How to Color Icing to Decorate Sugar Skulls

Making sugar skulls is a way to celebrate Day of the Dead and remember loved ones that passed away. After the skulls are formed from a sugar mixture, they are decorated with bright icing. Here's how to create a variety of vibrant icing colors in bags for decorating.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Royal icing
• Spoon
• Plastic zipper bags
• Color paste

1. Prepare white royal icing using water, meringue powder and powdered sugar. The icing is ready once it loses its shine and forms stiff peaks.
2. Divide the icing into batches by scooping it into a decorating bags or plastic zipper lock bags. Prepare one bag for each color to mix.
3. Add concentrated color paste to the royal icing in the bag. Dip a toothpick in the coloring paste and then in the icing. Choose concentrated color pastes, typically used for cake decorating, to color the royal icing. Water-based food coloring isn't strong enough and the bright colors typical of sugar skulls won't be achieved.
4. Mix color in the bag. Knead the bag constantly to incorporate the color. Continue until the icing color is homogeneous.
5. Use the icing immediately because it hardens when exposed to air. When not in use, keep covered in airtight containers.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to add enough icing to the decorating bag before mixing the color. It will be difficult to match the color if you need to make more icing.
• Don't use a thin plastic zipper lock bag in which to mix the icing because it could tear.
• If kneading for extended time, the warmth of your hands can warm the icing, causing a change in the icing's consistency.
• Don't work with royal icing during high humidity because it will soften.