How to Mix Dry Ingredients for Sugar Skulls

Mexican sugar skulls are a traditional folk art. Each year, people make the 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, can be molded in different sizes. If kept dry, and made correctly, the sugar skulls can last a year. In order to make your own sugar skulls, follow specific instructions to mix the dry ingredients.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring cups
• 1/4 cup meringue powder
• 5 lb. granulated sugar
• Mixing bowl
• Measuring spoons
• 10 tsp. water

1. Measure 1/4 cup meringue powder and 5 lb. granulated sugar. The exact amounts of meringue powder and sugar used are formula-based and depend on the number and size of sugar skulls to make. The meringue powder, made of powdered egg whites, hardens the sugar and holds the sugar skulls together. Use about 1 tsp. of meringue powder per cup of granulated sugar.

2. Mix the meringue powder and granulated sugar, by hand, in a large bowl. Continue to mix the dry ingredients until well combined and no lumps exist in the mixture.

3. Add about 10 tsp. of water to the mixture. The ratio is about 1 tsp. of water for each cup of granulated sugar. Mix by hand until thoroughly moistened. This process may take a few minutes to achieve the correct texture.

4. Test the readiness of the sugar skull mixture. It should feel like moist beach sand and hold together if squeezed. If it doesn't, then it's too dry. If mixture is too dry, add 1 tsp. water at a time. If mixture is too moist, then add 1 tbsp. sugar at a time.

Tips & Warnings

• Because water will sink to the bottom of the bowl, be sure to remix the ingredients often while making your sugar skulls.
• This formula will yield 5 large skulls or 20 medium-sized skulls.
• Don't attempt to make sugar skulls on a day that's rainy or has high humidity because the skulls may not dry completely.

Resources

• Yield table of dry ingredients for sugar skulls
• Purchase meringue powder