Day of the Dead traditions: coffee and bread


cafe de olla

Today was the perfect day to have some delicious cafe de olla, a Mexican coffee drink which is warm, sweet with hints of cinnamon & molasses.  Traditionally it is made with piloncillo or Mexican brown sugar, which can be substituted with dark brown sugar.  I only had light brown sugar, so I added a bit of molasses to make it taste more authentic. I really need to just find the real stuff, because it is so much better!

4 cups water
2/3 cup ground coffee
1/3 – 1/2 cup piloncillo ( dark brown sugar)
2 cinnamon sticks

Combine all ingredients in sauce pan and bring to boil.  Turn down to simmer for 10 minute, stirring occasionally.  Strain through strainer & cheese cloth (I used my french press).  Enjoy!


pan de muerto (bread of the dead)

And what could go better with cafe de olla, than some warm, sweet bread straight out of the oven.  This is pan de muerto, traditionally made during Day of the Dead celebrations.  Here is the traditional recipe for pan de muert0.  Very, very tasty!

I made this for a friend who celebrated his 41st birthday yesterday.  It is a small 3.5 x 3.5 inch wood block. I painted it with acrylic paint, nailed a few milagros to it and coated it with encaustic wax medium. I love how it turned out.

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3 Responses to Day of the Dead traditions: coffee and bread

  1. sperlygirl says:

    what a lovely way to spend the day…looks delicious

  2. elsa says:

    The coffee sounds yummy, the bread delicious and love the skull. You are so darn talented!

  3. Kathleen says:

    That coffee recipe sounds wonderful!

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