Earth Balance Spreads - Made Just Right

Photo courtesy of Humanleather

Pan de Muertos (Spanish for Bread of the Dead) is traditionally baked in Mexico for Día de los Muertos, which is celebrated on November 1 & 2 in memory of the dearly departed. The sweetened bun shaped bread is often decorated with bone-like pieces to resemble skulls or ‘calaveras’. The bones are represented in a circle to portray the circle of life.

Today, in celebration of this holiday we are honored to share with you a recipe for Pan de Muertos, beautifully adapted to be vegan by VeganalaMexicana.

Have you ever made Pan de Muertos? Will you try it this year? Let us know in the comments section for a chance to win free Earth Balance®!

Ingredients:
-1 tablespoon of whole anise seeds
-Ener-G Egg Replacement to equal 4 eggs (instructions on the box). Alternately, you can use 4 tablespoons of ground flax with 12 tablespoons of water to equal 4 eggs.
-1/2 cup vegan cane sugar
-5 to 5.5 cups all purpose flour or 2.5 cups of all purpose flour & 2.5 cups of whole wheat flour
-1/2 cup Earth Balance® Buttery Spread
-1/2 cup Earth Balance® Soymilk
-2 packages of Active Dry Yeast

Directions:
Pre-heat oven at 350F. In a saucepan over medium flame, heat the Earth Balance® Buttery Spread, Earth Balance® Soymilk and water until very warm but not boiling.

Measure out 1-1/2 cups flour and set the rest aside.

In a blender combine the egg replacement or ground flax until it has a creamy consistency.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the 1-1/2 cups flour, yeast, salt, anise seeds and sugar. Beat in the warm liquid until well combined. Add the egg replacement or ground flax and beat in another 1 cup of flour. Continue adding more flour until dough is soft but not sticky. Knead on lightly floured board for ten minutes until smooth and elastic.

Lightly grease a bowl and place dough in it, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1-1/2 hours.

Punch the dough down and shape into skulls or round loaves with “bones” placed ornamentally around the top. Let these loaves rise for 1 hour.

Bake for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and paint on glaze.

Glaze:
-1/2 cup sugar
-1/3 cup fresh orange juice
-2 tablespoons grated orange zest

Bring to a boil for 2 minutes, then apply to bread with a pastry brush. For the eyes of the calaveras I like to add vegan chocolate chips or raisins. I also like sprinkling sugar while the glaze is still wet.

Have you tried Pan de Muertos or other Dia de Los Muertos treats before? Tell us below to be entered into today’s Everyday Giveaway for free Earth Balance® products! One lucky commenter will win!