Pan Dulces Recipe

Indulge in the irresistible aroma and taste of authentic Pan Dulces, Mexican sweet buns! Perfect for cozy winter days and especially Christmas, these delightful treats boast a stunning, browned sugar topping. Easily found in Mexican markets, their signature pink sugar crust is what makes them truly special. This recipe takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes to make, from start to finish.

Prep Time 65 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Calories 291.4 kcal
Protein 12g
Rating 5.0 (4 Reviews)
Pan Dulces 16

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Pan Dulces

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How to Make Pan Dulces

  1. Heat 1 cup of milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles gently. Remove from heat.
  2. Add 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) of unsalted butter to the warm milk, stirring until completely melted. Pour the mixture into a large bowl and let it cool slightly.
  3. In the cooled milk mixture, crumble 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) of active dry yeast and stir to dissolve. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
  4. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 large eggs, and 2 cups all-purpose flour to the yeast mixture. Stir to combine.
  5. Gradually add the remaining 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition until a soft dough forms.
  6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
  7. Lightly grease a large bowl with oil. Place the dough in the bowl, turning to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  8. Gently punch down the risen dough. Divide it into 16 equal pieces.
  9. Roll each piece into an oval shape.
  10. Arrange the oval buns on two lightly greased baking sheets.
  11. Cover the baking sheets with plastic wrap and let the buns rise again until doubled in size, about 40 minutes.
  12. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  13. While the buns are rising, prepare the topping:
  14. In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2/3 cup all-purpose flour, and 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter. Use a pastry blender or your fingers to rub the butter into the flour and sugar until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  15. Stir in 2 large egg yolks until well blended.
  16. Once the buns have doubled, generously sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the surface of each bun.
  17. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the buns are cooked through.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

9 g

Sugar

42g

Fat

26g

Carbs

15g

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