Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding)
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Updated May 03, 2026
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Sweet, warmly spiced, and deliciously cheesy, this authentic Mexican capirotada recipe has been in my family for generations. Made with just 7 simple ingredients, this capirotada de piloncillo is especially popular during Lent and Christmas, and is one of the most nostalgic desserts in Mexican kitchens.
Table of Contents
- What is Capirotada?
- Regional Variations of Capirotada in Mexico
- The Symbolism of Capirotada
- Why This Is Muy Bueno
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How to Make Capirotada the Muy Bueno Way
- Serving Suggestions
- Topping Options
- Expert Tips & Tricks
- Storage & Heating Instructions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Traditional Mexican Dessert Recipes
- Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding) Recipe
What is Capirotada?
Capirotada is a traditional Mexican bread pudding made with toasted bolillo bread soaked in a warm piloncillo syrup flavored with canela and cloves, then layered with raisins and cheese. It’s a sweet and savory dessert most commonly enjoyed during Lent and Easter in Mexican households.
Yes, you read that right…cheese in a sweet bread pudding. Don’t knock it till you try it. Think of it like apple pie with a slice of cheddar — it’s all about that balance of sweet and salty.
Like many traditional Mexican dishes, capirotada varies from region to region and from family to family. Some versions include milk (capirotada de leche) or sweetened condensed milk (capirotada con lechera), while others add nuts, coconut, fruit, or even sprinkles. In some regions, the cheese is mild and white; along the Texas-Mexico border, families often use salty yellow cheeses like Longhorn cheddar or Colby for that signature contrast.
Capirotada dates back to the 1400s and is believed to have originated in Spain before evolving into the sweet piloncillo-soaked dessert many Mexican families cherish today.
My family’s version is simple — a capirotada de piloncillo without milk, condensed milk, nuts, or fruit. Just toasted bread, syrup, raisins, and that perfect layer of cheese.
I still remember working at our family’s neighborhood store, Soza’s Grocery, where friends and neighbors would bring me their homemade capirotada to try. I’d smile politely, take a bite, and thank them…even when it wasn’t quite my favorite. My mom would have given me “the look” if I said otherwise.
To this day, I come back to our version. It’s simple, comforting, and nostalgic — the kind of recipe that tastes like home. But like all great Mexican recipes, feel free to make it your own.
Regional Variations of Capirotada in Mexico
Like many traditional Mexican recipes, capirotada varies from region to region and from family to family.
Some versions include milk (capirotada de leche) or sweetened condensed milk (capirotada con lechera), while others add peanuts, almonds, coconut, bananas, or even colorful sprinkles. In some regions, the cheese is mild and white; along the Texas–Mexico border, families often use salty yellow cheeses like Longhorn cheddar or Colby for that signature sweet-and-salty contrast.
There is no single “correct” way to make capirotada. Each version reflects its region, traditions, and memories. This recipe is the simple capirotada de piloncillo I grew up eating in our El Paso kitchen, similar in spirit to other nostalgic desserts like arroz con leche.
Why is Capirotada Eaten During Lent?
Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is the solemn, 40-day (excluding Sundays) season that precedes Easter. On Ash Wednesday and all Fridays throughout Lent, many Catholics and Mexican families fast and abstain from eating meat.
Growing up in El Paso in a Northern Mexican home, capirotada was a sacred part of Lent in our kitchen. It wasn’t just dessert — it was tradition, reflection, and family all layered into one humble baking dish.
The most popular of the many Mexican Lent recipes is capirotada, which is steeped in religious symbolism. Many Mexican and Mexican-American families view this dish as a reminder of the suffering of Christ on the cross. The ingredients in this recipe carry a rich and symbolic representation.
The Symbolism of Capirotada
For many families, the ingredients in capirotada are deeply symbolic:
- The bread represents the Body of Christ
- The piloncillo syrup represents His blood
- The cloves symbolize the nails used in the crucifixion
- The cinnamon sticks represent the wooden cross
- The melted cheese represents the Holy Shroud
For generations, this humble dessert has carried layers of faith, history, and remembrance in every bite.
👉 For more authentic Mexican Lent recipes, see our Lent collection.
