Chocolate Floral Crown Skull Sugar Cookies

One of my favorite Halloween icons is the Dia de los Muertos sugar skull. Its colorful and intricate and just a lot of fun! Growing up in Southern California,  they were everywhere this time of year and I loved it.

Plenty of cookie bakers (artists really) have made some amazing sugar skull cookies. I'm always amazed at the detail some people put into cookies. And as much as I would love to replicate their work, I thought I would stick to what I was comfortable with and make flower crown skull sugar cookies, instead!

These aren't your average Halloween Sugar Skulls. These skull cookies are adorned with beautiful royal icing flower crowns! Learn how to make your own flower crown skull sugar cookies.

Step 1: Paint black flood consistency royal icing onto the face of the cookie and let it dry (10 minutes).

Step 2: Etch the eyes, nose, and teeth into the dried icing. 

Step 3: Outline the face of the cookie, then dot flood consistency icing where you want the teeth to be. Use a scribe tool to help shape the teeth.

Step 4: Outline mouth. Drag the wet icing down in between the teeth.

Step 5: Outline the eyes and nose. Then fill in the rest of the face with flood consistency white icing. Use a toothpick or scribe tool to fill everything in. Let dry for at least 4 hours.

Step 6: Using stiff consistency royal icing and piping tips #14, #24, #2, and #349, pipe roses, dots, and leaves around the forehead of the skull. Let dry for at least 2 hours.

Step 7: Mix silver luster dust with a bit of clear alcohol (i.e. vodka or rum) then paint onto the crown. Let dry for 10 minutes. 

You can also use the same technique to make jack-o-lanterns, but I think I'm partial to the skulls. How about you?