Authentic Capirotada Recipe (Mexican Bread Pudding) (2024)

Inside: Keep reading to find out how to make an authentic Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding) recipe, which is a delicious Mexican dessert.

This post is sponsored by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. All opinions are my own.

Authentic Capirotada Recipe (Mexican Bread Pudding) (1)

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If you have followed my blog for a long time, you probably can tell that I love to cook. My main focus has always been on authentic Mexican recipes, but as you can see, I also love to include new recipes that I have tried over the years.

One type of cooking that I have never been the best at, however, is baking. In Mexico, I almost never had the chance to bake growing up. It just isn’t as common down there, so I didn’t get to practice it as much. Since coming to the United States, I have tried baking more often, and I am finally getting the hang of it.

Now, I am starting to see why so many cooks love to bake! It is so fun to put together many different ingredients and see how they interact together to make delicious flavors. The smells that permeate through the kitchen when baking are irresistible also! Even though my abuelita didn’t bake very much in Mexico, spending time making these recipes reminds me of all of the great times I spent with her in the kitchen when I was younger.

The recipe that I am going to share today may not be what you think of when you think of baking, but it does require an oven and lots of great ingredients. A capirotada is a traditional Mexican dessert that is similar to a bread pudding that many people are familiar with. It is very popular during the holiday season in Mexico, and once you try it, you will see why.

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What Ingredients Do You Need For A Capirotada?

The great thing about this variation of bread pudding is that you can include a variety of different ingredients depending on your tastes. The basic recipe calls for using toasted baguette as the bread base. In addition, all capirotadas should include a delicious and sweet syrup made from piloncillo. Beyond that, you can use other ingredients such as walnuts, pecans, raisins, dates, panela queso, and more. I always like to include vanilla extract as well to give it extra flavor.

For this particular recipe, I used 1 teaspoon of Nielsen-Massey Mexican Pure Vanilla Extract. I always choose Mexican vanilla when I can find one.Mexican Vanilla is sweet and creamy with a deep, spicy character. In addition to using it in recipes like this capirotada, this vanilla is perfect when paired with chocolate, spicy foods, or tomato-based foods such as tomato sauces and chilis.

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When I made this for my family the other day, everyone loved it. The flavors work together so perfectly, and the capirotada definitely didn’t last long.

To make this capirotada recipe, you will start by letting the bread sit out overnight until it is no longer soft. Then, you need to add some olive oil and bake the bread until it is golden brown.

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Once the bread is prepared, you can do the remaining steps, which include adding layers of the toasted bread, other toppings (such as raisins, walnuts, and panela cheese), and then topping with the delicious liquid syrup on each layer.

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The final step is to bake until browned on top before serving warm.

I hope you can enjoy this recipe this holiday season as much as we always have. Let me know in the comments below how it turned out.

Authentic Capirotada Recipe (Mexican Bread Pudding) (6)

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4.67 from 3 votes

Mexican Bread Pudding

Author: Charbel Barker

Ingredients

  • 3 corn tortillas
  • 12 slices French Bread Toasted
  • 2 cups (475 ml) cream sauce from below
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) raisins
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) walnuts chopped
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) panela cheese crumbled

For piloncillo sauce

Instructions

  • Add a drizzle of olive oil to each slice of French bread, and then bake at 350 F for about 10 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.

  • Heat the corn tortillas with a small amount of olive oil in a frying pan, until soft.

  • Cut the corn tortillas in half and cover the bottom of an 8x8 baking dish.

  • Add a layer of the toasted bread, and top with the raisins, walnuts, and panela cheese.

  • Pour 1/3 of the cream sauce over the first layer, soaking the bread.

  • Repeat three times.

  • Bake at 350 F degrees for approximately 15 minutes, or until browned on top and heated all the way through.

For the Cream Sauce

  • Heat the water in a pot over medium heat and add the cinnamon stick and piloncillo until both dissolve.

  • Add the condensed milk, the evaporated milk, and theNielsen-Massey Mexican Pure Vanilla Extract, and let boil for 2 minutes.

  • Add the egg yolks a little bit at a time, stirring constantly so that the egg doesn't scramble. Remove from heat.

Tried this recipe?Mention @mylatinatable or tag #mylatinatable!

Authentic Capirotada Recipe (Mexican Bread Pudding) (7)

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Authentic Capirotada Recipe (Mexican Bread Pudding) (2024)

FAQs

What is Mexican bread pudding made of? ›

This capirotada, or Mexican bread pudding, features layers of nuts, cheese, dried fruit and bread drizzled with cinnamon-infused sugar syrup.

