It isn’t a proper Día de los Muertos celebration without colorful, homemade candy skulls! Each year my family and I include the kids when we honor the Day of the Dead, whether with a recipe or a craft. This project blends both: a sweet treat and a cheerful craft all in one.
Are you excited for Día de los Muertos? My family looks forward to this holiday every year. It’s a time to remember loved ones who have passed, share stories, and celebrate the joyful memories we hold with our living familia.
You don’t need to visit a grave to honor someone — you can celebrate at home with a homemade altar, traditional recipes, and these cheerful edible candy skulls.
This project is similar to traditional sugar skull decorating, but unlike non-edible sugar skulls, these are made from candy and are completely edible — and adorable.
Delicious Decorations for the Day of the Dead
These candy skulls are a perfect craft for small hands and make charming toppers for store-bought cupcakes. Let kids decorate their own skulls with bright icing, sprinkles, and candy flowers before placing them on desserts.
We found skull silicone molds and decorating supplies at a craft store, but they are widely available online and in hobby shops. The skull designs are small and detailed, so use the smallest frosting tips you can find. A small amount of frosting helps the decorations stick, and toothpicks are handy for precise, intricate work.
Be sure all decorations are edible — these little skulls tend to disappear in one bite!
Key Ingredients and Supplies
One of the best parts of this project is how simple it is: a few food ingredients and common baking tools are all you need. For the candy skulls you’ll need:
- White chocolate candy melts (or other melting candy)
- Assorted colored frosting (or vanilla frosting plus food coloring)
- Candy flowers, sprinkles, and other small edible decorations
- Optional: cupcakes or other desserts to top
For decorating tools:
- Silicone skull mold
- Small frosting tips (multiple colors work best)
- Frosting couplers
- Disposable frosting bags (one per color to avoid mixing)
- Toothpicks for fine details
How to Make Edible Candy Skulls
- Melt the candy melts. Follow the package instructions for melting. Pour the melted candy into the silicone skull mold and allow it to set completely.
- Prepare the frosting bags. Cut a small hole in each frosting bag, drop the piping tip and coupler inside, and secure the coupler on the outside. Fill each bag with a different color of frosting.
- Decorate the skulls. Gently remove the hardened skulls from the mold and begin decorating. Use a tiny dot of frosting to adhere candy flowers and sprinkles. Use toothpicks to refine small details.
- Serve. Place a finished candy skull on top of a frosted cupcake or enjoy them as standalone candies.
Storage and Freezing
- Store decorated candy skulls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Freeze them in a sturdy, freezer-safe container or bag for up to three months. Choose protective packaging so they don’t get crushed.
- When thawing, expect some condensation. Allow them to come to room temperature in the container to minimize moisture buildup on the decorations.
Serving Suggestions
These candy skulls are lovely as toppers for chocolate cupcakes, carrot layer cakes, mini bundt cakes, or other desserts. They also work perfectly as bite-sized candies for a party platter.
If you’re planning a full Día de los Muertos menu, consider pairing these treats with traditional and festive recipes that encourage sharing stories and memories with family and friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
These candy skulls are made from melting white chocolate candies and decorated with frosting, while traditional sugar skulls are made from a sugar mixture (often with meringue powder) and are typically not meant to be eaten.
A silicone mold is recommended because it creates a three-dimensional skull shape and releases the candy easily without breaking. If you don’t have a mold, you can pipe flat skull shapes by hand, though they will be more fragile and less traditional.
This is a family-friendly craft suitable for all ages. It’s edible and kid-safe, though younger children may need help with melting the candy and handling small decorating tools.
Yes. These candy skulls can be adapted for Halloween or any celebration — simply change the decoration style to suit your theme.
More Día de los Muertos Resources
- How to make a Dia de los Muertos flower crown
- Ideas for Día de los Muertos celebrations
- How to create a Day of the Dead altar
- How to make traditional sugar skulls
- Teaching children about the Day of the Dead
- Sugar skull decorating party ideas
- La Calavera Catrina inspiration
- DIY votives and garlands
If you try these festive candy skulls, please rate and review the recipe. For more Mexican recipes and project ideas, consider subscribing to newsletters or following culinary creators you enjoy.
Día de los Muertos Candy Skulls
Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack | Muy Bueno
38 mins
16 skulls
35 mins
3 mins
Ingredients
- Silicone skull mold
- Candy melts (white chocolate or similar)
- Six frosting colors
- Six frosting tips and couplers
- Six frosting bags
- Candy flowers and sprinkles
- Optional: cupcakes for serving
Instructions
- Melt the candy melts according to package directions. Pour into the skull mold and allow to set.
- Prepare frosting bags with tips and couplers, then fill each bag with a different color.
- Remove skulls from the mold and decorate. Use a small dot of frosting to attach flowers and sprinkles, and a toothpick for tiny details.
- Top frosted cupcakes with a finished skull or serve the skulls on a dessert platter.
Notes
- Skull silicone molds and decorating supplies are available at craft stores and online.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an approximation.
Photography: Jenna Sparks / DIY: Thrifty Rehab
Originally published: October 2018.