Rainbow Conchas: Colorful Mexican Sweet Bread

18 INGREDIENTS • 16 STEPS • 3HRS 45MINS

Rainbow Conchas: Colorful Mexican Sweet Bread

Discover the joy of Rainbow Conchas, a vibrant twist on traditional Mexican Pan Dulce. These eye-catching sweet breads feature a soft, pillowy interior crowned with a crisp, colorful topping that's as delightful to look at as it is to eat. Perfect for celebrations, breakfast, or as a sweet treat any time of day, these homemade conchas bring the flavors of a Mexican bakery right to your kitchen. Learn how to create these Instagram-worthy pastries that combine classic technique with a modern, rainbow-inspired flair.
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Discover the joy of Rainbow Conchas, a vibrant twist on traditional Mexican Pan Dulce. These eye-catching sweet breads feature a soft, pillowy interior crowned with a crisp, colorful topping that's as delightful to look at as it is to eat. Perfect for celebrations, breakfast, or as a sweet treat any time of day, these homemade conchas bring the flavors of a Mexican bakery right to your kitchen. Learn how to create these Instagram-worthy pastries that combine classic technique with a modern, rainbow-inspired flair.
author_avatar
Sergio at SideChef
Content Operations Manager at SideChef. Gourmand, Home Cook, Cookie Enthusiast 🥳
https://www.sidechef.com

3HRS 45MINS

Total Time

Ingredients

Servings
16
us / metric
Dough
All-Purpose Flour
4 cups
All-Purpose Flour
Granulated Sugar
3/4 cup
Granulated Sugar
Instant Dry Yeast
1 Tbsp
Instant Dry Yeast
Milk
3/4 cup
Warm Milk
110 degrees F or 43 degrees C
Large Egg
3
Large Eggs
Unsalted Butter
2/3 cup
Unsalted Butter, softened
Salt
1/2 tsp
Salt
Vanilla Extract
2 tsp
Vanilla Extract
Crust
Vegetable Shortening
3/4 cup
Vegetable Shortening
Powdered Confectioners Sugar
1 1/3 cups
Powdered Confectioners Sugar
All-Purpose Flour
1 cup
All-Purpose Flour
Vanilla Extract
1 tsp
Vanilla Extract
Red Food Coloring
5 drops
Red Food Coloring
Orange Food Coloring
5 drops
Orange Food Coloring
Yellow Food Coloring
5 drops
Yellow Food Coloring
Green Food Coloring
5 drops
Green Food Coloring
Blue Food Coloring
5 drops
Blue Food Coloring
Purple Food Coloring
5 drops
Purple Food Coloring

Nutrition Per Serving

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Calories
397
Fat
18.0 g
Protein
6.2 g
Carbs
50.8 g
Love This Recipe?
author_avatar
Sergio at SideChef
Content Operations Manager at SideChef. Gourmand, Home Cook, Cookie Enthusiast 🥳
https://www.sidechef.com

Author's Notes

For a less colorful version, use a single color for the crust.
Store conchas in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Conchas can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Serve with hot chocolate or coffee for a traditional Mexican treat.
For a richer flavor, add 1 tsp of ground cinnamon to the bread dough.

Cooking Instructions

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step 1
In a small bowl, mix Instant Dry Yeast (1 Tbsp) with a spoonful each of sugar and flour from the ingredients. Add the warm Milk (3/4 cup), stir, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.
step 2
In a large mixing bowl, sift remaining All-Purpose Flour (4 cups) and Granulated Sugar (3/4 cup). Using a stand mixer with a dough hook, gradually add this dry mix to the yeast mixture, Large Eggs (3), and Vanilla Extract (2 tsp), mixing on low speed.
step 3
Add Salt (1/2 tsp) and room temperature Unsalted Butter (2/3 cup) to the mixture. Knead on medium speed for 15-20 minutes until the dough is elastic, smooth, and doesn't stick to the bowl sides. The dough should pass the windowpane test. (If kneading by hand, this may take 30-40 minutes.)
step 4
Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (1.5-2 hours).
step 5
For the crust, sift Powdered Confectioners Sugar (1 1/3 cups) and All-Purpose Flour (1 cup) into a bowl. Add Vegetable Shortening (3/4 cup) and Vanilla Extract (1 tsp). Mix with a spatula or your hands until it reaches a smooth, playdough-like consistency.
step 6
Divide crust mixture into 6 balls. Add Red Food Coloring (5 drops), Orange Food Coloring (5 drops), Yellow Food Coloring (5 drops), Green Food Coloring (5 drops), Blue Food Coloring (5 drops), and Purple Food Coloring (5 drops) to each ball and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
step 7
Divide each colored crust into 16 equal-sized strips and refrigerate again.
step 8
Once the dough has doubled, punch it down and place on a floured surface. Flatten to remove any air bubbles.
step 9
Divide the dough into 16 pieces (about 70g each). Shape into balls and place on a baking tray, leaving space between each.
step 10
Flatten each ball with your palm to create the concha shape.
step 11
Create rainbow shells by placing a strip of each color between two plastic sheets and flattening to about 1/8 inch thickness. Carefully place on top of each concha.
step 12
Score the crust with a knife or concha shaper, being careful not to cut the bread dough.
step 13
Cover and let rest in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
step 14
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
step 15
Bake conchas for 15-18 minutes.
step 16
Cool on a wire rack before serving.
step 16 Cool on a wire rack before serving.

Tags

Comfort Food
Shellfish-Free
Kid-Friendly
Dessert
Vegetarian
Popular
Latin American
Mexican
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