Pan Dulce is a wonderful thing and if you’ve ever wanted a foolproof easy recipe to make these amazing Mexican buns, I’ve got exactly what you’ve been looking for! The best pan dulce are made from a brioche dough and the no-knead brioche recipe came out better than expected, creating these delicious buns.
Spending the early part of my childhood in Texas one of my fondest memories was of Pan Dulce, and if anything could transport me magically through time it would be those sweet rolls. My grandmother would often have them on hand or send me to Alejandro’s on the corner, and if I was lucky he would still have a few left….sigh
It’s been years since I had even thought of those wonderful rolls, and when I saw the recipe for them in Nick Malgieri’s latest cookbook bake!, I knew I just had to make them. The task of making the fresh dough was the only thing keeping me from those incredible buns, then I happened to be going through my Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a day, and saw the recipe for brioche dough!
Making this dough took a leap of faith, since other than the artisan bread, I had never baked using yeast before. If you read my last post, Pecan Caramel Cinnamon Buns then you know how good that dough turned out.
I made these buns 3 times and they came out perfectly each time. The last batch I made was from fresh dough that had not been refrigerated and they were perfect! I did make them a little too big, and I would advise using no more than 2 ounces of dough for each bun, they make a perfect size to serve with coffee or traditionally hot chocolate!
If you enjoyed this recipe you may also like these:
- Pecan Caramel Cinnamon Rolls (no-knead)
- Apple Butter Sticky Bun Recipe
- Homemade Artisan Bread
- Artisan No-Knead Bread
Pan Dulce
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups lukewarm water
- 1 ½ Tbsp granulated yeast (2 packets)
- 1 ½ Tbsp coarse sea salt or kosher salt
- 8 eggs lightly beaten
- ½ cup honey
- 1 ½ Cups unsalted butter , melted (3 sticks)
- 7 ½ cups all purpose flour
Topping for Pan Duice
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter , softened
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ¾ cup confectioners sugar
- ⅔ cup all purpose flour
- 2 tsp cocoa powder , sifted after measuring
Instructions
- Mix the yeast, salt, water in the bowl of your mixer, mix well
- Add in eggs, honey and melted butter, and continue to mix until well blended
- Add in flour and using your dough hook, incorporate all the flour, mix just enough so that all the flour is mixed in.
- The dough may look loose and wetter than you think it should be, it may also look like it has lumps, that’s ok.
- Transfer dough to another bowl, cover with a towel and allow to sit and rise for two hours.
- Chill dough for at least 2 hours, before making the rolls*
Topping
- In the bowl of your mixer cream butter using the paddle attachment
- Add in confectioners sugar and flour and continue to mix until creamy.
- Add in vanilla and increase speed to whip into mixture.
- Scrape down bowl and remove half of the mixture. Mixture should have the consistency of a soft dough.
- Add cocoa powder to remaining dough and mix well.
- roll doughs on floured surface making logs of each flavor topping.
- roll logs in plastic wrap and set aside
- cut out twelve 2 oz pieces of dough, using floured hands roll each piece into a ball, by pulling the dough down and around, pulling it tight at the bottom.
- Place dough ball on baking sheet and continue the process until all are done.
- cover with a towel and allow to rise for 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- After the rolls have puffed slightly* take each cylinder of the topping and slice into six equal pieces.
- Flatten the pieces out with your hand until they are as big as the roll top.
- Place each piece on a roll, and flatten the buns out some
- use a knife blade side up, and mark the topping on each bun by making 3-4 lines in the dough with the knife(don’t cut the topping, just leave deep impressions)
- make any type of cross patterns that you like.
- Cover the buns and allow to rise for another 20 minutes
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the roll is a nice deep golden brown.
Princesita Parungao
Hi, Chef Dennis,
Tried your recipe cuz one of my grandsons requested me to make pan dulce for his Spanish class dia de los muertos presentation/exhibit. It didn’t disappoint! In fact his dad requested me to bake some more so he could bring some to his co- workers today! That made me feel good!
Thank you for this easy to follow recipe.
