Day of the Dead is a celebration of the life of our ancestors.  This celebration primarily takes place in Mexico on November 1rst.  The festivities are widely recognized by the iconic sugar skull.  Additionally, food is an important part of rituals.  That is because food binds us, brings families together, helps establish traditions and at the same time honors those who can before us.  So, in that line of thinking, I want to share with you How To Make Delicious Day of the Dead Sugar Skull Cookies to celebrate and teach the kids about Día De Muertos.

How To Make Delicious Day of the Dead Sugar Skull Cookies

The best reason to celebrate is family. The Day of the Dead is all about celebrating those who came before us that in one way or another contributed to who we are today.  This festivity also brings families together as big reunions take places around a big fiesta.  This festivity allows to retell the family anecdotes, history and fun times as well as reconnect with each other and our history.  Food is a big part of it all.  Time to learn How to Make Delicious Day of the Dead Sugar Skull Cookies: 

Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 2 1/2 cups of flour 
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cream of tartar 
• 1 cups of soft unsalted sweet cream butter
• 1 cup of powder sugar sugar
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Procedure

1. Cream the soft butter with the sugar, eggs, vanilla and almond extract until combined.
2. Sift the flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar together.
3. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture.
4. Continue mixing to make sure all ingredients are thoroughly blended.
5. Make the dough into a ball, wrap it in cling wrap completely covering the entire dough ball.
6. Put in the refrigerator for about an hour
7. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
8. Pull the cookie dough out of the refrigerator and sit it out to soften up a bit.
9. Put flour out on the cutting board, rub flour on the rolling pin, and work some flour into the batter if needed.
10. Roll the dough out on the cutting board and using the cookie cutter begin to make your cookies.
11. Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper.
12. Move the cut cookies onto the cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes
13. Take the cookies off of the cookie sheet and put on a wire rack to cool completely for 10 minutes

Icing Recipe:

Icing Ingredients:

• 4 egg whites
• 2 cups of powder sugar
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Icing colors: red, pink, yellow, blue, leaf green

Procedure

1. In a standing mixer, combine all ingredients and mix on medium to high speed for a few minutes until stiff peaks.
2. If still liquid like, add another half cup of powder sugar.
3. Divide the icing into 6 bowls.
4. Add in a few scoops of icing into each bowl.
5. Add a few drops of each color into 1 bowl per color, leaving the 6th white.
6. Scoop some white icing into a piping bag fitted with the number 2 tip
7. Repeat the process with the remaining colors using a #2 tip.
8. Thin the remaining black icing with 1 tbsp of water and pour into a squeeze bottle.
9. Outline the skull in the white icing and fill in with the thinner icing.
10. Let dry for 4 hours
11. Once cookies are dry, take the stencil and place it on top of the cookie.
12. Using the rainbow colors, pipe on a large dot going down the side of the stencil where you will scrape.
13. Using the stencil scraper, slowly pull the icing over the stencil so that you get a rainbow effect
14. Slowly lift the stencil off the cookie.
15. Allow cookies to dry for 30 minutes before enjoying

Cookies and Disney Pixar’s Coco

Now that Coco is out on DVD for us to add to our home collections, a great way to pair these delicious cookies is with a Disney Pixar’s Coco movie night with your loved ones!  We told you all about the Day of the Dead and Coco here:

• Four Day of the Dead Basics to start the celebration
• All About Alebrijes
• Edward J Olmos is Chicarron in Disney Pixar’s Coco movie.
• Day of the Dead DIY Frame for Ofrenda altars and All About Color in the Dia de Muertos Celebration
• Easy Marigold paper flowers DIY
• The Disney Animation panel fiesta at D23 Expo
• The sounds of Mexico and the music in Disney-Pixar’s Coco
• Getting to know the world of Coco
• Disney-Pixar Coco Filmmakers share their journey
• Benjamin Bratt Sings His Heart Out in Coco
• Bringing to Life Skeletons for Disney-Pixar’s Coco
• Exclusive interview with Anthony Gonzalez and Alanna Ubach on Coco
• Gael Garcia brings Hector to life in Coco – exclusive interview
• 7 Reasons why you and your family will love Coco

That can help you have an amazing Coco themed family movie night!

