Keeping traditions alive in my home in the United States has helped me preserve the memories and traditions of my home country, Ecuador. Like most, some of my fondest memories have always involved holidays and food, and while El Dia de los Difuntos, or All Souls Day, is not a holiday marked by joyful celebrations, it still brings back memories of being together as a family. One of my favorite things to do during this school holiday was make Guaguas de Pan, decorating them with different colors of icing. Make no mistake; eating them afterwards was the best part.
Guaguas de pan is translated to bread babies – literally! Eaten during the Dia de los Difuntos celebrations, guaguas is a word from the Quechua language of Ecuador's indigenous people meaning "babies" or "little children." Back in the day, Ecuadorian indigenous people would stake a "doll" made of dough into the dirt to indicate that a dead person had been buried in that place. They believed this gesture served as food simultaneously, and offered the deceased something to eat while continue to live on in the afterlife.
During my childhood, my nana would start making the dough early in the morning, and after it had proofed, she would call us to the kitchen to make the guaguas. We would shape them as little dolls – akin to making little gingerbread men – and fill them with fruit jellies. After we put them in the oven, I would just stare at them through the glass door, waiting until they were ready for me to draw in their faces with colored icing! Although this day was one of mourning, baking together as a family made us appreciate the time we shared.
Guaguas de Pan: Bread Babies for All Souls Day
- 2 1/4 ounces (7 g) envelopes of active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 4 cups of all purpose flour + 1 cup used during kneading
- 2 sticks of unsalted butter, cut in small cubes, at room temperature
- 4 eggs
- Nutella or fruit jams for filling (optional)
- egg wash (4 yolks + splash of milk)