Pan de Muerto Recipe | Traditional Mexican Bread of the Dead
- T Millan
- Sep 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 5
Making Pan de Muerto is a yearly act of remembrance. Each loaf tells a story: the patience of rising dough, the sweetness of orange, the family table waiting to receive it. Baking it for Día de los Muertos isn’t just about taste—it’s about keeping memories alive through tradition, scent, and shared ritual.
Ingredients for Pan de Muerto Recipe
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cups water
5 to 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
2 packages active-dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon whole anise seed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs
1/4 cup granulated sugar (for topping)
Orange Glaze:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons orange zest, grated
1/3 cup orange juice, fresh-squeezed
Colored sugar (optional)
Instructions for Pan de Muerto Recipe
In a saucepan over medium heat, place butter, milk, and water; warm through until very warm but not boiling, approximately 105 to 110 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup of flour, yeast, salt, anise seed, and sugar. Slowly beat in the warm milk mixture until well mixed. Add eggs, one (1) at a time, mixing through. Slowly add in another 1 cup of flour. Continue adding additional flour until the dough is soft but not sticky.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly-floured board and knead for at least 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Form the dough into a large ball. Lightly grease a large bowl and place dough in it. Flip the dough so that the grease covers the top and bottom of the dough ball. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Oven Bread Rising: Sometimes I use my oven for the rising. Turn the oven on for a minute or so, then turn it off again. This will warm the oven and make it a great environment for rising bread. If you ca no't comfortably press your and against the inside of the oven door, the oven is too hot. Let it stand open to cool
Orange Glaze Instructions:
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, orange zest, and orange juice; bring just to a boil so the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat.
✨ Tradition Tip: Sprinkle colored sugar over the glaze to represent marigolds (cempasúchil)—the bright flowers believed to guide spirits back home. It adds both festivity and symbolism to your loaf.
Don’t miss Día de los Muertos 2025 in Historic Downtown McKinney
Saturday, October 11, 2025
