Pan de Arena

I am fascinated with a few things to the point that I obsess about them. Well, it may be more than a few things. One of them is words.

I become amazed with the beauty a word may have. With the way it sounds. With the way that pronouncing that word may change the way I breathe or make me pout my mouth. With how much power a word can hold. With the diverse meanings it can contain, depending on who you say it to, how you say it, or by which words it is accompanied by.

I absolutely adore words. I once started a “favorite words list” and just couldn’t keep up with how many I was adding. There were the words I had forgotten and had suddenly rediscovered. There were the words I had never ever heard of. I have a tendency to stop someone in the middle of a sentence to ask them about that word they just used. Where is it from, what exactly does it mean, how else can one use it? Always on the hunt for new words, when I find a great one, I fall in love with it. And once I do, I never fall out of love with it.

This may all have to do with my being a Spanish speaker until I moved to the US. Once here, I started noticing the beauty of words I was getting nostalgic about because I couldn’t find a good substitute in English. And once I started getting a bit more fluent in English, I would find the use of a certain English word so extraordinary that I couldn’t find the right substitute in Spanish. So I sort of blame it all on my move to the US because I certainly wasn’t obsessed with words when I lived in Mexico.

Anyway. This recipe has two words I adore in Spanish: pan and arena. Pan translates to bread and arena to sand. The funny thing is sometimes words and names play tricks on reality. This pan de arena is no bread and has no sandy texture.

More like a pound cake, pan de arena’s texture is really perfect. When you slice it, it feels like it came from a professional bakery. With just the right amount of moist and just the right amount of crumbly. It may be that because the texture is so evenly moist and crumbly throughout, it got named after sand. Its taste is also so well balanced. Just enough sweetness and a buttery taste that gets nuanced, but not over powered, by lime zest and lime juice. Yet it doesn’t taste citrusy at all.

This pan de arena comes from the state of Chiapas in Mexico. You can find it there from morning ‘til night. Sometimes it comes in individual sizes – that may be why it is also called bizcocho chiapaneco, as bizcocho refers to a sweet roll – but it is mostly cut from a bigger loaf into square or rectangular pieces.

Just like your favorite pound cake, it can be eaten on its own or topped with ice cream, fruit compote, fresh fruit coulis, or whipped cream. It is also ideal sliced and tucked away in your kid’s lunch box.

I am just as enamored with this poundcake’s charming taste and texture as I am with the beauty of its name. And for the life of me, I cannot find out why or who named it pan de arena.

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting pan
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
Pinch of salt
2 1/2 cups unsalted butter at room temperature, plus more for greasing pan
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
6 large eggs
Grated zest of a large lime
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup whole milk

To Prepare

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter the sides and bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan and lightly coat with flour. Shake excess flour off.
In a medium bowl, combine your dry ingredients: the flour with the baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Beat the butter in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment over medium speed until very creamy and soft, at least 2 or 3 minutes. Incorporate the sugar, continue beating until well mixed. Add the eggs, one at a time, and continue beating until they are all incorporated.
Reduce speed to low, and add a cup of your dry ingredients, then add the lime zest and juice. Continue adding the rest of the flour, and finally add the milk. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula if need be, and continue beating the mix until it is spongy, fluffy and very well mixed.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the oven for 50 minutes, or until the pound cake is puffed up, golden brown on top, and a toothpick comes out clean and moist, but not wet.
Remove from the oven. Let cool and serve. It keeps very well covered for up to a week.

Comments

93comments inPan de Arena

Connie yandell

Dec 29

This recipe looks so good thank you

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jan 14
  
  My pleasure!
  
Javier Sanchez

Mar 12

My favorite cake !
To kick it up a notch , I add 1/2 to 1 cup of chopped toasted walnuts or pecans to batter .
Mas Mejor !!
Javier

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Mar 20
  
  Uy, yummy Javier, thanks for the tip 🙂
  
Anonymous

Feb 14

Felicidades Patty por compartir tus recetas. Hoy voy hacer con mi nieta el pan de arenas 🤗🎶🌹😍🙏

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Feb 15
  
  Gracias a ti, que amable! Ojala que tu y tu nieta disfruten el pan, me encanta 😉
  
Anonymous

Feb 13

how to make a smaller version of this beautiful Pound Cake ?

