Recipe courtesy of Grand Velas Riviera Maya (rivieramaya.grandvelas.com)
Makes 3 loaves
3 ½ c. flour
1 ½ t. salt
1 ½ t. S-500 (bakery improver – if unavailable allow bread to sit overnight before baking)
7 sticks butter
3 egg yolks
4 whole eggs
¾ c. orange blossom infusion*
2 oranges, zest only
Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix on medium speed for 8 minutes. Increase speed to high for another 8 minutes when the dough is firm and elastic. Divide dough into 17 portions, forming perfect spheres to place on a baking sheet. Use one portion to form the bones shapes for the top of the bread. Adhere the bones shapes to the top of the round dough with a beaten egg using a brush.
Let the dough sit until doubled in size. Bake at 310°F for about 25 minutes. When the bread is cold, varnish with melted butter and then frost with granulated sugar.
*To make orange blossom infusion: Boil 2 liters of water with 3.5 oz orange blossoms, boil for 10 minutes and let stand for 24 hours in refrigerator, filter and use the infusion.