Cakes & CupcakesNo. 3322 · The 2026 edition
Day of the Dead Food for Kids and Pan de Muerto Recipe
Celebrate the vibrant traditions of Día de los Muertos with this sweet and aromatic bread that's perfect for sharing with young family members.
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at homeschoolsuperfreak.com.
This guide walks you through making traditional Pan de Muerto, a festive sweet bread featuring anise and orange juice, shaped into skulls or rolls and finished with a sweet butter glaze.
Ingredients
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the warm milk, yeast, and one tablespoon of sugar. Allow the mixture to rest until it becomes bubbly.
- Stir in the flour, the rest of the sugar, softened butter, eggs, salt, and anise seed. Mix everything until the batter is completely smooth.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter and knead it until it feels smooth and elastic.
- Put the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, and let it sit until it has doubled in size.
- Press the dough down to release air and split it into smaller sections.
- Form each section into round rolls or traditional skull shapes.
- Arrange the shaped dough on a baking tray, cover it again, and allow it to rise once more.
- Bake the bread in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the tops turn a nice golden brown.
- During the baking time, combine the melted butter and the remaining half cup of sugar to create a glaze.
- Once the bread is done, brush the warm loaves with the butter mixture and dust them generously with the sugar.
