I get the most amazing ideas. Some of them require a 65 mile treasure hunt.
A few months ago, my officemate mentioned horchata cupcakes. I remembered thinking that was an amazing idea. Off and on over the past few months I’ve experimented with making homemade horchata, only to realize, I don’t really like the stuff. I don’t get it, watery rice milk with almond and cinnamon.Yuck. But, the idea of putting almond and cinnamon in a cupcake, now that’s an idea I could get behind.
A few weeks ago, I was ready to start baking and get an early El Dia de los Muertos post up, when I had a great idea. Wouldn’t it be fun to put sugar skulls on top of the cupcakes? Little did I know that the next 6 hours of my day would be spent hunting down the plastic sugar skull molds I’d need to get started. Where did I not find sugar skulls?
- Michael’s
- Target
- Wal-Mart
- Joann’s
- Lee Lee Market
- Dollar Store
- Big Lots
- Bashas
- Albertsons
- Frys
- Hobby Lobby
Where did I find them? Well, there were plenty of places online where I could find them, but wasn’t helping my Saturday morning impulse to whip up a few Mexican inspired decorations. Finally, I found the molds at Suenos Latin Imports at 7th Street and Bethany Home. Thank Heaven!
The best howtos for sugar skulls I was able to find online were:
- Mexican Sugar Skulls
- Crafty Chica
- Suenos Latin Imports offerd me free Sugar Skull support hot line too!
When making the sugar mixture most descriptions will use the description, “sugar should feel like wet sand.” I remember mixing the sugar, closing my eyes and trying to remember what wet sand felt like. It was nice sensory vacation, even if it was just for a minute.
These little guys needed to cure for 8 hours and then they’re ready for hair and make up!
And I think they dressed up quite nicely with their royal frosting decorations. This one is Carolina.
It didn’t take me long to realize that decorating all these guys was going to take quite a bit of time. But I think it was worth it. As I was working on each one, I’d give them a name, make up their history and put them aside for the next one.
I should really write a novella, trust me, there was some drama in this group!
Keesha oversees recruiting and training programs for GoDaddy.com. She is responsible for building programs that attract and retain amazing employees. She attended Blinn College and Texas A&M University.
Keesha loves food and photography and is passionate about community volunteering. She sits on the board of directors for the Junior League of Phoenix and in her free time you will find her baking and working on her empire Cupcake Cabana. Her most private cupcake confession? She doesn't like frosting!
These were so good!
I wont lie, I couldnt bring myself to eat the skull because it was just too cool looking…. so now it wards off evil spirits at my desk!
We have a Hobby Lobby? Who knew!