Bread
of the Dead (Pan de Muerto)
(serves
8 - 12)
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Mix
together and let sit for five minutes: |
| 3/4 |
c |
lukewarm
water |
| 4 |
t |
active
dry yeast (2 packages) |
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|
| |
|
Stir
in: |
| 1
|
t |
anise
seeds |
| 1
|
c
|
unsalted
butter (2 sticks), melted and cooled to room temperature
|
| 1/2 |
c |
sugar
|
| 2 |
|
eggs,
lightly beaten |
| 6 |
|
egg
yolks |
| 1
1/2 |
t |
orange
blossom water (optional) |
| 1 |
T |
orange
peel, finely grated |
| 1 |
t |
kosher
salt |
| 3 |
c |
flour |
|
|
and
beat well with a wooden spoon for a few minutes. |
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|
|
Gradually
add up to: |
| 2 |
c |
flour |
|
|
until
the dough begins to form a sticky ball. |
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|
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Turn
the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 10
minutes, adding flour as needed, until the dough is smooth and
elastic. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, Cover with
a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume.
Punch down and form loaves, as described below. |
|
|
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Let
the loaves rise on a greased baking pan, then glaze with: |
| 1 |
|
egg,
lightly beaten with |
| 1 |
T |
water |
|
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|
|
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Bake
at 375 for 30-40 minutes, until done. Brush with melted butter
and immediately sprinkle with large crystal raw sugar
or colored sugar. |
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Notes &
Variations:
- The recipe for this traditional
Day of the Dead bread comes from our guest chef Laurie Mackenzie,
who adapted the recipe from 'Cocina de la Familia' by Marilyn
Tausend. It is a rich and delicious challah-like bread, orange-flavored
and slightly sweet.
- You can form it into a braided
loaf, or divide the dough into pieces and make various festive
shapes: skulls, human figures. A traditional loaf is formed by
making a round loaf from a tennis-ball sized piece of dough and
flattening it to about 1/2-inch. Drape the loaf with three pieces
of bone-shaped dough, each formed by rolling out a 3/4-inch ball
of dough into a small snake, then rolling it with separated fingers
to form knobs along the length. Finish with one small ball of
dough, formed into a skull-shape, on top in the middle.
- You don't have to wait for the
Day of the Dead (October 31 - November 2) to enjoy this bread.
For an off-season treat, you might try substituting vanilla extract
for the orange flavors.
- Sprinkle the sugar on as soon
as you have brushed the warm loaves with butter, or else the butter
will soak in and the sugar won't stick. Try sprinkling with a
mixture of sugar and cinnamon.
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