{"id":1655575,"date":"2021-06-12T06:27:45","date_gmt":"2021-06-12T10:27:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=1655575"},"modified":"2023-09-12T10:57:50","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T15:57:50","slug":"how-to-make-conchas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/how-to-make-conchas\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make a Conchas Recipe Just like a Panaderia"},"content":{"rendered":"If you've ever stepped foot inside a panaderia<\/em>, or a Mexican bakery, you will find a bread case filled with colorful, fluffy conchas<\/em>. One of the most popular types of Mexican pan dulce <\/em>(sweet bread), this photogenic pastry appears in any respectable panaderia's selection. Before I explain how to make conchas, I'll tell you what they are and where they came from.\r\n

What Are Conchas?<\/h2>\r\n\"Concha\" is the Spanish word for \"seashell.\" One look at this shell-shaped bread and you'll see why. They're made in various sizes and colors, from a small cookie-size portion to a large, impressive loaf meant to be sliced and shared. The rounded pastry is topped with a sweet paste made from sugar and shortening which hardens and crumbles when baked.\r\n\r\nConchas are one of the most popular Mexican desserts<\/a> and can be found at every panaderia. Now, conchas are readily available in the United States grocery stores and neighborhood bakeries, too.\r\n

Where Does Pan Dulce Come From?<\/h2>\r\n
Wheat products, including pastries, didn't make an appearance in Mexico until the 16th century, after the Spanish invaded. One of the soldiers who remained in Mexico, Juan Garrido, planted the wheat grains he found while cleaning a rice shipment. The first wheat plants in Mexico thrived.<\/div>\r\nWhile the Spanish settlers used the wheat crop to make bread, the indigenous population continued to prefer corn tortillas<\/a>. It wasn't until a baker started adding sugar to the bread that the indigenous people took interest, and pan dulce was born.\r\n\r\nBy the 20th century, bakeries had an abundance of pan dulce, including the first conchas.\u00a0Now, conchas of all colors and patterns abound!\r\n

How to Make Conchas<\/h2>\r\nThis recipe makes four large conchas or eight small ones. I used red natural food coloring to give them a fun pink hue; omit the food coloring if you prefer them white.\r\n

Ingredients<\/h3>\r\n\"Conchas\r\n