Conchas











Ingredients

Makes 16 conchas of 65 grams each

Dough

500 grams of all-purpose flour

150 grams of sugar

11 grams of instant yeast

180 ml warm milk (110 degrees Fahrenheit or 43 Centigrades)

2 eggs, at room temperature

1 yolk, at room temperature

120 grams of unsalted butter, at room temperature

20 grams lard

3/4 teaspoon salt

Note: If the lard has an intense aroma, use 10 grams of lard and 130 grams of butter instead.


Topping

150 grams of flour

150 grams of icing sugar

150 grams of vegetable shortening

1/4 teaspoon vanilla


Ingredientes

Masa

500 gramos de harina

150 gramos de azúcar

8 gramos (3/4 cucharadita) de sal

180 ml leche tibia (110 degrees Fahrenheit or 43 Centigrades)

11 gramos levadura en polvo instantanea

2 huevos, a temperatura ambiente

1 yema, a temperatura ambiente

120 gramos mantequilla sin sal, a temperatura ambiente

20 gramos manteca de cerdo

3/4 cucharadita de sal

2 cucharaditas de vainilla

Notes 

  • If the lard has an intense aroma, use 10 grams of lard and 130 grams of butter instead.
  • Bread flour will result in a softer texture.


Cobertura

150 gramos de harina

150 gramos de azúcar glass

150 gramos de manteca vegetal

1/4 cucharadita de vainilla


Directions

1. Combine flour, sugar, instant yeast, and salt in the bowl of a standing mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix for a few seconds to combine well. Add the warm milk and mix until the dough forms. Add eggs and yolk, butter, and lard. 

 2. Continue mixing at medium speed at intervals of 5 minutes allowing the dough to rest for 5 minutes until the dough is very soft and elastic and a membrane forms when stretched. 

3. Shape the dough into a ball, place it in the bowl of the standing mixer, cover it with plastic film, and let it rest in a warm place until it grows considerably --at least double the original size. A turned-off oven with the light on will provide a constant temperature ideal for the dough to rise. 

4. Prepare the topping by softening the shortening until creamy, and then adding the confectioner's sugar. Finally, add the flour little by little. The topping should become a soft but unified paste that doesn’t crumble easily. Set aside. 

5. Once the dough has risen and doubled in size, place it on a floured surface and fold it into itself three or four times. Divide the dough into 16 pieces (65 grams each). Shape into balls. 

6. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. Place the balls onto baking sheets covered with parchment paper. Allow at least 2 inches between the conchas. Using your hands, grease the top of each ball with shortening. This step will allow the topping to adhere to the dough and not fall off. 

8. Roll the topping mix into a long log and divide it into 16 balls. Using a "tortillero" flatten each ball and place it on top of each concha. Use a concha cutter or a knife to make decorating cuts, such as concha, trellis, or spiral.

9. Cover the conchas with film and allow the conchas to rise in a warm place until they are almost double in size, 1 to 2 hours. Don't let them rise any longer because they may collapse when you bake them. 

10. Bake the conchas for 20 minutes or until the dough in between the topping looks light brown. 

Notes

  • Start early in the morning to have enough time to let the dough rest. The dough can be made a day ahead and be stored in the fridge to bake the next day.
  • Half the dough can be frozen in a freezer bag for later use. Defrost it overnight and then shape the conchas. The shaped conchas with the topping on can also be frozen. Defrost until they rise and bake as indicated. 

Inspiration 1

Inspiration 2





Comments