Princesita
Chef Dennis Littley
You are very welcome and I’m happy to hear your grandson enjoyed my recipe. That same dough makes some of the best cinnamon buns I’ve ever had, you can find the recipe on my site.
caroluski
I made these today. I know its been more than a year since you posted these but I only comment after I’ve tried and I was very impressed with the results. These were a staple
at our house growing up and still are and when I sent a pic of my results to the family
They were in awe and couldn’t believe I had made them. Thankyou yet again Chef D
Chef D
I’m so happy to hear that you made those delicious buns… they were a big part of me growing up in Texas, I do love them. The dough is incredible and so easy to make, I don’t know if you tried using it for the sticky buns, but OMG they are amazing!
Thanks so much for letting me know you enjoyed them!
Dennis
A Brionez
I’ve got the dough rising and I can’t wait to taste test! Question: in the topping instructions it says to add vanilla, but I don’t see vanilla in the ingredients? I assume 1 tsp is sufficient? Thanks!
Chef D
Thanks so much for letting me know, yes 1 tsp will be great! Let me know how they turn out, mine brought back so many childhood memories!
Apu
Great site! Just ran into Ito this evening! Love the posts and recipes. Do stop by my blog sometime: Annarasa – essence of food.
Apu @ Annarasa
Michelle @ delishiono
Those buns look delicious! I do have a question about how the texture is on these. I haven’t had conchas but I do love the Asian-style buns that resemble them (pineapple buns) which resemble these.
Chef D
they have a very nice light texture, soft not chewy, while not falling apart. being that I made them from brioche dough I think their lighter than most. I’m not familiar with the Asian style buns but they do sound very good!
Kimby
Chef Dennis, I did a double-take when I saw this photo! We used to eat at a truck stop (near Laredo) that had an in-house bakery. I could never decide between these two, so I’d get both. 🙂 I couldn’t remember what they were called, so THANK YOU for recreating a very happy food memory.
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen
First of all yum! This looks like the perfect comfort food! And Dennis I just now realized that I didn’t update my feedburner when you changed. Oof! All fixed now!
Curt
Oh boy, this one also always takes me back to my days in Texas. I lived there until I was 35, but as a kid, we would always go down the street to the Mexican bakery and buy these for a nickel!
Thanks for the memories!
Barefeet In The Kitchen
This is the first time I’ve heard of Pan Dulce. Now I want to try it!
spcookiequeen
I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t getting your new posts, grabbed your url again, so hopefully I can fix it. Love Maggie’s buns I love working with yeast will have to try these. Hope you both have a great weekend.
-Gina-
Peggy
I’ve never heard of pan dulce before, but it seems like a tasty breakfast treat to me! And I definitely feel ya about being worn out! I’m ready for the weekend, that’s for sure =)
Laura @ Family Spice
I’m not a huge bread baker. I don’t have the patience for it. And I’m okay with that. I will just come to your house and indulge over there! This looks amazing!!
Sandi G
If I ever get the chance to try Mexican buns, I want them to look like this 😉
Evelyne@CheapEthnicEatz
Funny, what a coincidence I made pan dulce 2 weeks ago from scratch for a ‘Mexican breakfast’ theme challenge.
Alyssa
I’ve never heard of pan dulce before, but sign me up for anything with brioche!
foodwanderings
Ooh not only brioche but a Mexican version. I only bake the poorer, simpler challah! 🙂
sweetsugarbelle
This is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cool! Pan Dulce is very popular here because of my proximity to Mexico. I have ALWAYS wondered how they made the topping! I was so excited to tell my husband! Great post, Dennis!
raquel @ Erecipe
Hi Chef, love to try this pan dulce… I never tried this before and I hope I could get the same taste. I
Elin
Piggy Chef…. I made this before and I love this Mexican bun . My version , the bun is the fluffy Asian type of dough whereby it more airy and light. You reminded me how long ago since I last made this:). I shall try your version and by the way , can I reduce the nos of egg to just 4 ? :p thanks so much for the recipe. And btw I am thinking of getting the book artisan bread in 5 minutes , do u think it is a good book to add to my collection of bread books by Peter Reinhart ?? and that lastest book by Nick Malgieri ‘bake’ would you recommend me to get them both? So much to ask you 🙂
Have a nice day
Lynne
These look phenomenal – I’m going to have to give the recipe a try.
