Sugar Skulls
You can also make sugar skulls by pouring a boiled sugar and water
syrup into plastic skull-shaped molds, but as those may be hard to
find on short notice and in many areas, this recipe requires only
your hands and a bit of artistic skill." Makes 8 skulls
For skulls:
1 TB powdered egg white
3/4 cup water
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup light corn syrup
8 cups powdered sugar
2 cups cornstarch
For Icing:
1/2 tsp powdered egg white
3 TB water
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 drops red food coloring
2 drops cinnamon extract
3 drops blue food coloring
2 drops peppermint extract
metal sequins for decorating eyes
Whisk powdered egg white and water together until foamy. Add vanilla
extract and corn syrup. Whisk until blended. Add powdered sugar.
With a spoon, and then by hand, mix until a firm paste forms.
Dust a jelly roll pan with 1 cup of the cornstarch. Knead sugar
paste in cornstarch for a few minutes until it becomes smooth and
pliable. Roll the dough into a ball. Wrap it in plastic and
refrigerate it until chilled.
Begin by forming dough into round balls, each about the size of a
small fist. Use more cornstarch to prevent sticking, if needed.
Use your hands to sculpt the ball into a skull shape. Sculpt eye and
nose hollows with your thumbs or a blunt knife.
To prepare the icing, whisk powdered egg white and water together
until foamy. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Divide
mixture into two small bowls. Add red food coloring and cinnamon
extract to one and blue food coloring and peppermint extract to the
other. Mix to blend the colors in each bowl.
Fill two pastry bags with icing mixtures. Decorate skulls with
icing. Allow objects to dry. Weather conditions affect drying times.
Skulls may take anywhere from several hours to 48 hours to fully
dry.
If you have bought your alfeniques and would like to add chocolate
candy, the directions are simple. Melt your favorite chocolate in a
double boiler. While chocolate looks best with the skulls. Use a
funnel with a rounded stopper to pour your chocolate (or use a
spoon, messier but less expensive) into shaped molds (found below).
Wipe any drips off the edges of your molds and place in the freezer
until the mold appears frosted and the candies hard. More time is
better than less. Flip the mold over and tap lightly over a towel.
Any candies that do not drop out easily should be placed in the
freezer a little longer.
Most often found in the shape of skulls, they can also be formed
into lambs, fruits, donkeys, and doves, and are decorated with
brightly colored sugar icing and sequins.
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