Mexican Sugar Skulls

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Eden Passante takes on the traditional art of Mexican Sugar Skulls by using dyed icing and gold foil to portray the beautiful and colorful designs.

Prep Time1 15

Rest12

Total Time13 15

Servings: skulls

Author: Eden

Cost: $30

In a large mixing bowl, combine granulated sugar, meringue powder, and water.
Start mixing with a wooden spoon, then use your hands to work out all the clumps. Keep going until the mixture feels like damp sand and holds its shape when squeezed. (This usually takes about 5 minutes.)
Tightly press the sugar mixture into your skull mold. Make sure it’s firmly packed—any gaps will cause cracks when the skull dries.
Place a small piece of cardboard over the mold, flip it carefully, and gently lift the mold away to reveal the skull.
Leave the skulls to dry for at least 12 hours. They need to be completely hardened before decorating.
If you’re making two-part skulls, wait about 4 hours, then gently scrape out some sugar from the backs of each piece. This makes them lighter and easier to glue together with royal icing later.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or use a large mixing bowl with a handheld mixer), combine powdered sugar and meringue powder. Whisk them together to remove any lumps.
Divide it into bowls and tint each one with gel or paste food coloring.
Transfer the icing into piping bags fitted with small round or decorative tips, depending on the designs you want to create.
Pipe colorful swirls, lines, and flowers with royal icing.
Add foil for eyes, sequins for sparkle, or even feathers and beads for personality.
Add foil for eyes, sequins for sparkle, or even feathers and beads for personality.

Consistency check: The sugar mixture should feel like damp sand and hold its shape when squeezed. If it’s too crumbly, add a few extra drops of water.
Drying time: Let the sugar skulls dry at least 12 hours before decorating. For two-part skulls, scrape out a little sugar after 4 hours so they’re lighter when glued together.
Royal icing fix: If the icing is too thick, beat in a tiny bit of water until smooth.
Work quickly: Royal icing dries fast—keep bags twisted closed and cover bowls with plastic wrap pressed on top.
Unclogging tips: If icing hardens in the piping tip, poke it out with a pin or toothpick.
Decorating ideas: Add foil crowns, sequins eyes, marigold flowers, or even feathers to make each skull unique.