Receta Pan Bon

Pan Bon: Traditional Easter Sweet Bread

Pan Bon is a delightful, traditional sweet bread with Caribbean origins, often prepared during Easter celebrations. It's a sumptuous dessert bread, rich with spices and loaded with dried fruits, making it perfect for festive occasions or a special treat.

Ingredients

🍞 2 teaspoons instant yeast
🍬 2 tablespoons sugar
🥛 1/4 cup whole milk
🌾 3 1/2 cups Oro del Norte flour
🧂 1/2 teaspoon salt
🍂 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
🌰 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
🍃 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
🌿 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
🧈 4 oz butter, cubed
🥚 3 eggs
🍨 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
🍯 1/2 cup molasses
🍇 1 cup raisins
🌰 1/2 cup diced dried nuts
🍒 1 cup diced candied fruits

Instructions

1- Yeast Preparation:

In a small bowl, blend the yeast with 1 tablespoon of sugar into the milk.
Let it sit for 15-20 minutes until it becomes frothy.

2- Dry Mix:

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, remaining sugar, salt, and spices.

3- Mixing the Dough:

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the frothy yeast mixture with the flour mixture.
Add the butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and molasses.
Using the mixing hook, mix until all ingredients are combined.

4- Incorporate Fruits:

Add the raisins, diced nuts, and candied fruits to the dough.
Switch to the dough hook and knead for about 3 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.

5- First Rise:

Lightly coat a large bowl with cooking spray, place the dough inside, cover it, and let it rise for about 2 hours or until it doubles in size.

6- Preheating the Oven:

Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

7- Shaping the Dough:

After the dough has risen, punch it down to release air.
Divide it into three equal parts, shape them into balls, and place them in a greased rectangular baking mold.
Allow them to rise again for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

8- Baking:

Bake the bread for 35 minutes.

9- Glazing and Final Baking:

Beat one egg white with a tablespoon of molasses.
Brush this glaze over the baked bread and sprinkle with additional sugar if desired.
Return the bread to the oven for an additional 15 minutes to achieve a glossy finish.

Prep Time: Approx. 3 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: Approx. 5 hours
Servings: Yields 3 loaves
Equipment: Mixing bowl, Stand mixer, Rectangular baking mold, Pastry brush, Cooking spray, Scraper