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Hispanic Mama

Empowering through Heritage and Language

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Day of the Dead

How To Make Sugar Skull Cookies

sugar skull cookies

Wondering how to make those delicious sugar skull cookies that you see in every store for Day of the Dead? Well, look no further. Learn how to make them with these easy peasy steps.

6 BILINGUAL BOOKS FOR DAY OF THE DEAD

How To Make Day of the Dead Cookies

These delicious cookies are easy to make with the kiddos. Get some colorful decorations and let the imagination fly.

This is what you need:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 oz unsalted butter
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • Day of the Dead Skull Cookie Cutter

Icing ingredients:

  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
  • gel food coloring with your favorite colors

Instructions:

  • In a mixing bowl, mix the flour, salt, cinnamon, and baking powder.
  • Add the butter and sugar and continue to mix.
  • Add the egg and vanilla, and mix.
  • Add half the flour mixture, and mix it for a minute. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until just incorporated.
  • Shape the dough into a ball and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 325°F
  • Roll the dough 1/4 inch thick, flipping and lightly flouring the dough a few times if needed while you work.
  • Cut shapes in the dough with your favorite Day of the Dead Skull Cookie Cutter.
  • Bake the cookie dough for 10 minutes or until the cookies are just beginning to appear dry. Let them cool completely.

Icing

  • Combine egg whites, powdered sugar and cream of tartar.
  • Divide it into the number of colors that you’ll need.
  • Add 3-4 drops of each gel food coloring to each bowl.
  • Outline each of the cookies in white and design it with your colored frostings.
sugar skull cookies

You can also skip the white frosting and go straight to design the facial designs.

7 THINGS TO DO FOR DAY OF THE DEAD WITH YOUR CHILDREN

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October 1, 2019 6:21 pm Hispanic Mama Filed Under: Food

7 Things to do for Day of the Dead With Your Children

A few years ago, while working for the Cultural Program of Raleigh, I had the opportunity to participate in the planning of a city event for the Day of the Dead. For this event, we partnered with the Mexican Consulate and the city museum staff to make sure we were bringing all the elements of the Day of the Dead to the public.

To say I LOVED the experience is an understatement.

It was fascinating to learn about the meaning behind every symbol that is part of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico and other areas of Central America. The whole experience was very touching to me and I hope it was the same for all the people that came to our event.

7 Things To Do for Day of the Dead With Your Children

Since that day, Catrinas, papel picado, sugar skulls, marigolds and pan muerto are part of my celebration. Although, I didn’t grow up with these traditions, I try every year to make sure my kids are familiar with them.

Here are a few things that you can do for Day of the Dead with your children.

Build an Altar     

In Mexico, many families make an ofrenda (altar) in their homes on a table or shelves to pay tribute to their loved ones who have passed on. This is a collection of treasures, pictures, food, special items and candles to remind the families of their loved ones. Check out all essential components of a Day of the Dead altar and learn how to set up your own.

Read Bilingual Books for Day of the Dead  

There are great children’s books that provide a good understanding of The Day of the Dead. If you are passing this beautiful tradition to your kids or if you are trying to learn more about the Day of the Dead in Mexico, the following bilingual books are great resources.

The Day of the Dead / El Día De Los Muertos

This is a MUST have bilingual book for Day of the Dead! It’s actually the book that my office chose to read to the kids that were attending the event. It provides great information on this holidays through the colorful pictures and story.

I Remember Abuelito: A Day of the Dead Story / Yo Recuerdo a Abuelito: Un Cuento del Día de los Muertos

This is the story of a young girl helping her family to honor those who have died-especially her grandpa. It gives others an outlook of this beautiful tradition and help children to connect to the Mexican culture.

Read full more bilingual books for the Day of the Dead here

Make Sugar Skulls

Next weekend, we are planning to make sugar skulls for the first time. They look super easy and fun to make. I will be following this recipe.  Do you have a favorite sugar skulls recipe?

