Mayan Monday – Day of the Dead recipe Pan de Muerto

If you want to contribute something a little bit different this year to a Halloween part, think about making some Pan de Muerto for your guests or as a Halloween party gift. This is a historical sweet bread recipe (pan = bread) and is only served during Day of the Dead rituals. The bread is cooked for families and offered on the Day of the Dead alters that are set up for any visiting dead relative spirits that are invited into homes through these celebrations. Day of hte Dead is a party and time of honor for deceased relatives that have long since left this earth, but are invited back into their family homes for Nov 2. Pan de Muerto is a staple for this day and easy to make.

Pan de Muerto recipe – Day of the Dead bread recipe

• 1/4 cup margarine
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons anise seed

• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 teaspoons orange zest
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 2 tablespoons white sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F after you have prepared the bread mixture.
2. In a medium saucepa, heat milk and butter together , until the butter melts. Remove from the heat, add warm water and check that the temperature of the liquid is 110 degrees F (43 degrees C).
3. In a large bowl combine 1 cup of the flour, yeast, salt, anise seed and 1/4 cup of the sugar. Mix  in the warm milk mixture then add the eggs and orange zest and mix until well combined. Stir in 1/2 cup of flour and continue adding more flour until the dough is soft.
4. Put the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic.
5. Place the ball of kneaded dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and a dish towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, approx. 1 to 2 hours. Punch the dough down and shape it into a large round loaf with a round knob on top. Place dough onto a baking sheet, loosely cover with plastic wrap and a dish towel and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
6. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for about 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven let cool slightly then brush with a himemade glaze and regular sugar. To make glaze: In a small saucepan combine 1/4 cup sugar, orange juice and orange zest. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil for 2 minutes. Brush over top of bread while still warm. Sprinkle glazed bread with white sugar

You can seperate the bread dough into smaller loaves and create miniture breads or you can make one loaf. The sides of the Pan de Muertos are to represent bones so be as creative as you like when creating these decorations with the bread dough.

This is a fun recipe that brings a cultural aspect to your Halloween party. We for sure will be having Day of the Dead bread on the beaches of Tulum for our own spirits, our live spirits as we watch the sun rise, watch the sun set and just hang on the coast of the Mexican Caribbean Nov 2. If you want to switch your Halloween plans and have a different experience for November, know that Casa de las Olas has a last minute discount for November 2012. If you have flexible travel dates, get 20% off our November rates when you email us to book your November vacation. Yup, 20% off your stay with few spots left but still some spots. Email today at info@casadelasolas.com and get in on the last minute Flexible dates = flexible rates sale.