In addition to home-built ofrendas that honor family and loved ones who have died, other staples for Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, include pan de muerto (“bread of the dead”), a yeast-risen pan dulce often tinged with the scent of oranges and warm spices like anise, cinnamon, or nutmeg. The brioche-like breads are traditionally domed and crowned with cross bones.
Here is a list of some (but not all) bakeries and markets in Orange County where you can get your hands on pan de muertos for the annual holiday, which falls on Wednesday, Nov 1 and Thursday, Nov. 2.
Anaheim: Brizuela’s Bakery (1721 W. Katella Ave., suite R), La Reina Market (508 N. East St., Anaheim), Max’s Baked Goods (3414 W. Ball Road, suite J), Northgate Market (929 S. Euclid St.), Panaderia La Pequena (888 W. Lincoln Ave.), Panaderia Los Volcanes (2659 W. Lincoln Ave.)
Buena Park: Panaderia Indio (8204 Commonwealth Ave.), Porto’s Bakery (7640 Beach Blvd.), Northgate Market (1120 S. Bristol St.)
Costa Mesa: La Espiga De Oro (805 W. 19th St.), Panificadora Bakery (2200 Harbor Blvd., suite E120)
Dana Point: Buena Vista Market (34065 La Plaza)
Fullerton: Panaderia Y Pasteleria (2230 W. Orangethorpe Ave.)
Garden Grove: Estrella De Mexicali (12859 Chapman Ave.)
Huntington Beach: Chelos Panaderia (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.), Panaderia y Pasteleria la Mexicana (1951 E. La Habra Blvd., suite 1A)
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 Panaderia Carniceria (East Wilson Avenue), La Reina Market (909 N. Tustin St.), La Poblana (604 W. Chapman Ave.)
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, #14)
Santa Ana: Cafe Cultura (324 W. Fourth St.), El Gallo Giro (1442 S. Bristol St., #1A), El Metate Panaderia (1338 W. First St.), El Panadero (1818 S. Standard Ave.), La Rancherita Bakery (2709 Westminster Ave., suite B), Northgate Market (230 N. Harbor Blvd., 1120 S. Bristol Street, 1010 South Main St.), Panaderia La Mejor (1331 E. First St.), Panaderia Paloza (1701 E. McFadden Ave.), Rosas Pasteleria Y Panaderia (1009 S. Fairview St.), Tlaxcala Bakery Panaderia (1208 S. Standard Ave.), Soy Concha Bakery (709 N. Bristol St., suite J)
Stanton: Leobardo’s Bakery (11841 Beach Blvd.), Panaderia Cortez (7506 Cerritos Ave.)