Eva
I’ve never had this type of bun before, but it looks like something I would LOVE (not that I need another fattening thing to LOVE ;-)). Our friends from Illinois adore Mexican food, perhaps when we see them next time, I shall try my hand at these. Are they a breakfast bun?
Chef D
I don’t think there just for breakfast, these buns are served with hot chocolate traditionally, but go well with coffee, or just about anything!
RavieNomNoms
Chef you are amazing!!! I have never seen this before so I am a newbie but man does it look fantastic! You make it look and sound so easy!
Jen
I so wish I was your next door neighbor right about now!
Tina@flourtrader
I have always thought that there is a trick to getting these buns just right. Where I worked some people brought these in from bakeries and some were like big crackers and some were pretty tasty.
Based on your picture, yours look like they have a wonderful texture-well done.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
I’ve never heard of these before, thanks for the introduction.
Lilly
Wow you’ve made some pretty buns! I love the topping =)
Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes
Love, love, love this, Chef Dennis! I am hoping to get a concha cutter for my birthday, but in the interim, I really like the way that you scored yours – they look so pretty! Thanks for sharing!!
Kathy - Panini Happy
Oh wow, I love pan dulce! I haven’t had it in forever, but you’re sure making me want to make some now. 🙂
Amanda
How stinkin cool!!! These look and sound amazing!
Alpana
This is something new for me…….looks so tempting…..Bookamarked.
Mi Vida en un Dulce
Pan Dulce…!!! Something that I really like is the sweet breads. Thanks for sharing this.
Cookin' Canuck
This pan dulce looks wonderful, Dennis! Once I got over my fear of yeast, there was no stopping me. This recipe will be next on my list to try.
Lisa @ Tarte du Jour
Yum, I’ve never made these and I’m looking forward to it! I sure wish I had one right now with my cup of coffee. It would complete my coffee moment!
Lacy
Everything you make looks just amazing! I am definitely trying out this recipe for pan dulce (and the caramel pecan buns, and…) 🙂
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc.
These look incredible. I need to get the guts to make this! I am so intimidated by bread. Looks amazing
Marce
OMG! this sounds fantastic! it remembers my granny too, and my childhood, the breakfast with “chocolate caliente y pan dulce” omg, more than water in my mouth I have a tear on my chick, beautiful memories, thanks for share the recipe!!
Rachel @ My Naturally Frugal Family
What a fantastic post and the pictures make my mouth water. It is great that you mentioned Maggie’s giveaway. The items she has are so cute.
Terra
Oh this brings back happy memories for me too! I lived in Tucson, AZ for 15 years, you would see Conchas everywhere. I had a dream last night I was making brioche. Guess that is a sign I need to make both your recipes! These look fantastic! Take care, Terra
Vibey @ Yumbo McGillicutty!
Wow – there are so many different things you can call “pan dulce” in the Spanish-speaking world that I’ve managed to never see or try these! (Where I was born, pan dulce is the Christmastime panettone.) I do love brioche, though, even if it’s been years since I made it. That topping enough makes me wonder whether I dare press Ye Olde Kenwood into service. Hmmm…
Apron Appeal
I had to scroll up to the top of this post to make sure I was reading your blog. I was more than just surprised that artisan bread was your first adventure in yeast. 🙂
Kristin
i never realized you could make pan dulce from brioche dough… the wonders of brioche keep on amazing me!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love.
I’ve never had this not have I heard of it! These look so incredible!!
Ann
These look fabulous! When I was a kid, living in New Mexico, I had them….but I’ve never seen them since. I’m thrilled to see this recipe! I adore Maggie and her blog and I’ve already entered for her giveaway!
Mari @ Mari's Cakes
Chef these are perfect…. they look delicious! I would love to try your recipe soon. Thanks 🙂
Maggie @MaggieCooks
Yummy! I actually had pan dulce yesterday! I can’t wait for winter to come so I can have some soaked in hot chocolate!! 🙂
on this month they make them green white and red like the mexican flag!
thank you for the shout out chef dennis you are a great friend!!!! 🙂
FreeSpiritEater
Chef Dennis you did a wonderful job on the pan dulce. I loved having it for breakfast on Sunday mornings, especially with a big mug of Mexican hot chocolate. As always the photos are lovely. Thanks for sharing this recipe, brought back great memories =]