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Feb 15
  
  Just cut all ingredients in half and start checking it in the oven at 35 minutes to make sure it is done, enjoy!
  
Yollie Martinez

Feb 08

Recipe looks and sounds amazing…gonna bake it real soon. Lots of love to you our beautiful Chef Pati

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Feb 10
  
  Thanks so much Yollie, un abrazo!
  
anonymous

Jan 18

If you love words and history, you should subscribe to Wordsmith.org and The Writers Almanac. I love your show and books and everything about you. I think that your travel segments are more important than you realize in our increasingly intolerant world! I’ve always been curious about the reference to sand in baking. The etymology of words and the names given to things is so interesting.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jan 19
  
  I love words! Thanks for sharing.
  
Patty Ortiz

Nov 07

Your recipes have been because like the pan de arena thank so much for your recipes.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Nov 08
  
  Thanks for giving them a try, Patty!
  
Marielynn Herrera

Oct 16

Your recipes have been such a hit at home! The smell, ingredients and flavors remind us of our Mexican roots and we feel closer to our mothers and abuelitas because of it. Thank you for making it such an orgullo of our heritage!

For this recipe can cake flour be substituted for all-purpose flour? Thanks, Pati!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Oct 25
  
  So happy to hear that, Marielynn! And yes you can use cake flour to make these.
  
Amy Kerwin

Aug 07

Hola Pati,
I came across this recipe a couple of weeks ago, I love “pound cake” this Pan de Arena hits the spot just right… like you mentioned it tastes fabulous with coffee in the morning, or for the afternoon merienda, or really any time of the day lol!! My family loved it. Thank you so much for the great recipes that you cook and sharing with everyone.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Aug 08
  
  Thank YOU Amy!
  
Anonymous

Aug 06

I stay up late night so I can see your show (230a) I love Mexican food and Drinks I’m a fan. You’re on channel Create(20.3) in Indianapolis, Indiana. Keep up the good food.
Sincerely Pansy Whitlock

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Aug 07
  
  Thank you for staying up to tune in, Pansy!
  
Leillani

Aug 06

Aloha Pati!
I love your cooking show. Love watching your interactions with your family. Thank you for being so inviting, at times I think I am literally in your kitchen!!! I am going to make this pound cake soon.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Aug 07
  
  Aw thank you, Leillani!
  
Anonymous

Oct 13

Sounds wonderful…plan to bake it! Thank you!

1. Pati
  
  Oct 13
  
  Have fun baking!
  
Angela B.

Oct 13

I’M in love with your kibdness and your yummy recipes!!
Thanks Pati.

1. Pati
  
  Oct 13
  
  Aww thank you so much Angela.
  
Elizabeth

Feb 22

Pati. There is a Breton shortbread cookie called a sables (translates to sand). In the US we have Pecan sandies. The sandy texture is created by a little extra fat in the recipe. I see that this recipe has, like the classic pound cake, a pound of flour, sugar, and eggs, but goes with more than a pound of fat. So the pan de arena may be part of a tradition of “sandy” sweets made that way by the addition of a little extra fat.
Words are wonderful, as are your recipes, and your show.

1. Pati
  
  Feb 22
  
  Oh how interesting….thanks for sharing Elizabeth!
  
"Yolanda Yvonne"? Bonnie

Apr 30

Pati?‍?,
Everything you make and bake is delicious ?. Love your show. Marathon on Create??Is Great?? keep on, keeping on???❤️

1. Pati
  
  May 01
  
  ?
  
Maricela from St Louis

Apr 26

Hola Pati!
ERES MI FAVORITA Chef! ☺ I’m going to make this bread for one of my cooks at work. He’s from Chiapas. He asked me when I was going to make a Pati recipe again! They know you’re my favorite too!

1. Pati
  
  Apr 28
  
  Hope you all enjoy the bread!
  
Andrea

Apr 05

How important is it to make this with a stand mixer? I only have a hand held one. My mom has an old one but I am not sure if she has a paddle attachment. This sounds so yummy I want to make it!

1. Pati
  
  Apr 07
  
  Absolutely Andrea! A hand held mixer works as well.
  
Virginia Quintana

Mar 28

Pati, I can hardly wait to try this. I love your recipes and when I make them, my family and friends are impressed, and of course, I always say Pati showed me how. Thank you for making me a better cook!

1. Pati
  
  Apr 03
  
  Thank you!
  
