Sugar Skulls How-To

You will need:

• Sugar Skull Mold - Fancy Flours doesn't currently carry a mold for this recipe.
• Meringue Powder - Note: Meringue Powder is a "MUST" and cannot be omitted. Fancy Flours item #67CK154
• Granulated Sugar
• Water

The skull or skeleton is the number one symbol for the Days of the Dead. Made from a sugar paste cast in molds, the candy skulls of the Days of the Dead are decorated with colorful foil eyes and icing. The sugar skulls of the Days of the Dead are considered gifts, tokens of love, and besides being eaten by all ages, they adorn home altars and grave sights.

Instructions:

1. This sugar skull recipe is safe and edible – it just doesn't taste good! Because skulls are decorated with sequins, feathers, etc, we recommend them for decorative purposes only. Consider using Fancy Flours EDIBLE GLITTERS as a substitute for the non-edible supplies listed here.
2. Mix together well: 1 teaspoon Meringue Powder for every cup of granulated sugar used. Sprinkle sugar mixture with 1 teaspoon water per cup of sugar used. (For example: 4 cups sugar, 4 teaspoons of meringue powder then mix with 4 teaspoons of water.)
3. Mix well with hands until every bit of sugar is moistened (about 4 minutes). If your fingerprints remain when you squeeze the sugar in your hand, it is ready to mold. It should be like "beach sand."
4. To mold: Cut the card of skulls apart with scissors, making sure to leave at least a 1" margin around the skulls. Mound sugar into mold and pack the mixture firmly into the mold. Use a straight edge (or cardboard square) to scrape off the sugar until the back is absolutely flat. Place a stiff cardboard square (approx.. 2" x 3") over the mold and invert immediately. Lift the mold off carefully. Air dry for approx. 8 hours. When completely dry, continue decorating your skulls with colored Royal Icing, Sequins, glitter & colored foils.

Recipe thanks to www.mexicansugarskull.com. You can also purchase skull molds at www.mexicansugarskull.com.