Pan de Muerto
Monday, October 30
At the beginning of November the holiday “Día de Muertos” is celebrated throughout Mexico. The cities are colorfully decorated weeks in advance. Even in the markets and supermarkets, you can feel that the “Day of the Dead” holiday season is beginning as early as October. All kinds of decorative items, colorful sugar skulls and seasonal baked goods are sold.
The “Panes de Muerto” — the “Bread of the Dead” — are particularly popular. This pastry is only sold in October and November each year and looks different depending on the region. In Mexico City, for example, the “Pan de Muerto” is a small, round bun on which two “bones” of dough are crossed one on top of the other. The pastry consists of a sweet yeast dough with orange peel and is typically rolled in sugar after baking.
In Oaxaca in October and November there are a number of stalls in the markets that only sell “Panes de Muerto”. Here in Oaxaca the pastries look very different than in Mexico City. The loaves are usually much larger and are shaped in the shape of a person. Many of the breads also have a small clay plaque baked onto them with a face painted on them in bright colors. People that prefer baking Pan de Muerto at home, can also buy the little clay faces individually at the market.
Regardless of the shape: Panes de Muerto are a popular pastry in October and November in Mexico and are often eaten with coffee as well as used to decorate houses and altars.