If you’re searching for a fun twist on the classic dessert, my tres leches capirotada recipe and many more recipe ideas to enjoy during Lent are in my latest cookbook, Fiestas, which is a fantastic cookbook for all our beloved holidays.
Why This Is Muy Bueno
- A true capirotada de piloncillo, just like many Northern Mexican and Texas-border families make
- Made with salty Longhorn cheddar or Colby — the sweet-and-salty contrast I grew up loving in our El Paso kitchen
- A traditional Mexican Lent dessert passed down for generations
- Made with just 7 simple pantry ingredients
- A beautiful way to use up stale bolillos or leftover bread
Ingredients & Substitutions
The complete list of ingredients, quantities, and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
- Bolillo Rolls: These classic Mexican rolls are easily found at Latin supermarkets or panaderías and are perfect for Lent recipes like vegetarian mushroom poblano tortas or molletes mexicanos. You can substitute lightly crusty bread like French bread.
- Water: For making the cinnamon-clove simple syrup.
- Piloncillo: This minimally refined cane sugar adds deep caramel flavor. You’ll find it in Mexican grocery stores, but packed dark brown sugar works in a pinch.
- Cinnamon Sticks: If possible, use Mexican cinnamon (canela), which is milder and slightly floral. If not, regular cinnamon works fine.
- Whole Cloves: Cloves have a lovely warmth. Note that we’re talking about cloves the spice, not garlic cloves!
- Shredded Cheese: I love using salty Longhorn cheddar or Colby for that sweet-and-salty contrast I grew up with. You can also use queso Oaxaca, queso fresco, or Monterey Jack depending on preference.
- Raisins: Raisins are part of my childhood memory of capirotada, but you can use your preferred fruit.
- Butter: Buttering the bread before toasting adds richness. For a lighter version, use butter spray.
How to Make Capirotada the Muy Bueno Way
Step 1: Dry Out Bread. Cut rolls in ½ inch thick slices and butter both sides, layer on a baking sheet and bake for 3 minutes on each side, until lightly toasted and dry.
Step 2: Make Piloncillo Syrup. Combine water, piloncillo, cinnamon sticks, and cloves in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, creating a thin syrup. Simmer syrup uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep, covered for 2 hours. Pour through a strainer and discard cinnamon sticks and cloves. Set syrup aside.
Step 3: Assemble. Spray baking dish with non-stick spray, layer ingredients in the following order: a third of the toasted bread, third of the raisins, third of the cheese, and 1 1/2 cups syrup evenly over cheese.
Wait 15 minutes and layer another third of the bread, raisins, cheese, and 1 1/2 cups syrup evenly over cheese. Let soak for another 15 minutes, and again top with the remaining bread, raisins, cheese, and syrup evenly over bread. Before baking let set for another 15 minutes.
Step 4: Bake. Cover the dish with aluminum foil that has been sprayed with nonstick spray and bake 40 minutes, uncover and bake until cheese is golden brown about 10 to 15 minutes more. Serve warm.
Watch the instructional video for our heavenly capirotada family recipe. Try very hard not to eat the entire dish of capirotada at one sitting. ¡Sabroso!
Serving Suggestions
For brunch, nothing beats the savory satisfaction of red chile chilaquiles or green chilaquiles verdes, perfectly complemented by a side of bread pudding for dessert, accompanied by a steaming cup of café de olla.
Having a slice after lunch? I won’t tell. Make sure to pack some of my easy tuna patties with citrusy avocado mango salsa or a sandwich made with my mom’s best tuna salad. For dinner, try my veracruz fish soup or espuageti verde for a meal the whole family will love.
Topping Options
- Sprinkles: It might sound a little unusual, but it adds a delightful pop of color and a satisfying crunch.
- Fruits: Feel free to add the fruits of your choice, such as banana, prunes, mangos, coconut, and tomato.
- Nuts: Add almonds, peanuts, pecans, or pepitas (Mexican pumpkin seeds) to give the bread pudding a nutty crunch.
