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Capirotada is a traditional Mexican dessert made from bread, raisins, fruit, nuts, and simple syrup. Warm or cold, this dish is perfect either way. The sweetness of the syrup combined with the crunch of the bread, raisins, and nuts make this dessert irresistible. It’s a festive treat that’s perfect for any occasion.
Capirotada, a humble dish with just a handful of ingredients, holds a sweet spot in my heart thanks to my abuelita’s culinary magic. One bite of this nostalgic treat whisks me back to those cozy Lent days when my mom sprinkled love into every bite.
On Good Friday, capirotada is served, a dish usually eaten during Lenten fasting. This traditional Mexican dish is a delicious and hearty dessert that is rich in history and flavor. Capirotada is a bread pudding made with layers of toasted bread, cheese, cinnamon, nuts, and dried fruits, all bound together with a sweet syrup made from piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar). Each ingredient symbolizes a part of the Easter story, making capirotada not only a tasty treat but also a dish filled with meaning and tradition. Whether enjoyed with family and friends or prepared as a special offering during the Lenten season, capirotada is a delightful reminder of the cultural richness and culinary diversity that make Mexican cuisine so special.
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There are many variations to this recipe based on the region, available ingredients, or merely personal taste. It is generally composed of toasted bolillo, French bread, or a baguette and soaked in an infused syrup made of the following: whole cane sugar, which is known as piloncillo; clove, and cinnamon sticks.
Ingredients for Capirotada
- Bread – Bolillos, baguettes, and French Loaves are the best types of bread to use.
- Fruit – Banana is typically used in Capirotada, but you can use any combination of these fruits; dates, apples, raisins, apricots, coconut flakes, or pineapple.
- Nuts – Almond slices, chopped walnuts, and candied pecans are great add-ins.
- Spices – Cinnamon, and ground cloves
- Sugar – Dark brown sugar, or piloncillo
- Dairy – Sweetened condensed milk, and salted butter
- Cheese – Oaxaca, Monterey jack, mozzarella, or provolone
- Liquid – Water
How to make Capirotada
2-ways to make this dish…pieces or sliced
Bread Pieces
- Tear the loaf of bread into 2 to 3-inch pieces, and place on a baking sheet.
- Preheat oven to 375°F, and place the baking sheet in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool.
- In a medium saucepan, mix brown sugar, water, cinnamon, and clove.
- Bring to a boil; simmer on low heat for 15 minutes
- Combine bread, raisins, fruit, nuts, cheese, and melted butter in a large bowl
- Drizzle with warm sugar syrup, tossing gently to coat. Spoon the mixture into an 11 x 8-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
- Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.
- Serve warm, or cold
Bread Rounds
- Slice French bread into slices and place on the baking casserole pan or dish (11 x 8 in)
- Preheat oven to 375°F, and place the baking sheet in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool.
- In a medium saucepan, mix brown sugar, water, milk, cinnamon, and clove.
- Place raisins, fruit, nuts, and butter on the bread round layer, repeat and drizzle with warm sugar syrup.
- Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.
- Serve warm, or cold
Add-Ins & Substitutions:
Fruits: Bananas, peaches, prunes, raisins, coconut flakes, apple slices, pineapples, dates
Nuts: Almonds, peanuts, toasted pecans or walnuts.
Milk substitute: To leave out sweetened condensed milk, you can adjust by increasing the water to 2 cups.
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Capirotada
Ingredients
- 1 loaf of French Bread or bolillos
- 2 cups brown sugar or 20 oz. piloncillo coarsely chopped
- 1 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
- 1 & 1/2 cups of water
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground clove
- 3 tbsp butter melted
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 4 bananas sliced ( or apples, pineapple, or combine all )
- 4 oz. sliced almonds or walnuts, pecans
- Shredded cheese Oaxaca, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella.
Instructions
- Tear the loaf of French bread into 2 to 3-inch pieces, and place on a baking sheet.
- Preheat oven to 350°F, and place the baking sheet in the oven for 15 minutes or until lightly toasted. Remove from oven, and let cool. In a medium saucepan, mix brown sugar, water, milk, cinnamon, and clove. Bring to a light boil; simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.
- Combine bread, raisins, fruit, nuts, cheese, and butter in a large bowl.
- Drizzle with warm milky sugar syrup, tossing gently to coat. Spoon the mixture into an 11 x 8-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
- Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.
- Serve warm, or cold
- INSTRUCTIONS FOR BREAD ROUNDS
- Place sliced bread rounds on a baking sheet, and place in a preheated oven of 350° F. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly brown. Remove from oven and let cool. In a medium saucepan, mix brown sugar, water, milk, cinnamon, and clove. Bring to a light boil; simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.
- To prepare the dish, coat an 11 x 8-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place a layer of bread rounds at the bottom of the dish. Then, add half of the raisins, bananas, nuts, and cheese on top of the bread. Pour some syrup on that layer and repeat the process by adding another layer of bread round, fruit, and syrup.
- Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.
- Serve warm, or cold.
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