and place it on your ofrenda.