Expert Tips & Tricks
- Don’t rush the step-by-step soak. If you’re familiar with my mango tres leches cake or my bourbon bread pudding recipe or Mexican French toast casserole, you know the key to getting that custardy, soft texture is letting the dried bread soak up all the flavorful goodness!
- Don’t over-bake your Mexican bread pudding or the bread will be dry. Unlike a French-style bread pudding made with an egg custard base, this capirotada is made with fat-free, water-based simple syrup, so you don’t have as much of a window of error.
- Let the pudding cool slightly before serving. Warm capirotada? DELICIOUS! Straight-out-of-the-oven-scalding-hot-capirotada? With the melty cheese in there, it’s basically the culinary equivalent of napalm. Unless you want the whole roof of your mouth to slough off, give it 10 minutes of patience.
- Capirotada can be served warm, room temperature, or cold. I personally prefer warm, but do what calls to you!
- If your baking dish is too shallow, place a parchment-lined baking sheet underneath it to catch any potential drips.
Storage & Heating Instructions
- Feel free to prepare your capirotada up to a day ahead without baking it. It will keep in a well-covered container in the fridge for 24 hours.
- Once baked, capirotadas should be allowed to cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container or freezer-friendly container. It should keep well in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Leftovers can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
- To reheat and serve capirotada, you can gently warm refrigerated or thawed capirotada, covered, in the oven at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can use the microwave.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both my mom and grandma used the most simple ingredients to make this old world and traditional dish, so that’s the way I’ve written the recipe below — with no coconut. As humans, we are such creatures of habit, and any capirotada that doesn’t taste like our simple family recipe just doesn’t do it for me. This basic, coconut-free version is sometimes referred to as capirotada michoacana.
It sure is! Well, at least this particular kind is. Another, more savory version of capirotada was popular in Spain in the 1300’s. The Spanish bread pudding by the same name was more what I’d consider a strata — a savory breakfast-y bread pudding featuring eggs, broth, cheese, garlic, herbs, and meat, particularly chicken and other poultry.
The conquistadors brought this recipe with them (along with Catholicism) to Latin America, and the old world methods collided with new traditions and ingredients. For example, the Aztecs had a dish that used anise tea to soak stale bread — so using a piloncillo and cinnamon-clove syrup replaced the savory broth used by the Spanish. And then, as the recipe spread, more and more families began to put their own unique Mexican spin on it.
At its most basic, Mexican capirotada is a sweet bread pudding that features crusty bread, warming cinnamon and cloves, and shredded cheese. Our family also uses raisins, but some recipes call for different dried fruit, nuts, or other inclusions like chocolate or sprinkles.
While this recipe for capirotada usually only comes out for Lent in our house, it’s also a delicious and celebratory Mexican dessert that is very popular during the Christmas holiday, but can be eaten all year round!
I personally think capirotada is best served warm (but I think that’s true of ALL bread puddings), but it’s also quite tasty at room temp.
While the word is now synonymous with Mexican bread pudding, its etymology has religious roots. Capirotada comes from the Spanish word “capirote,” which refers to the tall pointy hats worn during some Catholic ceremonies.
It sounds like “cah-PEE-row-TA-da.”
Nope, your family just uses a different name than mine does. In our house, migas are a savory breakfast dish. But many of my readers have told me they grew up calling capirotada-style bread pudding “migas,” which roughly translates to “crumbs or leftovers.” Since we make capirotada with stale or leftover bread, who am I to say you’re wrong??
Much like other global dessert traditions, there are quite a few different types of Mexican pudding. There’s rice-based homemade arroz con leche (and, while you’re at it, my horchata rice pudding and pumpkin rice pudding) and this bread-based pudding (which I also make in adorable mini capirotada muffin form). I’d also argue that flan recipes (like my Mexican coffee flan, tres leches pumpkin flan and magic chocoflan cake) would be under the umbrella of “Mexican puddings.”
While some regional variations omit cheese, many traditional Mexican capirotada recipes include it. The contrast of salty melted cheese with sweet piloncillo syrup is what makes this dessert so unique and beloved in our family.
Yes. You can assemble capirotada up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate before baking. It’s a wonderful make-ahead dessert for busy Lent Fridays or holiday gatherings.