Bonus features

Coco is an instant family classic.  As if that were not enough, the DVD brings us these cool bonus features:

Blu-ray & Digital:

• Deleted Scenes with Introductions – Director Lee Unkrich and co-director Adrian Molina talk about the deleted scenes and the part they played in the development of “Coco.”
  • Día de los Muertos – In this musical extravaganza, the colors and excitement of Día de los Muertos come to life as we meet superstar Ernesto de la Cruz.
  • The Way of the Riveras – A musical number in which Abuelita and Miguel prepare their Día de los Muertos celebration while she teaches him Rivera family history and traditions.
  • Celebrity Tour – Héctor, a Land of the Dead tour bus guide, agrees to help Miguel, revealed to be a living boy, on his quest to find de la Cruz.
  • The Bus Escape – The Rivera family catches up to Miguel and Héctor and attempts to halt their mission to find de la Cruz.
  • Alebrije Attack – Miguel and Héctor are interrupted on their journey to find de la Cruz by a fierce alebrije.
  • The Family Fix – After de la Cruz reveals his true colors, the Rivera family puts their dismay aside and comes together to repair the smashed guitar needed to send Miguel home.
  • To the Bridge – As the Land of the Dead counts down to the end of Día de los Muertos, Miguel and de la Cruz come head-to-head on the marigold bridge.
• Filmmaker Commentary – Presented by Lee Unkrich (director), Adrian Molina (co-director) and Darla K. Anderson (producer).
• The Music of “Coco” – Collaborating with musicians of Mexico and some unique instrumentation, this documentary explores the beautiful fusion of music essential to the story of “Coco.”
• Paths to Pixar: “Coco” – Explore how the film crew’s personal stories resonate with the themes of the movie itself.
• Welcome to the Fiesta – A musical exploration of the skeletons that make the Land of the Dead in “Coco” so wondrous and intriguing.
• How to Draw a Skeleton – Pixar artist Daniel Arriaga gives a lesson on the quick and easy way to draw skeletons using simple shapes.
• A Thousand Pictures a Day – Join the “Coco” crew on an immersive travelogue through Mexico, visiting families, artisans, cemeteries, and small villages during the Día de los Muertos holiday. 
• Mi Familia – Developing the Riveras was a labor of love that took the cast and crew on a deep dive into the meaning of family.
• Land of Our Ancestors – Watch Pixar artists lovingly construct layer upon layer of architecture from many eras of Mexican history, bringing the Land of the Dead to life.
• Fashion Through the Ages – The cast of characters in “Coco” are from many different eras, making for some magnificent costuming opportunities.
• The Real Guitar – The majestic guitar that spurs Miguel on his journey through the Land of the Dead is a unique creation. Watch as it is initially designed by a Pixar artist and ultimately realized as a real instrument by a master luthier in this poetic ode to craftsmanship.
• Dante – How the crew fell in love with the uniquely Mexican breed of Xoloitzcuintli (or “Xolo”) dogs that inspired Dante.
• How to Make Papel Picado – Join Pixar artist Ana Ramírez González as we learn how papel picado is made traditionally, and then try your own approach to this beautiful art form.
• Un Poco “Coco” – A montage of original animated pieces used to promote “Coco.”
• “Coco Trailers” – Trailers include “Feeling,” “Dante’s Lunch,” “Destiny,” “Journey” and “Belong.” 
  

  THE LAND OF THE DEAD – In Disney•Pixar’s “Coco,” aspiring musician Miguel (voice of Anthony Gonzalez) finds himself in the Land of the Dead—a rich and vibrant community featuring bridges of marigold petals. Directed by Lee Unkrich, co-directed by Adrian Molina and produced by Darla K. Anderson, Disney•Pixar’s “Coco” opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22, 2017. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

DVD:

• Filmmaker Commentary 
• Dante

 

Coco Blu-Ray Giveaway

In honor of Disney-Pixar’s Coco being nominated for the Oscars, we invite you for a chance to win your very own blu-ray copy of Coco!  For a chance to win, please use the form below.

Do tell us what you will do to celebrate the day of the dead this year!
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