Carmen

Mar 27

Pati, I love your show. Congratulations on your award!!

1. Pati
  
  Mar 27
  
  Thank you Carmen!
  
Nancy Stone

Mar 26

Congratulations on your nomination
Your program transports us historically
Culturally and gastronomically you’re an amazing young woman very proud of you sincerely Nancy Stone

1. Pati
  
  Mar 27
  
  Thank you so much Nancy!
  
stella

Mar 26

Love your TV show, Pati and your yummy recipes

1. Pati
  
  Mar 27
  
  Thank you Stella!
  
Aida aguirre

Mar 24

Hola, Pati me gustan mucho la forma de Como mostrar la recestas de todos tus platillos de donde vienen.y no solo eso la forma de cosinar tu ases que sea muy facil ..Gracias. T,Q.M..

1. Pati
  
  Mar 27
  
  Muchas gracias Aida!
  
Madeline

Mar 24

2-1/2 cups butter?

1. Pati
  
  Mar 24
  
  Sí!
  
Linda

Mar 24

Hola pati…i am a big fan of your’s..i always try and watch your pbs shows…this is my new go to reciepe…pan de arena…lol..u can imagine what my spanish speaking husband will say when i tell him the name..A..Ca…….lol…Thank you…sincerely Linda..from El Paso

1. Pati
  
  Mar 24
  
  So happy to hear it is your new go to, Linda.
  
Paul Oler

Mar 24

Love your show, and love to hear your mastery of English. Congratulations on receiving the honors related to the James Beard award.
I’m reducing my butter intake, so won’t make Pan de Arena. But I’ve enjoyed pound cake, and think your addition of lime would be a winner!

1. Pati
  
  Mar 24
  
  Thank you Paul!
  
Toni

Mar 24

Hi Pati
Now I have another reason to respect and admire you — we are similar in that we love words. Mine started at a young age when I began to read and continues to this day. It influenced my career as a high school English/Literature teacher. Thank you for sharing who you are with us, it makes you even more endearing. Thanks, too, for your wonderful recipes. Your love of words trickles down into your ability to convey your recipes–both on your show and in written form–into clear and concise gems that make everyone who tries them feel as though they are a master. By the way, might you be returning to Fiesta Mexicana in Milwaukee, WI?

1. Pati
  
  Mar 24
  
  Toni, Thank you for your lovely words!
  
Josie

Mar 24

Wow! looks good and easy to make, I was looking at the ingredients and I have everything in my kitchen. Well make it today. Easy recipe.

1. Pati
  
  Mar 24
  
  Hope you like it Josie!
  
Karen Ruth

Mar 24

I asked about other pan sizes because my 13 X9 is sad these days. BUT, I have a 10 -15 cup Bundt pan that is screaming to have this cake in it ! I am only unsure of the baking time since this is one BIG mama of a cake . Since it’s so deep I’ll use an uncooked strand of spaghetti for a tester . Great tip from another baker ! Thanks,Pati.

Karen Ruth

Mar 24

This is a question. Can this be baked in loaf pans ? Two or 3 ,8.5 x 4.5 or two 9.5 x 5 in. pans ? I really hope you get another award . You deserve it ! You teach Spanish ,history, geography, and you even get some cooking in there ! LOL ! Even if I can’t make or eat a lot of the things you make , you make me WANT TO ! That is a mark of a great teacher . Oh, and I love your boys ! We also have 3 boys and 2 girls . They were all so much fun but the boys gave all of us the best laughs ! Thank you for all your work esp. the work you do at home . <3 Happiest of Easters !

1. Pati
  
  Mar 27
  
  Hola Karen, thank you for your lovely message! You can use two loaf pans.
  
Anonymous

Mar 24

Love how you included your children on your show. Thank you!

1. Pati
  
  Mar 24
  
  Aww thank you!
  
Maritere Alvarez.

Mar 23

Mi pregunta es sobre el jugo de Lime…es el limón verde ó la LIMA fruta Mexicana. GRACIAS?

1. Pati
  
  Mar 27
  
  Es el limón verde.
  
awilda

Mar 23

I would love to make this cake, but 21/2 of butter? and the sugar is too much, for a diabetic and hypertensive, why not replace half of the butter and half of the sugar? Think of the people on diets please?

1. Pati
  
  Mar 24
  
  Thank you for the suggestion.
  
