Traditional orange blossom-scented Day of the Dead bread with bone-shaped decorations. This beloved family offering is a soft, fragrant centerpiece of Mexico's most sacred celebration.
Warm the milk until just lukewarm (not hot), and dissolve the sugar and yeast; let stand for 10 minutes until foamy.
In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, orange zest, and make a well in the center. Add eggs, melted butter, orange blossom water, vanilla, and the yeast mixture.
Mix until dough forms, then knead on a lightly floured surface for 10-12 minutes until smooth and elastic. If dough is sticky, add a little extra flour as needed.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm draft-free spot for 1.5–2 hours until doubled in size.
Punch down the dough, divide off small pieces to shape into 'bones' for decoration, form the main loaf or rounds, and attach the bone shapes on top.
Cover and let rise again for 45–60 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) during the final rise.
Bake for 28–32 minutes until golden. Remove, brush warm bread with melted butter, then sprinkle generously with extra sugar.