Last week I had the opportunity to learn how to make this sweet bread called Pan de Muerto, a traditional part of the celebration of Dia de los Muertos – Day of the Dead – in Mexico.
It was a collaboration with Estrella Chavez Galvan, food blogger, and cocinera Mexicana who shares her recipes and passion for cooking in her blog Letoil’e Sucree. Estrella showed me how to make Pan de Muerto and we shared with Centro Hispano’s audience, helping them celebrate their annual Evening of Dreaming event. It was very fun cooking with Estrella, learning, and sharing both of our traditions around this Latin Holiday.
I am always intrigued by the way other cultures celebrate the same holidays. Dia de los Muertos is a much bigger celebration in Mexico than it is in Venezuela. Growing up in Venezuela, the day of the dead was more of a day to remember our loved ones, visit the cemetery to pay our respects, and light up a candle in the name of lost souls to help them find the way.
I am sharing here this recipe from Estrella. It was my first time making Pan de Muerto, but it will definitely not be the last. This sweet treat also reminds me of “acemitas” a sweet anise bread we used to get at the bakery as an afternoon treat to eat while sipping coffee. You can also find her recipe in Spanish here.
