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Capirotada, Mexican bread pudding

I did not grow up eating capirotada. Truth be told, I had never even heard of it until a few years ago when I was at a Mexican restaurant on a Lenten Friday. “Hay capirotada,” was written on a chalkboard and curious what it was, I ordered some. The waitress brought me a small plate with a dessert made of toasted bread slices drenched in a sweet and spicy syrup. It was soft and sticky, but there were crunchy almonds, chewy raisins, and a creamy tang to keep it from becoming cloying. Capirotada? I was in love!

Newly smitten, I decided to do some research. I learned that capirotada is Mexican bread pudding, with the addition of savory cheese being one of its signatures. It’s traditionally eaten during Lent as some say because the cheese provides extra protein to Lenten observers abstaining from meat on Fridays. My friend Penny, however, informed that it’s a welcome dessert at any festive occasion on the calendar, not just during those periods of abstinence.

Despite its popularity with those in the know, I’ve found that it’s still somewhat of an esoteric dessert, despite it being in existence in some form since the 1400’s. And sure, you’ll see it on menus and it’s even been written about in the Texas press since the 1930’s, but for some reason it never caught on with eaters as much as other Mexican delicacies such as tres leches cake or flan.

Capirotada, Mexican bread pudding for Lent | Homesick Texan

I think I know why.

First, there’s the cheese factor. I reckon that for some people the thought of savory cheese in such a sweet dessert seems odd. Sure, even I at first found it strange. But once you taste it you realize that it’s not bizarre at all and actually, it works. Think about it—cheese is a classic pairing with sweets, such as goat cheese and dried apricots, blue cheese with candied pecans or that Northeast autumn stalwart of cheddar cheese with apple pie. And if you’re from Texas, surely you grew up with cheddar cheese sprinkled on your canned pineapple and peaches.

Then there’s the classic Mexican way of making capirotada, which calls for an onion, a tomato and even cilantro to be added to the syrup. OK, even I haven’t been brave enough to try that, but I’m sure it’s not completely bizarre as both tomatoes and onions have a natural sweetness to them when cooked.

But I think the main reason why it hasn’t met with popular approval is that there’s no definitive way to make it. There’s the classic recipe that calls for peanuts and raisins to be sprinkled throughout the pudding (with an occasional tomato or onion to be found). But you may see methods where beyond the syrup, a custard made with eggs and milk is added for binding.

There’s also the temperature factor as some serve it warm and some serve it cold. And what kind of cheese to use? You’ll find some bake it with white Mexican soft melting cheeses such as Chihuahua, while others will use Mexican hard cheeses such as cotija, and in Texas you’ll often find it made with orange Longhorn cheddar. All these variables are enough to confuse anyone!

But you know what? I think this is all what makes capirotada such a fascinating dessert. As the only preconceived notion you have is that it’s Mexican bread pudding made with cheese and syrup, you’re free to do with the details as you wish. Me? I like to make mine with raisins, pecans, and Monterrey Jack.

But I am not adverse to dried apricots, pecans, and Longhorn cheddar. Or if you’re feeling really wild, why not dried figs, soft goat cheese, and pecans? Apples and cheddar? Sure! Bananas and peanuts? But of course! Your only barrier to a captivating capirotada is the limits of your imagination.

Capirotada, Mexican bread pudding for Lent | Homesick Texan

So here is my way of making capirotada. But by all means tinker with it as you wish as that’s the joy in making this dessert. And if you grew up eating it, how did your family serve it? Or was it different every time?

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Print
5 from 3 votes

Capirotada, Mexican bread pudding

Course Dessert
Cuisine Tex-Mex
Servings 8
Author Lisa Fain

Ingredients

  • 2 cups brown sugar (or 16 ounces of piloncillo)
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 24-inch loaf of French bread, cubed and toasted (about six cups)
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 cup toasted and chopped pecans
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots, chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350° F. Lightly grease a large cast-iron skillet or an 8-inch square pan.
  • Make a syrup by boiling the sugar, water, cinnamon, and cloves together for 10 minutes or until it’s slightly thickened and reduced.
  • In the prepared skillet., place half the bread and pour over it half the melted butter. Toss to coat. Drizzle about ¼ cup of the syrup over the bread and toss to coat. Layer on top of the bread the cheese, pecans, raisins, and dried apricots.
  • Place the rest of the bread on top, drizzle over the remaining butter and then pour over the rest of the syrup. Make sure that each piece of bread is properly coated in syrup.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 15 more minutes. Serve warm.

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Recipe Rating




82 Comments

  1. Marivel Martinez says:

    My grandma has been making this since I was a child. She used piloncio, anise, cinnamon For the syrup. She uses a strainer since you dont want the anise seeds in it. She layers white sandwich bread which is toasted and buttered on both sides. Then adds shredded cheese (american melts better and tastes great in it) Bananas, apples (chopped and peeled), raisins, and pecans. She makes about 5 layers then adds syrup on top making sure everything gets soaked in it. Then bakes it for about 20 min. Then its ready to serve. She uses about three piloncios to make sure its sweet. I like it warm too but I LOVE it cold 🙂

  2. Elizabeth says:

    San Antonio, Texas – day old bread, cinnamon, peanuts, cheddar and raisins. Mom was diabetic, so our version was low on sugar and didn't have butter. I didn't care for it. The first time I had it with real sugar and plenteous butter, wow! I fell in love.
    I'm a big fan of spices, so I'll definitely be adding anise to my recipe. May try adding tomatoes and onions to the syrup blend. Tomatoes are excellent for sweetness: my grandma and tias made tomato jelly, so so good!

  3. Anonymous says:

    My Sister has made this for years, pretty similar, except she uses Spanish nuts. I do not recall if she uses dried fruit, now I am going to have to ask her for her recipe.

  4. 5 stars
    I made several of your recipes over the years but this is the first time I have felt compelled to post.
    I made this today (8/31/2020) with a few changes only because it’s what I had on hand and my wife and I LOVED it. She doesn’t like soggy things and this wasn’t soggy at all!!
    The changes I made were:
    Splenda brown sugar for less calories to replace reg brown sugar
    3 loaves Conchas (because I thought would taste good..it did)
    La Vaquita Queso Quesadilla cheese instead of jack (because I have it on hand)
    Dried cherries & dried chopped dates instead of raisins (again had on hand)
    Dried candied pineapple instead of apricots…had on hand

  5. Mary Jackson says:

    My mother grew up eating it during lent. She said they ate it warm. French bread cooked was cooked in the skillet , corn tortillas layered on the bottom of the pudding. Raisins, peanuts, and white cheese were added and the syrup was made from Piloncillo.. She said it was such a treat during lent and they always looked forward to it.

    1. Lisa Fain says:

      Mary–It is such a treat! I love learning about all the variations that people’s families prepared, too.