What does capirotada mean in English? ›

Capirotada (Spanish pronunciation: [kapiɾoˈtaða]) or Capilotade, also known as Capirotada de vigilia, is a traditional Mexican food similar to a bread pudding that is usually eaten during the Lenten period.

Why do Mexicans eat capirotada? ›

The ingredients of capirotada lend themselves to a lesson on the Resurrection. The bread represents the Body of Christ, the syrup the blood, and the cheese the Holy Shroud. This tradition helped seal capirotada, now with varied fruits, as Mexican holiday fare.

Why do Mexicans eat capirotada during Lent? ›

The sweet capirotada became the most preferred version during Lent. It symbolizes the Passion of Christ: the bread represents the body of Christ, the syrup is his blood, the cloves are the nails of the cross and the cinnamon sticks are the wood of the cross. The cheese represents the Holy Shroud.

What is capirotada made of? ›

Capirotada is a traditional Mexican bread pudding that's served during Lent. There are many variations of this dish throughout the U.S. and Mexico, but it's typically made with layers of bolillo bread (or french bread), raisins, bananas, nuts, cheese and sweetened milk or syrup.

What is the story behind capirotada? ›

The dish most likely made its way to North America when Hernán Cortés colonized what is now Mexico in the early 16th century. (Cortés, incidentally, is rumored to have killed one of his enemies with a poisoned capirotada.) Over the next several hundred years, the dish slowly evolved from a savory dish to a sweet one.

Why does capirotada have cheese? ›

I learned that capirotada is Mexican bread pudding, with the addition of savory cheese being one of its signatures. It's traditionally eaten during Lent as some say because the cheese provides extra protein to Lenten observers abstaining from meat on Fridays.

Where did capirotada originate? ›

The origins of capirotada, a Mexican bread pudding, can be traced back to Spain. The first time this dish appeared in print under this name was in 1611 in a cookbook by Francisco Martínez Motiño, the chef to King Philip II of Spain.

Is bread pudding supposed to be refrigerated? ›

It's sweetened with sugar and has hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. Raisins are sprinkled throughout and the whole thing is baked in a casserole dish. For best results, bread pudding should be refrigerated for 6-8 hours after it as had baked and cooled to room temperature.

What is piloncillo in english? ›

The name piloncillo translates to "little loaf," but in stores, you'll most often find this complex sugar shaped like a cone. The cone shape of piloncillo comes from the molds in which the sugar is cooled and hardened.

Why do Mexicans eat radishes with tacos? ›

Radishes add a refreshing, crunchy contrast to dense, savory dishes; for that reason, they're used as a garnish in many Mexican dishes. You can find them raw and thinly sliced on top of enchiladas, tacos, and pozole. They also add a beautiful pop of color to these dishes.

What do Mexicans eat for La Cena? ›

Cena (supper) in Mexico is a mixed bag. For an ordinary cena at home, it's a tiny meal: a cup of hot chocolate or hot milk, a pan dulce (sweet bread), or a quick taco made with what's left over from comida (the main meal of the day).

Why can't Catholics eat red meat during Lent? ›

"Since Jesus sacrificed his flesh for us on Good Friday, we refrain from eating flesh meat in his honor on Fridays," the Archdiocese said. Johnston adds refraining from eating meat is a form of penance – admitting to any wrongdoings and sins while turning back to belief in God.

What do Mexican eat during Christmas? ›

Mexican Christmas food spans enchiladas, pozole, tamales, and plenty of desserts. These are our favorite recipes for flavorful versions of those dishes from Mexican chefs, along with a few festive drinks. Start a tamale making tradition, warm up with pozole this winter, and enjoy enchiladas everyone will love.

What is the candy on the Rosca made of? ›

Ingredients for the topping:

½ cup of confectioner sugar. Dry fruit like figs candied citron, quince paste stripes, orange peels or cherries.

What is Mexican custard made of? ›

Flan is a creamy, caramel-topped Spanish and Latin dessert. Eggs, condensed milk, evaporated milk, cream, and vanilla form a smooth custard.

What is the Mexican pig bread made of? ›

Marranitos (Puerquitos) are soft and chewy Mexican piggy cookies. Made with piloncillo, spices, and plenty of butter for the best flavor. No wonder they are one of the most popular Mexican sweet breads.

Is piloncillo the same as brown sugar? ›

Although Piloncillo is often referred to as "Mexican brown sugar," the two sweeteners are quite different in creation and composition. Brown sugar is refined white sugar that has molasses added back to it to achieve its darker color. Piloncillo is unrefined.

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