How To

How to Mix Coloring for Sugar Skulls

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By eHow Contributing Writer
(1 Ratings)

Each year, people make sugar skulls to celebrate Day of the Dead and to remember loved ones that passed away. The skulls, formed from a sugar mixture and decorated with bright icing, are tinted in a variety of bright colors as well. In order to make your own sugar skulls in a variety of colors, follow specific instructions to prepare the color and tint the dry mixture.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Food coloring
  • Water
  • Granulated sugar
  • Meringue powder
  • Bowl
  • Spoon
  1. Step 1

    Determine what colors you want to make the sugar skulls. While a wide variety of colors are available, sugar skulls tend to be bright and vibrant.

  2. Step 2

    Select the same concentrated pastes used in cake decorating. Water-based food coloring isn't strong enough, and doesn't achieve the bright colors typical of sugar skulls. Find the color pastes in specialty stores.

  3. Step 3

    Add a drop or two of the color paste to water and dissolve it in the water. Because the pastes are extremely concentrated, a little bit goes a long way. Add more color to the water, drop by drop, if needed.

  4. Step 4

    Combine the colored water with a mixture of granulated sugar and meringue powder. The exact amounts of meringue powder and sugar used are formula-based and depend on the number and size of sugar skulls to make. Mix with a spoon to avoid staining your hands with the concentrated color pastes.

  5. Step 5

    Mix all ingredients until the color is even throughout the mixture. The sugar skull mixture is ready when it feels like moist beach sand and holds together if squeezed.

Tips & Warnings
  • Be careful when using the color pastes so you don't get them on your hands, clothing or countertops. If you do, wash immediately to avoid staining.
  • Don't attempt to make sugar skulls on a day that's rainy or has high humidity because the skulls may not dry completely.

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