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Easy Pan de Muerto

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Created by Vianney Rodriguez
Updated Sep 11, 2025
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Pan de Muerto is a sweet bread traditionally enjoyed on Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), historically a Mexican celebration honoring loved ones who have passed. Typically a rich, orange-scented sweet yeast bread, Pan de Muerto is often formed into a round shape to represent the circle of life with a round ball in the center characterizing the skull of the deceased. Additional strips of dough are added on top to represent bones.

Classic recipes require hours of preparation, but our easy recipe starts with Pillsbury™ Grands!™ Original Crescent Rolls and just 3 other common ingredients, so it’s ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes. Its citrusy, rich flavor is a perfect choice for a sweet breakfast treat alongside a cup of steaming coffee or creamy Mexican hot chocolate. It’s also perfect served as a side with any dinner or alongside other traditional Day of the Dead foods, such as tamales, mole, or atole.

 

How to Make Easy Pan de Muerto

Our simple recipe is a cinch to put together.

1. Heat the Oven

Heat the oven to 350°F, keeping the crescent roll dough in the fridge until the oven comes to temperature so it’s easiest to work with.

2. Shape the Bread

Set aside two of the crescent triangles to use as the decorations. Roll the remaining crescents together to seal the perforations before shaping the dough into a ball and placing on the pan.

3. Add Decorations

Brush the ball with the juice-milk mixture. It adds flavor and acts as the “glue” for the toppings. Use a pizza cutter to cut strands from one remaining crescent triangle, and arrange them on the dough ball using the picture as a guide. Form a small ball with the remaining dough triangle, and place it in the center of the bread. Brush all over with more of the juice-milk mixture; sprinkle the bread with sugar.

4. Bake and Enjoy

The bread is done when it’s evenly golden brown. Let it cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes until just warm. Then, slice with a serrated knife on a cutting board.

How to Store Easy Pan de Muerto

For the best flavor and texture, this bread is best prepared and baked just before eating and enjoyed warm from the oven. Making it ahead is not recommended as the juice and milk mixture can make the dough soggy, and the dough can lose its leavening power upon standing, resulting in a flatter loaf with a dense texture. With just 10 minutes of prep, this sweet bread is easy enough to prepare just before you plan to serve it. If you find yourself with leftovers, follow the guide below.

Room Temperature

Place any remaining bread slices in a resealable food storage container. Store at room temperature no longer than 2 days. 

 

Easy Pan de Muerto

  • Prep Time 10 min
  • Total 30 min
  • Ingredients 4
  • Servings 4
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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Preheat oven to 350 °F.
  • Step 
    2
    On a lightly floured cutting board unroll crescent dough. Place 2 crescent sections apart (these will be used to decorate the top of the bread).
  • Step 
    3
    With a lightly floured rolling pin, gently roll together remaining dough to seal perforations. With your hands, shape dough into a smooth small round ball. Place on a baking sheet.
  • Step 
    4
    Whisk together the orange juice and milk and brush over top of bread. With a pizza cutter or knife, slice one remaining crescent section into four-six strands and with hands shape into strands to place over bread.
  • Step 
    5
    Use remaining crescent section to form a ball and place in the middle of bread, brush the strands and ball with the orange/milk mixture. Sprinkle entire bread with sugar.
  • Step 
    6
    Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown, slice and serve warm.

Nutrition

No nutrition information available for this recipe

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