Color Day of the Dead Pages

Coloring is always a hit with children! Check out these free coloring pages that I made for you:

Sugar Skulls Coloring Page                                    Catrina Coloring Page

 

Make a Day of the Dead Bread

This sweet bread varies from region to region, but the most common shape is round with pieces of dough in the top that represents bones. It’s delicious! We usually get our pan de muerto or day of the bread from our favorite panadería. But I need to try to make it a home with this recipe.

RELATED POST:  The Flavors and Traditions of the Day of the Dead in Ecuador

Watch Movies for Day of the Dead

Bring the spirit of familia and togetherness with these two fun movies about Day of the Dead.

Coco                                                                               Book Of Life 

                          

And.. some Day of the Dead Decoration…

Day of The Dead Papel Picado Banner                                      Day of the Dead Sugar Skull Linen Pillow Cushion 

 .                                 

Day of the Dead Table Cover                                               Day of the Dead Cupcake Rings

 .                            

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October 19, 2018 11:44 pm Hispanic Mama Filed Under: Bicultural Life, Bilingual Books, Parenting

The Flavors and Traditions of the Day of the Dead in Ecuador

We are officially in my favorite season of the year! The gradual change of the color of the leaves is a process that fills my soul with reverence for life. Because Ecuador lies directly on the Equator, we don’t experience fall season (darn you Equator line!). However, Day of the Dead flavors and traditions always brought the spirit of reverence and introspection to my soul.

Our Day of the Dead festivities in Ecuador are as old as time. It finds its roots in the Inca civilization who had a tremendous devotion to their dead. That spirit of respect and remembrance is felt on the first two days of November when my home country literally shuts downs so families can visit cemeteries and partake of the Day of the Dead traditional food.

While Day of the Dead in Mexico is represented with altars, marigolds, sugar skulls and Catrinas, the Day of the Dead in Ecuador centers on family time and guaguas de pan, sweet breads shaped into babies like figure. The Quechua word “guagua” means baby, and it you see carefully, these traditional breads resemble babies swaddled in a blanket.

I remember how much I loved decorating my guaguas de pan when I was a little girl. I carefully chose the colors and ingredients that I will use to decorate the face of my guagua. It was always with chocolate morsels! Seriously, what can be more delicious than that?

Since Día de Los Muertos is coming up and I am all for keeping traditions alive, I am going to share my easy peasy Guaguas de Pan recipe. This is a recipe that brings family together which it’s awesome because family time is a key component of this time of year as well as remembering through food, drinks, and gatherings.

A cemetery in a little town in the Andes in Ecuador.

Preparing for Day of the Dead

Guaguas de Pan Recipe

What You Need:

  • Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
  • 5 cups all purpose flour
  • ¼ oz. (7 grams) active dry yeast (1 envelope or 2 1/4 tsp)
  • 1/2 cup warm milk
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 4 eggs
  • 4oz of unsalted butter
  • Icing and sprinkles.

Instructions:

  1. Mix the yeast over milk. Add 1/2 cup of flour and let the dough rise and fall.
  2. Combine the sugar, eggs, cinnamon, salt, vanilla and flour to the yeast mixture and then add butter.
  3. The consistency needs to be elastic. Let it rise in a warm place for 2 hours.
  4. Roll out the dough until it is about one inch thick and make shape of a baby to cut out the bread dough figures.
  5. On a baking sheet, place the bread figures and let them rise for about 15 minutes.
  6. Brush the tops of the guaguas de pan with the egg yolks which acts as glue when you decorate.
  7. Pre-heat the oven to 350 F. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until golden.

Now, this is the fun part: Decorate using chocolate Morsels, icing and sprinkles!

My kids look forward to decorate guaguas de pan every fall. I think it’s a great way to celebrate family and traditions during Day of the Dead.

 

How Do You Celebrate Day of the Dead?

 

September 27, 2017 12:57 pm Hispanic Mama Filed Under: Food

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