Mexican Bread of the Dead

This bread is slightly sweet. Mexicans offer it to their deceased loved ones on special altars they prepare during the Day of the Dead, which they celebrate from October 31st to November 2nd. They shape the dough into bone-like decorations and use them to adorn the bread.

Details

  • Preparation Time: 180 minutes
  • Cooking Time: 40 minutes
  • Difficulty: 3
  • Spiciness: 0
  • Number of Servings: 8

Ingredients

Dough

  • 0.5 cups Butter, unsalted

  • 6 cup Flour, Wheat, bread flour

  • 2 bags Yeast, dry

  • 1 teaspoon Salt, table

  • 3 teaspoons Spices, caraway, seeds

  • 2 spoons Orange, shell

  • 0.75 cups Sugar, white

  • 1.25 cups Water

  • 4 pieces Egg, fresh

Glaze

  • 0.75 cups Sugar, white

  • 0.5 cups Juice, orange

Steps

  1. In a large bowl, mix the butter, sugar, anise, orange zest, salt, and 1/2 cup of flour. In another bowl, mix the eggs and water. Pour the egg mixture into the dry ingredients, add another 1/2 cup of flour, and mix well. Add the yeast, another 1/2 cup of flour, and mix again, then gradually add 1 cup of flour at a time and knead until a dough forms. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for another minute. Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a bowl, covering it with a damp cloth. Let the dough rise in a warm place for 1.5 hours.

  2. Turn the risen dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead it again. Shape about 1/4 of the dough into bone-like decorations (as shown in the picture). From the remaining dough, form a loaf, decorate it with the bone-shaped pieces, and let it rise again for 1 hour.

  3. Preheat the oven to 175°C. Grease and flour a baking pan and carefully place the bread on it. Bake the bread in the preheated oven for 40 minutes.

  4. Prepare the glaze: mix sugar with orange juice. Remove the baked bread from the oven and let it cool slightly on a rack. Then brush it with the glaze, transfer it to a serving plate, and serve.

Nutrition Information (Per 100g)

  • Calories: 267.72 kcal
  • Fat: 5.46 g
    • Saturated Fat: 2.59 g
  • Carbohydrates: 43.85 g
    • Sugars: 6.25 g
  • Protein: 7.99 g
  • Fiber: 1.69 g

Advice

It is important to measure all ingredients using the same cup. The volume of the cup should be 240 to 250 ml.