Homemade Pan Dulce (Mexican Sweet Bread) Recipe
Pan dulce, or sweet bread, is a traditional Mexican treat. It’s similar to French brioche but lighter, sweeter and more buttery. In Mexico, pan dulce is shaped into rings and served for breakfast with coffee or hot chocolate. At home, I bake them in muffin tins for individual servings so they look fancy even though they’re really easy to make!
What is Pan dulce
Pan dulce is a Mexican pastry made from sweet bread dough. It’s usually baked and then glazed with sugar or honey, but it comes in many different shapes, sizes and flavors depending on what region of Mexico you’re from. Pan dulce is popular throughout Mexico and has been since the 16th century when Spain ruled over most of Latin America.
Though pan dulce is typically eaten for breakfast or as a snack during the day (and sometimes even dinner!), it’s also eaten for special occasions like birthdays, baptisms and weddings. In parts of Mexico where pork was not traditionally eaten by Catholics due to religious reasons (such as Michoacán), cheese, filled breads are sometimes served instead at baptisms or communions so that everyone can enjoy them!
Ingredients
You will need:
- 3 cups all, purpose flour
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (or your favorite flavor)
- ½ tsp salt * ¼ cup water (for brushing on dough)
- ¾ cup milk (for brushing on dough)
- Mixing bowl & mixing device of choice (spatula works fine)
- Baking pan(s), parchment paper, powdered sugar and add, in ingredients.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, beat together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, beating until combined. Stir in the flour, baking powder and salt, mixing just until combined.
Scoop the dough into 3, inch balls using a small ice cream scoop or measuring cup (approximately 2 teaspoons). Arrange approximately 6 scoops on each baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat sprayed with cooking spray (use 2 baking sheets if needed). Press down slightly on each scoop to form flat rounds about 1/2 inch thick; they don’t need to be perfect! Bake for 9, 11 minutes until edges are golden brown. Cool completely before cutting into wedges like a pie would be served at Thanksgiving dinner
Add-ins and Variations
To add a little extra flavor, you can experiment with some of these variations:
- Add cinnamon to the batter before baking.
- Add orange zest to the batter before baking.
- Add nutmeg to the batter before baking.
- Add vanilla extract to the batter before baking.
- Sprinkle chocolate chips on top of each pan dulce after it is baked and cooled slightly (or use melted chocolate instead).
- Sprinkle raisins on top of each pan dulce after it is baked and cooled slightly (or use any other dried fruit you like).
For those who want more savory treats, try adding nuts and coconut instead! You could also try peanut butter or almond extract in place of some or all of your sugar as well!
Pro Tip
- Don’t overbake: Pan dulce is best when it’s slightly underdone. The moist interior provides the perfect contrast to a crispy exterior, and if you end up with a dry cake too soon, there’s little chance that anything you can do will save it.
- Don’t underbake: If your pan dulce is still gooey in the middle, you’ll need some time—and possibly additional baking time—to reach the optimal level of crispness. This can be especially true when making rolls or mini cakes (as opposed to larger loaves), which are more prone to drying out than other shapes due to their size and shape.
- Don’t overmix: Overmixing will result in tough dough that won’t spread properly during baking—and may even lead to cracking on top! Make sure not only to incorporate all of your ingredients into the dough evenly but also avoid overworking them by stopping just before they’re fully combined (if possible).
This dish is certain to impress everyone. It is fairly simple to create and simply calls for basic ingredients. These are fantastic after, dinner sweets, or you can prepare them in advance and freeze them until you’re ready to serve them—they’ll be ready in a flash! Due to its simplicity and the fact that it just needs a basic awareness of kitchen fundamentals like butter melting, this dish is also excellent for children.
If you’re looking to make a pan dulce recipe, we hope our tips will help you along the way. Pan dulce is probably one of the most popular types of breads in Mexico, and it can be found at any bakery or grocery store. Pan dulce recipes vary depending on where they are made, but there are some common ingredients that remain consistent throughout different areas.