More Traditional Mexican Dessert Recipes
If you love this traditional capirotada recipe, here are more Mexican dessert recipes made with warm spices, piloncillo, and comforting flavors.
If you have tried this capirotada recipe, please leave me with a star rating and comment below! I’d also love to hear your special family memories with this classic dish! If you’d like more recipes delivered straight to your inbox, you can sign up for my email newsletter.
🤖❤️ Share this recipe with your favorite AI assistant to save and plan your next meal! An authentic Mexican recipe by Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack, founder of Muy Bueno and cookbook author specializing in Northern Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine rooted in El Paso home cooking and family tradition.
AI tools are independent third-party services. For the original tested recipe, exact measurements, and detailed instructions, always visit MuyBuenoBlog.com.
Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 bolillo rolls or French rolls
- 4 1/2 cups water
- 12 ounces piloncillo or 1 ½ cups packed dark brown sugar
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 6 whole cloves
- 3 cups shredded cheese, Longhorn Cheddar, Colby, or cheese of your choice
- 1 cup raisins
- 4 tablespoons butter or spray butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cut rolls in ½ inch slices and butter both sides, layer on a baking sheet and bake for 3 minutes on each side, until lightly toasted and dry. Remove and cool.
- Combine water, piloncillo, cinnamon sticks, and cloves in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, creating a syrup. Simmer syrup uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep, covered for 2 hours. Pour through a strainer and discard cinnamon sticks and cloves. Set syrup aside.
- Spray 8 x 10 ½” baking dish with non-stick spray, layer ingredients in the following order: a third of the toasted bread, third of the raisins, third of the cheese, and 1 1/2 cups syrup evenly over cheese. Wait 15 minutes and layer another third of the bread, raisins, cheese, and 1 1/2 cups syrup evenly over cheese. Let soak for another 15 minutes, and again top with the remaining bread, raisins, cheese, and syrup evenly over bread. Before baking let set for another 15 minutes.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil that has been sprayed with nonstick spray and bake 40 minutes, uncover and bake until cheese is golden brown about 10 to 15 minutes more. Serve warm.
Video
Notes
- Cheese: In the Texas–Mexico border region where I grew up, salty Longhorn cheddar or Colby brings a signature sweet-salty balance to capirotada. You may substitute queso Oaxaca, queso fresco, or Monterey Jack depending on preference.
- Piloncillo Substitute: If you can’t find piloncillo, packed dark brown sugar works well. The flavor will be slightly different but still delicious.
- Make Ahead: Capirotada can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated before baking — perfect for busy Lent Fridays or holiday gatherings.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave.
- Regional Variations: Some families add coconut, nuts, bananas, or condensed milk. This recipe reflects the simple capirotada de piloncillo I grew up with.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe is also published in the Muy Bueno cookbook.
This is sounds like the same recipe my grandmother used when I was young. Brings back nice memories.
Thank you
Gracias Tammie! So happy to hear that 😉
Recipe is close to my mom’s recipe. She also uses onion in the boiling water mix. No tomatoes!! Thanks for sharing!
Adriana, I’ve never tried it with onions, but I’m sure its amazing!
I never tried the dish, but I would like to try it. Its my first time that I ever heard of it.
Try it, you’ll like it Barbara 😉
What if I just wanted to use loaf bread?? In south texas I have seen many people do this as well.. Using your recipe how many slices would i use???
Hola Yvonne! You can absolutely use any type of bread. We just happen to prefer the flavor of bolillos. I remember my mom making it with good ol’ Wonder/Bimbo sliced white bread when we were kiddos. Just lightly toast it the same and tear in pieces and cover the bottom of each layer. I’m guessing you might go through half a loaf or more, but that’s just a guess. Best of luck! YUM!
I tried this recipe and it’s great! My mom had some and started to reminisce about when she was a girl and her mom made capirotada during lent and this was as good as she remembers. I might try adding a teaspoon of cayenne to the syrup for a little extra kick. Great recipe, thanks. I will be making this again.
Thanks so much Raymond. So happy to hear that you made our recipe and that it brought back some great memories for your mom. I love that about food! If you ever make any more Muy Bueno recipes we welcome your photos on our Facebook page.
