Name: Pan de Muerto
Yield: Makes 6 to 8 individual-serving cakes
Ingredients: 4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/3 cup granulated sugar; 1 tablespoon active dry yeast; 1 1/4 teaspoons sea salt; 1/2 cup water; 3 eggs; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened; Zest of 1 orange, grated; 4 cups all-purpose flour; 8 egg yolks; 1/4 cup water; 4 egg yolks, beaten; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted; 1/3 cup granulated or colored sugar

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Pan de Muerto© Renee Anjanette Photography

This yeast sweet bread, traditionally prepared for the Mexican Day of the Dead, is usually designed to look like crossbones and skulls. It's given as an offering to a family's ancestors, but it's labor-intensive to make, and it's delicious, so I would recommend that you make two batches: one for your ancestors to enjoy, and one for your family to eat.

Variation:

Rosca de Reyes (for the Day of the Dead)
Prepare the dough and shape into a ring, reserving some dough to make bones. Shape 5 bones, as described in the recipe, and top the ring with the bones, candied figs, and candied fruit strips.__

Recipe notes

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