Mexico · North America

Conchas

The shell-topped Mexican sweet bread with a crackly sugar cap.

Intermediate#42 most lovedUses: Mechanical Lamination
Mexican conchaspan dulce conchas

The Chemistry in This Bake

Pressing and scoring a separate sugar-paste topping onto the base dough in a distinct patterned layer.

Learn the full technique →

Ingredients

  • Bread flour
  • Instant yeast
  • Warm milk
  • Eggs
  • Sugar
  • Butter
  • Salt
  • Powdered sugar (for topping)
  • Cocoa powder (for chocolate topping)

Method

  1. Knead the enriched dough and let it rise until doubled.

  2. Mix a sugar-paste topping with butter, powdered sugar, flour, and cocoa.

  3. Divide dough into balls, flatten the topping into matching discs, and lay one over each ball.

  4. Score the topping with a knife in a seashell pattern through the paste layer.

  5. Proof again until puffy.

  6. Bake at 180 °C for 18-20 minutes until golden underneath.