Pan de Muertos (Mexican Bread of the Dead)
Pan de Muertos is a tender, lightly sweet bread scented with anise and bright orange zest, finished with a glossy citrus glaze. Soft and airy inside with a golden crust, it’s traditionally baked for Día de los Muertos and pairs beautifully with coffee or hot chocolate. The delicate spice and citrus notes make it memorable for gatherings and seasonal celebrations.
- Prep25 mins
- Cook45 mins
- Serves12
- DifficultyMedium
- 1
Gather the ingredients.
- 2
To make the bread: Warm the milk and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat until the butter melts. Take it off the heat and stir in the warm water. The mixture should be about 110 degrees F (43 degrees C).
- 3
In a large bowl, mix 1 cup flour, sugar, anise seed, yeast, and salt. Beat in the warm milk mixture, then add the eggs and orange zest; beat until well combined. Stir in 1/2 cup flour and keep adding more flour until the dough is soft.
- 4
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic. Put the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.
- 5
Punch the dough down and shape it into a large round loaf with a round knob on top. Set the dough on a baking sheet; loosely cover with plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm place until nearly doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- 6
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes. Let it cool slightly before brushing on the glaze.
- 7
To make the 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.
- 8
Brush the glaze over the top of the warm bread. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar.
- Calories 182.94 kcal Moderate
- Protein 5.05 g Moderate
- Carbs 30.5 g Moderate
- Total Fat 4.02 g Moderate
- Saturated Fat 1.04 g Moderate
- Trans Fat 0.49 g High
- Cholesterol 39.15 mg Moderate
- Sodium 23.52 mg Low Source
- Fiber 1.55 g Low Source
- Sugar 5.29 g Moderate
- Added Sugar 0.21 g Low Source
- Calcium 15.26 mg Low Source
- Iron 1.81 mg Moderate
- Potassium 47.88 mg Low Source
- Vitamin A 61.61 mcg_rae Low Source
- Vitamin C 2.54 mg Low Source
- Vitamin D 0.36 mcg Low Source
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
About This Recipe
Pan de Muertos (Mexican Bread of the Dead) is a Mexican breakfast recipe made with 12 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr 10 mins, serves 12, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Active Dry Yeast, All Purpose Flour, Anise Seed, and Dried Orange Peel. Each serving provides about 182.94 kcal.
Recipe Questions
- What is Pan de Muertos (Mexican Bread of the Dead)?
- It is a Mexican bread recipe made with 12 ingredients, usually served for breakfast or dessert or snack.
- What is Pan de Muertos (Mexican Bread of the Dead) made of?
- The main ingredients are Active Dry Yeast, All-Purpose Flour, Anise Seed, Dried Orange Peel, Eggs. The full list of 12 is above.
- What goes well with Pan de Muertos (Mexican Bread of the Dead)?
- Explore these Mexican side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Pan de Muertos (Mexican Bread of the Dead)?
- About 1 hr 10 mins in total: 25 mins to prepare and 45 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 182.94 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Pan de Muertos (Mexican Bread of the Dead) easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 12 ingredients and 8 steps.
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