Things You'll Need:
- Plastic wrap
- 1 tbsp. anise seeds
- Small saucepan
- 5 cups flour
- 5 tsp. dry yeast (or 2 packets)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp. sugar
- 1/3 cup water
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar (for the glaze)
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- Grated orange zest (optional)
- 1/3 cup orange juice (for the glaze)
- Large bowl
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine
- Lightly greased baking sheet
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Step 1
Gather the ingredients to make Pan de Muerto and combine the butter, milk and water in the saucepan. Using a medium-low setting on your burner, heat the mixture until it's very warm. Be careful not to boil or scald the milk.
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Step 2
Mix the yeast, anise seeds, salt, 1 cup of flour and 1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp. of sugar in a large bowl. Blend the combined dry ingredients with the warm milk mixture. Once blended, add the eggs and beat until blended again.
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Step 3
Add the remaining flour 1 cup at a time until the the dough is soft and doesn't stick to the sides of the bowl. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough until it's pliant but not rubbery. Roll the dough into an approximation of a ball.
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Step 4
Place the ball of dough in an oiled bowl and cover it with a dish towel or plastic wrap. Put the bowl in a warm place to rise until the ball has doubled in size. This should take about two hours.
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Step 5
Punch down the risen dough to release the air bubbles and split the dough into two pieces. Create skull or bone shaped loaves, put them on a lightly greased baking sheet and leave uncovered to rise for one hour.
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Step 6
Bake at 375 degrees F in a preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until the loaves are browned. Glaze the bread while it is still warm.
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Step 1
Combine the following ingredients in a saucepan: 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup orange juice and the optional grated orange zest.
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Step 2
Boil the mixture for 2 minutes.









