Pan de Muerto

PAN de MUERTO ("Day of the Dead "Bread) (makes 2 loaves but next time I  would make only one large loaf.)

(In Mexican tradition, this sweet, buttery read is a fixture at Day of the Dead Holy Celebrations, Nov. 1 and 2nd. This bread is eaten at the altar or graveside of the deceased, in remembrance. The strips of dough on top are to represent the bones..........Serve the sugar toped loaves with Mexican Hot chocolate, or coffee.)

½ cup milk                                      TOPPING: 4 tbsp melted butter

6 tbsp butter                                                     ¼ cup white sugar
Zest of one orange
3 large eggs
1 ¾ tsp fast rising yeast
3 ½ cups flour
¼ white sugar
Pinch kosher salt

Spray two cake pans. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Melt butter in  ½ cup milk
Add zest of orange, eggs, sugar , salt and yeast. Beat well.
Add flour.

Combine and knead. Dough should be slightly stiff, and springy.

Let rise till doubled in bulk….I usually put on the preheating oven.

Divide dough in half. Pull off a little bit of dough to make the cross on the top of each loaf. In reality, true Day of the dead bread has a  dough ball at the top and rosary shaped "beads" of dough down the side, and look kind of like bones.  I opted to just do a cross...... Shape dough and place in pre-greased cake pan(s). Take remaining dough and form crosses on top . Brush with milk or egg.Let rise till doubled. Bake at 350 degrees about 30-40 minutes. Should be golden all over.

TOPPING: Brush warm loaves with melted butter, then sprinkle sugar over all. Let cool. Best the day of baking. Can be frozen for 2 months.