Guaguas de Pan

Name: Guaguas de Pan
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Ecuadorian
Ingredients: 4 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup sugar; 100g butter, softened; 3 eggs; 1/2 cup warm milk; 1 packet yeast (7g); 1 tsp anise extract; Pinch of salt; Guava paste or dulce de leche for filling; Royal icing and food coloring for decorating

Guaguas de Pan (GWAH-gwahs deh PAHN)

Bread Baby Figures

⏱ Prep Time 45 min

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 326 kcal

Sweet, decorated bread figures shaped like swaddled babies, traditionally baked for Day of the Dead and filled with guava paste or dulce de leche.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 7.0g

Carbs 52.0g

Fat 10.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ dairy ⚠ gluten ⚠ eggs

Equipment Needed

mixing bowl baking sheet rolling pin oven

Presentation Guide

Vessel: basket or tray

Garnishes: royal icing decorations

Accompaniments: colada morada

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
100g butter, softened
3 eggs
1/2 cup warm milk
1 packet yeast (7g)
1 tsp anise extract
Pinch of salt
Guava paste or dulce de leche for filling
Royal icing and food coloring for decorating

Instructions

1
Dissolve yeast in warm milk with 1 tsp sugar. Let foam 10 min.
2
Mix flour, sugar, salt. Add butter, eggs, yeast mixture, and anise. Knead 10 min until smooth and elastic.
3
Let dough rise 1 hour until doubled.
4
Punch down, divide into 8 pieces. Shape each into a baby figure — body, head, arms.
5
Place a strip of guava paste in the center before sealing each figure.
6
Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20-25 min until golden. Cool and decorate with royal icing.

💡

Did You Know?

Guaguas de pan are named from the Quechua word "wawa" meaning baby — they represent the souls of the departed and are shared among family at gravesites.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

mixing bowl
baking sheet
rolling pin
oven

Garnishing

royal icing decorations

Accompaniments

colada morada

The Story Behind Guaguas de Pan

Guaguas de pan unite Quechua and Catholic traditions in a single edible symbol. Pre-Columbian Andean peoples created dough figures to honor the dead, and Spanish missionaries incorporated bread-making into the practice. The bread babies are carried to cemeteries on November 2, where families share them alongside colada morada while visiting their ancestors.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed day of the dead (november 2) 📜 Origins: Colonial-indigenous fusion

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