As the last months of the year welcome the fall & winter seasons, it also recognizes the Hispanic community as they celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and the holidays.
When you think of fall, you might think of the spices and scents of those such as pumpkin, apple crisp, or even cinnamon. In Hispanic culture, fall & christmas season recognizes the scents of fresh Pan de Dulce or in English, “Sweet Bread.” All homemade and originating in Mexico or Spain, here are three Pan de Dulces you can try this season.
Buñuelos
Buñuelos meaning “doughnuts” or “fritters” are one of the many Pan De Dulce pastries in Hispanic culture. They originated in Spain and were very popular within the Spanish regions. Spanish Conquistadors brought back Buñuelos on their journey to find new territory and lands which ended up in Latin America.
Buñuelos are made from dough that you fry and then coat in sweet and savory cinnamon sugar. There are multiple ways to shape Buñuelos. Some people twist the dough but the original way is to make each dough into flat disks. You can find Buñuelos in local Panaderias, which are Hispanic bakeries.
Conchas
Conchas are probably the most popular Pan de Dulce and usually the face or symbol when it comes to showcasing Pan de Dulce. The name Conchas translates to shells which perfectly describes the pastry as its design is to mimic a shell. Although the original confirmation of where Conchas originated was never confirmed, most agree and say that it did originate from Mexico. It is said that the Spaniards also introduced this way back in the 16th century as part of their journeying from place to place trying to find land for themselves.
Conchas are made from the mix of flour, sugar, butter, eggs, yeast, and vanilla extract which make the dough base of the pastry. The topping, which is where the “shell” name comes from, is made up of a blend of sugar and butter, sometimes cocoa powder, and lastly, food coloring for a pop of color. Most often, Conchas appear with chocolate or pink sugar coating, but you can feel free to make it whatever color you want. Authentic Conchas are often found in Panaderias or you can find store bought ones from brands such asBimbo. Although they might look the same, the Bimbo branded Conchas aren’t authentic like the ones you can find in a Panaderia.
Polvorones Rosas
Polvorones Rosas are the Mexican take on the classic sugar cookies. Polvo, which translates to dust or powder, symbolizes the texture and form of the cookie. Also known as “Mexican pink cookies” in English, these cookies are known for their sweet sugary taste that melts within your mouth.
These cookies originated within Spain and were made for the purpose of using up wheat flour and pig fat. It may sound disgusting, but some people still include pig fat to this day in their recipes for them. Although with the blends of sugar, flour, and milk, you do not even taste the fat. People also choose to put nuts–most commonly almonds–in the cookies as well. These cookies can be dyed any color with food coloring, but the most common found in Panaderias are the bright pink ones. These cookies are also very popular as they are also known as “Mexican wedding cookies.” You can find these cookies at Panaderias and that’s mostly it. Because of how special these cookies are, orders at most Panaderias are placed beforehand because of how quick they sell out. These cookies are always great to pair with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee.
There are so many more Pan de Dulces to explore and learn about that are known to be very popular and delicious. It’s always a great thing to try something new and explore more about different cultures! If you ever come across a Panaderia don’t hesitate to try one of these sweet treats.