Capirotada (Mexican Dessert)

Fruity, nutty, and cheesy, capirotada is a Mexican dessert made with layers of buttered bread, walnuts, dried fruits, and Monterey Jack cheese drizzled with cinnamon syrup.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 374 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups water
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 16 ounces piloncillo (Mexican brown sugar cone), chopped
• 2 tablespoons raw sugar
• 1 (18 ounce) loaf French bread, sliced
• 0.25 cup butter
• 0.5 cup raisins
• 1.5 cups chopped walnuts
• 0.5 cup chopped dried apricots
• 0.25 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1.5 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

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.

Step 3

Lightly butter each slice of bread. Place slices in a large, flat baking pan.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until toasted, 10 to 15 minutes. Let butter dry.

Step 5

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.

Step 6

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.