pan dulce – My Slice of Mexico

Sweet Bread – Marranitos

December 12, 2024December 12, 2025by Irene3 Comments

A major pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe occurs every year during the first days of the month of December, when people travel long distances, often by foot, hoping to arrive on time for the celebration of the Virgin's feast day, on December 12. Outside the Basilica, and many other churches in Mexico, there is always a plethora of stands selling religious items, as well as, of course, all sorts of food and refreshments, such as Marranitos (piggies) ... click on tittle for more

pan dulce

Traditional Sweet Bread – Yo-Yos (or Besos)

June 15, 2024June 23, 2024by Irene8 Comments

These traditional Mexican sweet breads (pan dulce) are called yo-yos because they are formed from two circular pieces put together, looking like the toy; they are also called besos, which means "kisses", because the two pieces are bound together, like giving a kiss to each other ... click on title for more

Desserts, pan dulce

Danish Dough Spirals – Rollos de pasta danesa

January 10, 2024January 15, 2024by Irene11 Comments

Danish dough is a very versatile medium to create all sorts of pastries, both savoury and sweet. Although in Denmark this type of pastries are called Vienna Bread (wienerbrød), since Austrian bakers introduced them there in the 1840s, they became popular worldwide as Danish pastries. French and other European bakers established in Mexico, started creating these pastries a few decades later, and nowadays, pasta danesa (Danish dough) is used in several traditional types of pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread), such as the classic rollos (spirals or rolls) shown above, with a dollop of jam, or raisins ... click on title for more

pan dulce

Pan Dulce – Puff Pastry Rolls with Fruit

December 15, 2021October 12, 2023by Irene10 Comments

Another classic Mexican sweet bread (pan dulce) made with puff pastry, is a roll with fruit filling. Tropical fruits are often used for the filling, for example, guava or pineapple, but the most popular flavour is always good old apple. ... click on title for more

Desserts, pan dulce

Polvorones – Sweet Bread

December 8, 2021December 16, 2021by Irene9 Comments

These polvorones are commonly produced in bakeries, and are considered a type of pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread), starting with a versatile dough that may be then flavoured and shaped using different techniques. The oldest recipes always call for lard, but more contemporary ones may use vegetable shortening, butter, margarine, or mixes. My recipe includes a half/half mixture of butter and non-hydrogenated margarine, and I chose two kinds of log slices for this post: orange flavoured circles, and tricoloured triangles ... click on title for more