Day of the Dead Bread

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Meaning & Recipe of Day of the Dead Bread

This bread goes way back to the times of human sacrifices when the Mayans used to offer the beating heart of women to the gods to go in a pot with Amaranto, an Andean cereal rich in nutrients. The Spaniards horrified by this tradition created a heart made of wheat and sugar, which was painted with red simulating the blood.

Others believe the bread tradition came from the foods the dead were buried with, which was a common practice in Mesoamerica. Books on Mexican traditions talk about a bread made with crushed and toasted amaranth seeds, mixed with the blood of the sacrificed in honor to Izcoxauhqui, Cuetzaltzin or Huehuet�otl.

Pan de muerto is essential when celebrating "El Dia de los muertos" simply because it carries tradition and it is the bread Mexicans share with families at the table. Other foods we use "El D�a de los Muertos" are "el mole negro," los dulces Oaxaque�os like pumpkin preserve, "las manzanitas de tejocote," along with chocolate. We also use seasonal fruits to decorate the altares.

Meaning and Classification of Pan de Muerto

The bread evolved to take the shape we enjoy today. The circle on the top is the cranium that has bones underneath, and the flavor is sweet in honor of the memory of the deceased.

There are breads that represent the human figure and others that represent animals like birds, rabbits, butterflies, etc. which are more commun in Tepoztl�n, Mixquic and Iguala de Telolapan. Some pan de muerto represent trees, flowers and vegetables, while others represent magical beings.

Day of the Dead Bread Recipe

I included this delicious and relatively easy Day of the Dead bread recipe for you to try. It yields 2 loaves, and takes 20 minutes of Prep Time and 25 minutes to Cook. Enjoy!

1 package granulated yeast

4 1/2 cups flour

6 eggs

6 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar

200 grams butter

1/4 cup orange blossom water

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Icing and sprinkles

Preparation

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Mix in 1/2 cup flour. Leave mixture in a warm place until it doubles in size.

Sift together salt, sugar, cinnamon and flour.

Add the remaining ingredients, but only half the butter.

Add the yeast dough and mix until it forms thick dough but not hard.

Tip: Make sure dough doesn't stick to the table before placing it in a large greased bowl. Cover it.

Let dough rise until it doubles in size. Pound it again, and add the rest of the butter.

Divide the dough into three equal parts. Use two for the loaves and one to decorate the loaves.

Let loaves double in size.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until nicely browned.

Sprinkle with sugar while warm.

After the loaves have cooled, decorate with icing and other pastry confections to create skulls, bones or names of the deceased.

Day of the Dead bread is one important tradition that joins our families in love and appreciation for the ones gone. I love making or simply buying a Day of the Dead bread to share with our family, children learn our Hispanic culture by practicing our traditions.

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