Traditional Pan de Muerto (Day of the Dead Bread)

🥘 Ingredients

• bread flour
  1/3 cup, 3 cups
• egg yolks
  2
• eggs
  2
• fine salt
  1 tsp
• granulated sugar
  1 cup
• instant dry yeast
  1/2 tbsp
• instant yeast
  1/4 tbsp
• orange zest
  2 tsp
• sugar
  1 tsp
• unsalted butter
  1/2 cup, 3 tbsp
• whole milk
  1/4 cup

🍳 Cookware

• stand mixer bowl
• baking sheet

1. 1

   In a small bowl, whisk bread flour , warm whole milk , instant dry yeast , and sugar . Cover and let rest until doubled and bubbly, about ⏱️ 20 minutes .

   bread flour: 1/3 cup, whole milk: 1/4 cup, instant dry yeast: 1/2 tbsp, sugar: 1 tsp
2. 2

   In a stand mixer bowl , combine bread flour , granulated sugar , eggs , egg yolks , fine salt , instant yeast , and the bubbly starter mixture.

   bread flour: 3 cups, granulated sugar: 1/2 cup, eggs: 2, egg yolks: 2, fine salt: 1 tsp, instant yeast: 1/4 tbsp
3. 3

   Attach dough hook and knead on low speed. Halfway through kneading, add finely grated orange zest and softened unsalted butter .

   orange zest: 2 tsp, unsalted butter: 1/2 cup
4. 4

   Continue kneading on medium-high speed until dough is smooth, supple, and passes windowpane test, about ⏱️ 15 to 20%minutes .
5. 5

   Shape dough into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl. Cover and let proof in a warm spot until doubled, about ⏱️ 1.5 hours .
6. 6

   Divide dough into 6 equal portions (about 100g each), setting aside the remaining dough for decorations.
7. 7

   Shape the 6 portions into round balls and arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet .
8. 8

   With remaining dough, roll small pieces into "bones" (huesitos) and small round skull balls with your fingers. Cross two bones over each dough ball and place a small ball on top.
9. 9

   Cover loaves loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot until doubled, about ⏱️ 1 to 1.5%hours .
10. 10

    Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake loaves until golden brown, about ⏱️ 25 minutes .
11. 11

    Remove from oven and let cool for ⏱️ 10 minutes .
12. 12

    Brush warm loaves with melted unsalted butter and generously dust tops with granulated sugar .n

    unsalted butter: 3 tbsp, granulated sugar: 1/2 cup