Chef Fany Gerson’s Pan de Muerto

pan de muerto by chef fany gerson of la newyorkina Brooklyn
Photo credit: Melissa Hom

When I’m in Brooklyn, I always stop at Fan Fan Doughnuts to see what Chef Fany Gerson is baking. She always coming up with exciting new things to keep her menu fresh and this fall, she’s gone all out to celebrate Día de Muertos with pan de muerto.

“Pan de muerto is my absolute favorite bread in the entire world, and we eagerly wait to make it! This classic bread is found all around Mexico, but everyone makes it a bit differently. Ours is a buttery bread (not rich like a brioche) flavored with orange zest and orange blossom, finished with a buttery sugary topping.” – Fany

Bouchon Bakery’s Round Challah

round challah before baking, bouchon bakery. / photo credit: pastrywithjenn


I had the pleasure from learning how to make challah from former Bouchon Bakery chef Nick Bonamico. He is now creating amazing things at Dandelion Chocolate in San Francisco. Way back when I was producing Facebook Lives (remember those?) at Williams Sonoma, we invited Chef Nick to demonstrate a round challah, one of the bakery’s bread offerings during Rosh Hashanah.

Chocolate-Orange Babka Wreath

chocolate orange babka

I can’t take care of plants so I opted out of buying a real wreath this Christmas, however a baked one, that I can do. For this babka wreath, I did a chocolate and orange pairing, perfect for the holidays. The bright orange flavor is incorporated in the dough in juice and zest forms. Then lovely ribbons of chocolate are woven in.

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