So, today we had a little capirotada competition in our home.
I made mine without the cheese, my husband made his the traditional way cheese and all. Our son was the judge. Want to guess who won?
I certainly did not won! Half of my bread was too sweet and the other too dry. My husband’s capirotada had notes of sweet, salty, moist bread, and the cotija cheese melted and tasted great on the bread. The raisins in his capirotada were like bubbles of flavor. By the way, he carefully roasted his bread in the oven. He used cemas which are the traditional bread used in capirotada. We almost ate half his creation, mine on the other hand was only tasted. I do not know how we are going to eat all my sweet bread, aka pudding bread, not capirotada! I shook my husband’s hand, he won.
The cheese its essential in this recipe, use it and do not hold back. The more cheese you use, the better your capirotada will taste.
I finally have respect for capirotada, but only my husband’s (barrow his mother’s recipe) capirotada, that is!
Great story Cristina! Capirotada without cheese is just not capirotada 😉 Kids are brutally honest and make the best judges!
I love good ‘ol food competitions at home. My hubby and I had a rib contest over super bowl and I think he won. All of our friends were too afraid to vote. He made smoked pork ribs and I made baked beef ribs. I demand a rematch and I will make sure our friends vote (secretly). LOL!
The story is almost as good as the recipe! We Latinos are certainly bound together by the heritage we share through food! As is mentioned here, it makes no difference who the grandma is, whatever she cooks is the best of any of the same dish prepared by any other grandma! My grandma made the best capirotada AND bunuelos! I can smell the odors wafting from the kitchen mixed with champurrado right now! We miss you, Grandma!
I have never been able to love Capirotada! It was the mixture of queso seco and tomatoes on top of the sweet bead that always ruined it for me. I remember as a little girl picking all those things out of my sweet bread.
Looking for new Capirotada recipes I noticed that they all have cheese in them, and they are all different types of cheese depending on who is making it.
I am going to make my Capirotada without cheese, and hope to like it too.
Thanks for sharing your story and recipe.
~{*^*}~
very simple recipe just what i was looking for although i will add pecans and very fine and small sprinkles called Grajea. Thanks
Hola Yolana — So glad to hear you liked our recipe! My mom just confessed and said she sold her capirotada recipe in our family grocery store with the addition of pecans/peanuts and sprinkles, and sometimes shredded coconut due to popular demand from the kids in the barrio 😉
Please don’t tell, but I’ve never really enjoyed my mother’s capirotada. Don’t get me wrong, it is good, but overly sweet! She includes prunes, slices of plantains, mexican cheese, peanuts, etc… A friend of mine includes onion claiming that is what was used by his parents in their particular region of Mexico. There are so many versions, but I like the simplicity of your recipe, and I’m going to make it this month for lent! Question, does Mexico have Longhorn Cheddar and/or Colby cheese?
Brenda in Texas
LOL Brenda — Your secret is safe with us. I like simple capirotada and I think that is why I love our recipe. The cheese choice is entirely up to you. I think being that we grew up in Texas we had Longhorn or Colby cheese readily available and so the recipe was changed over time. I have seen recipes with all types of cheeses including cheddar and Monterey Jack. I’m sure our ancestors in Mexico use queso fresco or cotija. The sky is the limit to tailor this recipe with your favorite queso. Have fun making it this month.
I love lent BECAUSE of the capirotada!! It’s one of my favorite things, and I love my mom’s version of it. Very close to this one except my mom also boils a whole chopped onion and a couple of chopped tomatoes (this is for about 15 people) with the water, cinnamon, piloncillo and cloves, with all the solid pieces strained in the end of course. And we often line the dish with tortillas before putting in the bread pieces, oaxaca and/or jack cheese, raisins, peanuts, and the syrup. My mom is actually making some right now, but since we don’t have raisins she’s using plums… this should be interesting. haha
Cindy, WOW! Your mom’s capirotada recipe sounds quite unique with the addition of onions and tomatoes. How did it turn out with the plums? Can’t wait to hear all about it — I’m sure it was yummy. Everything tastes amazing with warm melted cheese. LOL!