Usually made with the departed's name written on the forehead, sugar skulls (calaveras de azúcar) represent those who have passed and are easily the most recognizable symbol of Dia de los Muertos. These sugary decorations are placed on altars (ofrendas) after being decorated with bright colors and personalized designs to celebrate the lives of the departed. Here is a step by step guide on how to make your own sugar skulls for Dia de los Muertos.
Ingredients/Tools
Skulls
Royal Icing
Step 1: Prepare Sugar
Depending on how many skulls you want to make and how big you want them to be, the amount of sugar you need will vary. A good rule of thumb is to use 1 teaspoon of water and 1 teaspoon of meringue powder per cup of sugar. After mixing these ingredients together, the mixture should feel like wet sand and be easily shaped with your hands. If the mixture starts to crumble or becomes sticky, feel free to add small amounts of sugar or water until the texture feels right.
Note: While the meringue powder can be omitted, we do not recommend it since the mixture may not harden as easily and could fall apart when dry.
Step 2: Fill in Mold
Fill each half of the skull molds with the sugar mixture and pack tightly. Be sure to pay extra attention to the detailed areas first (eyes, nose, mouth).
Pro Tip: When the skull is dry enough to hold its shape but still moldable, try scooping some of the sugar from the center of each half of the skull to speed up the drying process. Just be sure to leave enough space to glue the skull halves together with icing. This is especially helpful for larger skulls.
Step 3: Let Dry
Place a piece of cardboard over the mold and carefully flip it over. Let the skulls dry for at least 8 hours or overnight. If it is humid or raining outside, the skulls may take longer to dry.
Pro Tip: Can't wait to decorate? Try placing the skulls on a baking sheet and putting them in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 200° F. Let them cool for at least 30 minutes before decorating.
Step 4: Make Icing
This recipe uses royal icing since it hardens quickly and helps the designs you create keep their shape. However, if you would rather use non-edible decorations instead, feel free to skip this step!
In order to make the icing, you will need 1 pound of powdered sugar, 1/3 cup of water, and 3 tablespoons of meringue powder. Beat these ingredients with a mixer on low speed until it forms peaks and looks like a paste. If you want the icing to be thinner, add more water.
Once the icing is made, separate a small amount to spread along the back of each half of the skulls with either a knife or a piping bag. Press the two halves together and wipe away any icing that oozes between them. Allow them to dry for at least 15 minutes before decorating. Meanwhile, take the icing that is left, separate them into small groups, and color it with food coloring.
Step 5: Decorate
Fill your piping bags with the colored icing and decorate your skulls as elaborately as you would like. Be sure to decorate each skull as unique as the person you are making it for! If the icing begins to get stiff and hard to use while you are decorating, you can soften it by adding a small amount of water. You can also use non-edible decorations such as sequins, markers, glitter glue, and feathers.
Note: While this recipe is completely edible — as long as you used only edible decorations— sugar skulls are typically used as decorations, not dessert.