Mexico Pan Dulce
This rich, sweet bread is fortified with fruit and nuts. It is commonly served as a Christmas specialty. Recipe Servings: Serves 6–8
Prep Time
30 minutes
+ 2 hours resting
+ 2 hours resting
Cook Time
1 hour
Total Time
3 hours 30 minutes
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Kosher
Halal
Ingredients
- 2 cups (240 g) flour
- 2 cups (475 ml) lukewarm milk
- 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) salt
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
- 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 Tbsp (30 g) fresh yeast
- 7 Tbsp (105 g) butter
- 3 1/2 Tbsp (32 g) raisins
- 7 Tbsp (105 g) chopped dried fruit (cook's preference)
- 3 1/2 Tbsp (30 g) chopped hazelnuts
- 1 3/4 Tbsp (16 g) blanched slivered almonds
- 1 3/4 Tbsp (17 g) chopped chestnuts or whole pine nuts
- 1 egg, beaten
Directions
- Mound flour on a surface suitable for kneading. Make a well in the middle.
- In the well, place milk, salt, eggs, sugar, extracts, crumbled yeast, and butter or margarine. Gradually work ingredients together, then knead to form a smooth, elastic dough.
- Place dough in a lightly buttered bowl and cover with buttered plastic wrap or a clean, damp kitchen towel.
- Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
- Punch down dough and let rise another 15 minutes.
- Add dried fruit and nuts. Mix well.
- Divide dough into 2 equal parts. Form each part into a ball and let rest, covered with buttered plastic wrap or a clean, damp kitchen towel, for 15 minutes.
- Place each piece of dough in a buttered baking dish and let rise until doubled in volume.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175ºC).
- Brush each pan dulce with beaten egg. Using scissors, cut an X in each loaf and put a little butter in each cut.
- Bake for 1 hour, or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Pan dulce should be golden when finished.
Notes
For richer dough, 2 egg yolks can be substituted for 1 of the whole eggs. Two packets (15 g) active dry yeast can be substituted for the fresh yeast. Dissolve the yeast in the milk with 1 teaspoon (5 ml) sugar to proof the yeast before adding it to the flour. The quantity and type of dried fruit and nuts can be varied to taste. Up to 1 cup (240 ml) total can be used.Copyright © 1993—2024 World Trade Press. All rights reserved.