🇪🇨 Ecuadorian Cuisine

Guaguas de Pan

Bread Baby Figures

Prep Time 45 min

Servings 8

Difficulty Medium

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.

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.