Weight Watchers Day of the Dead Bread (Pan de Muerto)
Nesting Lane
Weight Watchers Day of the Dead Bread (Pan de Muerto). This sweet bread is a traditional Mexican recipe made to serve during Day of the Dead. A holiday to honor loved ones who have passed.
Prepare a large mixing bowl by spraying with non-stick cooking spray.
In a stand mixer bowl, add warm water. Whisk in yeast and 1 tablespoon of water.
Let stand 5 minutes or until mix becomes foamy.
Whisk in sugar, eggs extra virgin olive oil, salt, anise, and orange zest.
Stir in bread flour
On the stand mixer, add dough hook attachment.
Using the stand mixer on medium/low setting, mix dough approximately 3 - 4 minutes or until elastic, smooth, and a little sticky.
On floured surface, turn out dough.
Knead dough approximately 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.
In the prepared mixing bowl, add dough, turn to coat all sides, cover with plastic wrap, and place in a warm area to rise. Wait approximately 1½ hours, or until size is about double.
Preheat oven to 350° F
Prepare a sheet pan by lining with parchment paper.
Remove approximately ⅕ (one-fifth) of the dough.
From the ⅕ (one-fifth), pinch off a golf ball size amount and roll into a ball shape.
Divide the rest of the ⅕ (one-fifth into 4 equal parts.
Form each of the 4 sections into ropes approximately 5 inches long.
For each rope, lightly press each end of the rope to flatten a bit.
Using the rest of the dough, ⅘ (four-fifths), form into a ball, and place on prepared sheet pan.
Using your thumbs, press an indent in the top center of the dough ball to make a space for the golf ball sized ball you made earlier. Then place the golf ball sized ball on the indent.
Place one of the ropes from the center ball, to the bottom of the dough, Repeat on the opposite side, then the other 2 sides, creating a X. See Photo of completed bread for reference.
Spray plastic wrap with non-stick cooking spray, and place over and around dough.
Place in a warm area and let rise for 1 hour.
In preheated oven, bake approximately 35 - 35 minutes, or until the top becomes lightly brown, and when tapped, the bread sounds as if it's hollow
In a microwave safe bowl, add orange juice, and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
On HIGH, microwave approximately 30 seconds, or until the mixture starts to boil.
Stir mixture to dissolve the sugar.
Using a basting brush, brush mixture over the bread while the bread is still warm.
Notes
MyWW Points: 4 Blue Plan and 4 Green Plan4 WW Freestyle Points and 4 Smart PointsWe are not associated with Weight Watchers/WW in any way. Double check points on their official calculator.