The recipe for Pan de Huevo/Conchas that follows is revised from the first several times I prepared the sweet bread. I had learn a few baking tips and was eager to try them out. The pan de huevo was also softer than all the previous time I had prepared it. It’s like I always tell myself when I feel unsure about something, “You will never know until you try”. Glad I tried, and tried and tried again…one never stops learning. Go to the end of the post to find links for Pan de Muerto and a Mexica-style soft yeast dough recipe for Empanadas!
Conchas
Conchas, Pan de Huevo, Pan Dulce
Ingredients
Ingredients
For Dough
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar or honey
- 1 cup warm water 110 to 115 degres F
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup shortening you could use butter as well
- 4 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt if butter is salted, do not add salt
- 4-4 1/2 cups bread flour sifted
For Topping
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup flour all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3/4-1 cup shortening or butter at room temperature
Instructions
Directions
- In a bowl, combine the yeast, honey and water. Let set for 10 minutes.
- In the stand mixer, cream together the 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup shortening. Mix in the eggs, salt and yeast/water mixture. Gradually mix in the 4 cups of flour, turning up the speed, as needed. You may have to stop and scrape the sides down with a spatula from time to time.
- The dough should pull away from the sides of the stand mixer when ready. If it's still too sticky, mix in a little more flour. I sometimes find it easier to transfer the dough to a flat work surface to finish kneading.
- When ready, transfer the dough to a greased bowl. Cover and let rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hour. It must rise in a warm place. I heat my oven to 200 degrees and keep the covered bowl near the warmth of the oven.
- Once it proofs, punch down and divide into 12 balls. If the dough feel sticky, dust it with a little flour to help shape the conchas. Place on greased baking sheet, press down lightly. Cover loosely with a lightweight kitchen towel and let rise for 1 more hour.
- While the conchas rise the last hour, prepare the topping. Mix the flour and sugar first. Then work in the vanilla and shortening. If it's too dry, add a little bit more shortening. If it's too sticky work in a little more flour and sugar(equal parts).
- When ready, roll 2 tablespoons of topping into a ball and flatten into a round disc. You can use a tortilla press to do this step. Place over conchas and score with a knife, careful not to cut into bread. See notes below for variation on the topping.
- Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking time. The bottoms of bread should be golden brown. and lightly golden on top. Let cool completely before storing in an airtight container with a slice of sandwich bread. This will help them stay moist for a couple of days. Best thing to do is to enjoy them while they are fresh.
- PLEASE read my updated notes on the concha recipe before starting.
Notes
Tips~ Internal temperature of the bread should be at least 190 degrees.
You can create all colors of concha toppings! I use food coloring gels for icing. You can pick them up at your local craft store. For the orange, I mixed yellow with just a little bit of red. Love it! For the chocolate, no food coloring required. You simply take some unsweetened cocoa powder for baking and mix it in well to your concha topping.
Once you perfect that sweet yeast dough recipe, you can prepare a variety of Mexican style sweet breads.
Tips~ For this batch of Pan de Huevo, I divided the dough into 24, about 2 ounces each. Once they came out of the oven, I brushed them with melted butter and sprinkled fine sugar and colored sugar crystals on them.
Tips~ If you have a difficult time working with the topping, you could brush the rolls with milk or eggwash. While they are wet, add some of the crumbled topping on top. Bake as usual.
Pan de Muerto
https://pinaenlacocina.com/pan-de-muertoday-of-the-dead-bread-mexican-chocolate/
Piloncillo y Canela-Masa Para Empanadas
https://pinaenlacocina.com/piloncillo-y-canela-masa-para-empanadas-empanada-dough/
Mix the colors and create your own unique looking conchas.
Do you have recipe of how to make pumpkin and pineapples filling
Made these conchas today, and they were delicious! We used piloncillo instead of plain sugar. We also made a small indentation on top on some and put homemade pineapple preserves in the indentation. There are so many kinds of conchas! This dough is very versatile.
They sound delicious! I too have used piloncillo sometimes instead of granulated sugar and loved it! I really enjoy the dough recipe.
Hi! I am getting ready to make these today, this may be a silly question but did you ground the anise seeds? Thanks!
Kassandra, most times I do not grind the anise seeds. I like the specs(seeds) through out the conchas. A little goes a long way.
Would like to have your permission to use your concha recipe in a book I am developing on pan dulce that will be published 2019. I will give credit to using your recipe as it is one of my favorites. Please let me know.
Good Morning Ellen! I would love it if my concha recipe was featured in a book! Is it possible to receive a copy of the book once it’s published? I added a few new notes on the recipe today. I am currently working on another concha recipe for September 16!
I made these last night and they came out sooo good! My mom asked which panadero I talked to to get the recipe lol thank you for creating this site and taking the time to put all your recipes in one place !
That’s so wonderful Lucia!! I appreciate you letting me know and leaving your comments here! I love Mom’s response! You go girl!