Bread Of The Dead

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk and let it sit for about 10 minutes until foamy.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, orange zest, and anise seed.

3. Add the foamy yeast mixture, softened butter, eggs, and orange juice to the dry ingredients. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.

4. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10-12 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.

5. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.

6. Punch down the dough to release any air bubbles, then divide it into two equal portions. Shape each portion into a round ball.

7. Take a small piece of dough from each ball to form bone shapes or skull shapes to decorate the loaves. The rest of the dough can be formed into smaller rounds and placed on top of the loaves.

8. Place the shaped loaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover them loosely with a kitchen towel and let them rise for another 30-45 minutes.

9. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Before baking, gently brush the loaves with a mixture of orange juice and sugar to create a shiny glaze.

10. Bake the Bread of the Dead for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.

11. Once cooled, the bread can be enjoyed with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee.