Capirotada Food

CAPIROTADA

Steps:

• Combine water, piloncillos, cinnamon sticks and green onions in large pot or dutch oven.
• Bring to a boil and cook until the piloncillos are dissolved and the syrup is dark from the spices.
• Taste- you may want to add additional brown sugar or spices depending on your personal tastes.
• Remove from heat and take out onions and cinnamon sticks.
• Toast the french bread (you can do this ahead of time or while the syrup is cooking).
• Spread margarine liberally on both sides of toast.
• Layer toast, cheese, raisins, and nuts in 2 9X13 pans (preferably glass), repeating until both pans are full, ending with a layer of cheese, raisins and nuts.
• Pour the syrup over the top, dividing evenly between both pans, and making sure that all the bread is moistened.
• Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes.
• Serve hot or cold.
• Store in the refrigerator.

CAPIROTADA (MEXICAN DESSERT)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine water, piloncillo, cinnamon sticks, sugar, vanilla extract, and cloves in a pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook until slightly thickened and reduced to a syrup, about 10 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks.
• Lightly butter each slice of bread. Place slices in a large, flat baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until toasted, 10 to 15 minutes. Let butter dry.
• Grease a 9x13-inch cake pan and add 1/2 of the toasted bread. Sprinkle 1/2 of the Monterey Jack cheese, walnuts, raisins, and apricots over the bread. Drizzle 1/2 of the syrup on top to fully coat the bread. Top with the remaining bread, cheese, walnuts, raisins, apricots, and syrup. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until lightly browned and heated through, about 15 minutes more. Serve warm.

MEXICAN CAPIROTADA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine water, 2 cups brown sugar, and cinnamon sticks together in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved and liquid has reduced into a syrup, about 15 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks from syrup using a slotted spoon.
• Spread butter onto each toasted bread slice. Make 1 layer of buttered bread in a deep casserole dish or oven-proof stockpot. Sprinkle cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves over bread layer. Sprinkle 1/4 the raisins, 1/4 the peanuts, 1/4 the remaining brown sugar, and 1/4 the Cheddar cheese over bread layer. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients. Pour cinnamon syrup over entire dish; cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cooked through, about 30 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes before serving.

CAPIROTADA (MEXICAN BREAD PUDDING)

Steps:

• Add the apple, onion, piloncillo, cinnamon, cloves, salt and 1 whole peeled banana to a medium pot. Depending on what type of bread you are using, add 6 cups water (if using bolillos or birotes) or 7 cups (if using a dense baguette) to the pot. Cover and bring to a boil, then turn to medium-low to simmer for 15 minutes, until the piloncillo has dissolved and the liquid becomes fragrant. Turn off the heat and let steep for 5 minutes.
• Pour the liquid through a strainer or colander, reserving the liquid and discarding the solids. Thinly slice the remaining 2 bananas and set aside.
• Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with the butter, and line the bottom of the dish with a half of the bread cubes. (You'll need enough to cover the bottom of the dish in one layer.) Layer on half the sliced bananas, raisins, almonds and cheese. Ladle half of the liquid over the first layer until completely coated.
• Add another layer with the remaining bread, banana, raisins, almonds and cheese, then use the remaining liquid to coat the top layer. Gently press down on the bread to make sure it fully absorbs the liquid.
• Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and allow the capirotada to sit in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour so the bread fully absorbs most of the liquid.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Add the capirotada, still covered with foil, and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until the top layer lightly browns.
• Remove from the oven and let the capirotada rest for 20 minutes before serving so it fully sets. Serve with more almond slices.

EASY CAPIROTADA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Peel the apples then core and chop into 1 inch cubes.
• Spread the margarine on the bread and cut into one inch cubes. Place half in a 1 1/2 quart baking dish and sprinkle with half of the apples, raisins and apricots. Repeat with next layer.
• Now in a small sauce pan, bring the syrup, cloves and cinnamon to a simmer. Cover and remove from heat.
• With a small strainer, remove the cloves and stick from the syrup and toss them. Pour this over the bread mix in dish.
• Mix well enough to distribute the syrup.
• Bake for 20 minutes and serve warm.