A traditional staple for Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), in addition to the home-built ofrendas that honor the deceased, is pan de muerto (“bread of the dead“). This yeast-risen pan dulce is often subtly flavored with hints of orange and warm spices like anise, cinnamon or nutmeg. Traditionally, these brioche-like loaves are domed and adorned with decorative bone shapes.
Below is a list of some bakeries and markets in Orange County where you can get your hands on pan de muerto for the holiday, which falls on Saturday, Nov. 1 and Sunday, Nov. 2. Keep in mind that many of these spots will either sell out or carry their holiday bread closer to Día de Muertos.
Anaheim: Brizuela’s Bakery (1721 W. Katella Ave.), La Reina Market (508 N. East St.), Max’s Baked Goods (3414 W. Ball Road), Northgate Market (929 S. Euclid St.), Panadería La Pequena (888 W. Lincoln Ave.), Panadería Los Volcanes (2659 W. Lincoln Ave.)
Buena Park: Panadería Indio (8204 Commonwealth Ave.), Northgate Market (1120 S. Bristol St.)
Costa Mesa: La Espiga De Oro (805 W. 19th St.), Mercado González (2300 Harbor Blvd.), Panificadora Bakery (2200 Harbor Blvd.)
Dana Point: Buena Vista Market (34065 La Plaza)
Fullerton: Cafe Cultura (907 W. Orangethorpe Ave.), El Trigal Dorado (2230 W. Orangethorpe Ave.), Panadería y Pasteleria (2230 W. Orangethorpe Ave.)
Garden Grove: Estrella De Mexicali (12859 Chapman Ave.), Mi Perlita Bakery (12111 Garden Grove Blvd.)
Huntington Beach: Chelos Panadería (18029 Beach Blvd.)
La Habra: La Central Bakery (764 W. La Habra Blvd.), My Bakery (350 N. Harbor Blvd), Northgate Market (1305 W. Whittier Blvd.), Panadería y Pasteleria la Mexicana (1951 E. La Habra Blvd.)
Laguna Niguel: Mucho Mucho Market (28985 Golden Lantern)
Lake Forest: Efren’s Bakery (24601 Raymond Way, #7), El Molino de Oro (23532 El Toro Road)
Orange: El Molino De Oro (728 N. Tustin St.), La Espiga De Oro (1177 N Tustin St), La Reina Market (909 N. Tustin St.),
Placentia: Mil Hojas (642 W. Chapman Ave.)
San Juan Capistrano: El Molino De Oro (31886 Plaza Drive), Mercado El Rey (32252 Camino Capistrano) and El Campeon Bakery (31921 Camino Capistrano)
Santa Ana: Cafe Cultura (324 W. Fourth St.), Chelo’s Bakery (5403 W 1st St.), El Gallo Giro (1442 S. Bristol St.), El Metate Panadería (1338 W. First St.), El Panadero (1818 S. Standard Ave.), La Rancherita Bakery (2709 Westminster Ave.), Northgate Market (230 N. Harbor Blvd., 1120 S. Bristol St., 1010 South Main St., 2603 Westminster Ave.), Panadería Paloza (1701 E. McFadden Ave.), Rosas Pasteleria y Panaderia (1009 S. Fairview St.), Tlaxcala Bakery Panadería (1208 S. Standard Ave.)
Stanton: Leobardo’s Bakery (11841 Beach Blvd.), Panadería El Cortez (7506 Cerritos Ave.)