Sweet Comfort: Pan Dulce and My Family

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Growing up many would have experienced a morning breakfast with a fresh, gooey dough that comes from a donut. Others may have enjoyed the warmth of pastries like Danishes and perhaps, bagels.

The warmth of a pastry for breakfast when you are young, is a sweet memory that many would hold close to their heart. My memories of a sweet pastry or bread for breakfast growing up, came from the warmth and presence of pan dulce.

Growing up, I had the privilege of having pan dulce in the house, to eat for breakfast or a snack.

Pan dulce, known as sweet bread, or Mexican bread, was a treat not just to eat, but to visit and choose which pan would be yours to eat. Pan dulce holds a significant place in my heart to share with those who have not had the privilege of consuming the bread or walking into the store and seeing the different varieties.

When someone says “voy a la panaderia, que quieres”, a list of everyone’s order follows behind.

With many types of pan dulce to choose from, the best part is walking into la tienda and gazing through the glass windows holding the bread. The big question was, would you choose the concha, the bolillos, marranitos? Would you choose the muffin, cortadillos, or the big pink pan dulce shaped like a large cookie? After deciding you pick up your tray and tongs and start adding to the tray. It is almost always packaged in a white paper bag, placed into a plastic bag. Then it’s time to head home.

At Christmas time, there is not a day we don’t have pan dulce at home. Every morning while family is in town, we have our café y pan dulce while trading chisme or watching a movie. A tradition we now share with the only grandson in the family, and significant others who understand the importance of pan dulce in our family.

While growing up, my abuelita lived with my family. It was me, my three sisters and parents. There was never a day that she did not have pan dulce in her little studio.  Every morning she had her avena y pan dulce. She always had extra pan to give her grandkids.  

Conchas, marranitos, muffins and cuernitos are some of my family favorites. My nephew loves conchas.

Pan dulce provides a comfort to me. Something about having fresh pan dulce, gives a warm feeling of home and family. When I was young, and we would go to Mexico, la panderias always had a warm feeling. A feeling that you were known and loved. Anytime I walk into any panadería, I look for that feeling. It usually means the pan was made with love, to be given with love.

In my hometown in Oxnard, I only go to Panaderia Vanessa. A place I have grown up going to and love. I learned the significance of pan dulce in our family while living on the east coast. I craved it and wanted it. While there were some similar bakeries, I never found one that had the feeling of comfort. I am lucky to be surrounded by panaderías, and to share the tradition with new family members. A tradition that my sisters and I still carry and will carry for generations to come.