Description
Capirotada is a traditional Mexican bread pudding dessert featuring toasted bread slices soaked in a sweet piloncillo syrup and layered with cheese, nuts, and dried fruits. This recipe offers a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and crunchy textures, ideal for a comforting and flavorful treat enjoyed especially during the Lenten season.
Ingredients
For the Bread
- 1 sourdough baguette or 3 pieces of bolillo bread
- 2 tablespoons butter (softened)
For the Syrup
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 large piloncillos (raw cane sugar, approx 6 oz each)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 whole cloves
For the Toppings
- 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco or cotija cheese
- 1/3 cup crushed dry roasted peanuts
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- Raisins (to taste, optional)
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (204°C) to prepare for toasting the bread slices.
- Prepare the Bread Slices: Slice the sourdough baguette or bolillo bread into 1-inch thick pieces. Spread softened butter on both sides of each slice to ensure they toast evenly and gain a rich buttery flavor.
- Toast the Bread: Arrange the buttered bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast in the preheated oven for about 8 minutes, flipping the slices once after 4-5 minutes, until they become golden brown and crispy.
- Make the Piloncillo Syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups of water, the piloncillos, cinnamon stick, and whole cloves. Bring the mixture to a medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the piloncillo has completely dissolved into the water, forming a rich, sweet syrup. Turn off the heat and let it steep for 5 minutes to enhance the flavors.
- Strain the Syrup: Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the piloncillo syrup into a clean container to remove the cinnamon stick and cloves. Set the syrup aside for layering.
Notes
- Use bolillo bread for a more authentic Mexican texture, but sourdough baguette works well as a substitute.
- Piloncillo can be found at Mexican or Latin markets; if unavailable, use dark brown sugar as an alternative.
- Optional dried fruits like raisins or sprinkles can be added to customize the flavor and appearance.
- To toast bread evenly, keep an eye during flipping to prevent burning.
- This dish is traditionally assembled by layering the toasted bread with syrup, cheese, nuts, and dried fruits before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