Judy D.

Mar 23

This recipe sounds delicious. I bet the lime zest and juice gives it just the “lift” to make it perfect. I also love the fact that the list of ingredients isn’t a mile long. Can’t wait to make this.

1. Pati
  
  Mar 27
  
  Yay!
  
Terri

Mar 23

I have a Mexican lime tree in my back yard. How much would I substitute of these little but more potent limes for the one large lime and 1/4 lime juice? I love pound cake and lime so I’m anxious to try this recipe.

1. Pati
  
  Apr 03
  
  Use the same amount, it will be really good 🙂
  
Stephanie Rodriguez

Mar 23

Dear Pati,
Thank you for being you, being vulnerable and lettIng us close to you and your family and your passions. Your love of life and tender heart has endeared me to you and I love being in your kitchen and on your travels “with you”.
Love.
Stephanie

1. Pati
  
  Mar 24
  
  Gracias Stephanie!
  
Rosanne Valdez

Mar 23

I will definitely try this Pan de Arena. We love pound cake and adding the lime juice will give it more flavor
than most pound cakes.

1. Pati
  
  Mar 24
  
  Super!
  
Mona

Mar 23

Hola Pati, I must say how much I appreciate your cooking…. I would try this recipe with orange instead and with an orange glaze…only because I love oranges.
Thanks Pati!

1. Pati
  
  Mar 24
  
  I love it with lime but you can always make the recipe your own ? !
  
Anonymous

Mar 23

Do you mean 2 1/2 sticks of butter—2 1/2 cups is a lot of butter

1. Pati
  
  Mar 24
  
  It should be 2.5 cups of butter.
  
Angela

Mar 23

Hi Karen,

I’m I correct, 5 sticks of butter?

1. Pati
  
  Mar 24
  
  Yes…that’s correct.
  
patricia Futrell

Mar 23

i love this cake with Strawberry and some cool whip topping, with a cup of coffee. thank u and i also love your show, tell the family hello for me them some sweet Boys,

1. Pati
  
  Mar 24
  
  Hola Patricia…I will make sure to say hello to the boys!
  
Lyda Pabon

Mar 23

Patti,

Have you developed recipes that are gluten free?

1. Pati
  
  Mar 24
  
  Yes…here are a few
  https://patyhinich.com/recipe/flourless-almond-and-porto-cake/
  https://patyhinich.com/recipe/nana-joses-flourless-chocolate-pecan-cake/
  
Mary Batenhorst

Mar 23

There is something similar in Oaxaca de Juárez, but I think it’s made with orange. I buy it at the Quemada store where it simply is labeled as panqueque.

1. Pati
  
  Mar 27
  
  Yum!
  
Karen

Mar 23

Hi Patty,
Thanks for opening up whole new world of flavors for me and my family! I am fascinated by the new foods and combinations of tastes that you have taught me and I hope to continue learning from you.
Karen

1. Pati
  
  Mar 23
  
  This means so much to me Karen…thank you!
  
Micharl ancheta

Mar 23

How about a can’t go wrong Spanish rice recipe…por favor

1. Pati
  
  Mar 23
  
  Here you go: http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/recipe/red_rice_from_el_chepe/
  https://patyhinich.com/recipe/mexican-rice-with-prawns-2/
  
Patricia Lemon

Mar 23

Consider adding nutritional analysis to your recipes.

1. Pati
  
  Mar 23
  
  Thank you for the suggestion Patricia.
  
Amanda P.

Mar 23

hi Pati
thanks for this recipe, I’m going to try i it this weekend. I tried the Nana Jose’s Flour less Chocolate Pecan Cake, it’s amazing.
I enjoy all your recipes.
have a nice weekend.
Saludos desde Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada.

1. Pati
  
  Mar 23
  
  Thank you Amanda!
  
Louise Leclair-Aronson

Mar 23

I made your mango pound cake recently, accompanied with fruits and wipped cream and it was just superb. Can’t wait to try this one.

1. Pati
  
  Mar 23
  
  Yay!

La Frontera

Pati's Mexican Table

Thriving Through Food

Pump Up El Sabor

Tequila & Classics

Drink to That

#MustEat

La Frontera

Pati's Mexican Table

Thriving Through Food

Pump Up El Sabor

Tequila & Classics

Drink to That

#MustEat

Sand Pound Cake

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