Day Old or Stale Bread? Use it to make a new bread called Stones

If you are one of those people who decided that as a new year resolution will live a frugal life, then this recipe is for you and your sweet tooth. I always marvel at the many ways our previous generations avoided wasting food, and this is just one example of it. Bakers will use the unsold bread of the day to make bread pudding, and these tasty, can’t get enough of them breads called “Piedras” (Stones). They are a mix between a cookie and a bread. If you like scones or biscuits then you will enjoy this versatile recipe. After several times baking them in the past 2 months and experimenting with the recipe, it allows for many variations: you can add raisins, dried cranberries, frozen blueberries and even chocolate chips.  However, in México they are sold plain.
Although I had this recipe for many years, it was until recently that after a fellow blogger girlichef mentioned it in her blog that this is one of her husband’s favorite Mexican pastries at their local bakery, and since this is also one of my favorites breads, I decided to make them at home. Try it yourself next time you have some day old bread or stale bread, you will be surprised of how easy they are to prepare. You can even freeze the dough after mixing it for later use.

Please check notes bellow if you are using sweet breads or a mix of breads.
Ingredients for 12 Piedras/Stones
4 1/2 cup (500 grams) plain bread crumbs, made out after processing your bread in the food processor or blender
1 3/4 cup (250 grams) All purpose flour
1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar
100 grams margarine
1 ½  tsp.  baking powder
1 ½ tsp. baking soda
1 ½ cup   whole milk  (add slowly)
Flour as needed to work the dough
Sugar to decorate the topping
NOTES:
If using sweet breads reduce the amount of sugar to 4 Tablespoons. The same applies to milk, reduce the amount to 1 cup. Since sweet breads tend to be on the moist side. Just add the milk little by little.
Instructions:
 
Making the bread crumbs
After a few days of buying the bread and when it starts to look sad, I usually cut it in cubes and freeze it in a plastic bag to be used for bread crumbs, croutons, bread pudding and the like. When it is just sweet breads like challah, croissants, or biscuits they are frozen in a separate bag from the plain or salty bread. In this case the one in the pictures is day old sweet breads. 
The bread crumbs are placed in the food processor and processed until they become fine crumbs.

1. Preheat your oven at 350 degrees.  In a medium bowl, mix together the dry ingredients, then add the margarine and knead. Gradually  mix in the milk until you form a smooth dough.
2. Knead the dough until it is soft. If the dough seems hard add more milk. The dough should resemble  cookie dough.

3. Using a  2 1/3 inch ice cream scoop place the dough in your greased baking sheet. Arrange them one inch apart. Sprinkle with sugar and bake until the bread is golden at edges but firm, about 20 minutes.  Let cool completely.
Let me know if you try this recipe, I will love to hear about your own version.
Provecho!
 
Mely

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