Make your own sugar skulls at home

Want to make your own sugar skulls to commemorate Día de los Muertos? Check out this easy recipe from sugar-skull artist Rob-O.

Ingredients

“Meringue powder” is just fancy speak for dried egg whites and can be found in the spice aisle of most grocery stores. Typically, the trick is to mix 1 teaspoon of powder for every cup of sugar with enough water to replicate the act of making a sand castle.

“When you mix [the ingredients] together, you want to be able to grab a clump of sugar and scrunch it up on the inside of your hand,” he explains. “Let it go, and if it keeps that shape, you're fine.”

Pack the blended sugar into a skull mold—pick some up at Spanglish Arte (2574 21st Street) starting at $9 each. Then, place a piece of cardboard to the back of the mold, flip over to release the sugar skull, and let the object dry for up to three days.

Once dried, the skulls are ready to decorate with frosting, food coloring, sprinkles, sequins and other adornments. (S.R.)