The Day of the Dead is a time for celebration, joy, remembrance and love. Your friends and family will be sure to enjoy these adorable and delicious sugar skull cookies made in honor of Dia de los Muertos.

Ingredients

For the cookies:

• 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup softened butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 egg
• 2 1/2 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

For the icing:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the colorful frosting:

• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• Food coloring
• Piping bag

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease 2 baking sheets.
2. In your mixer, combine powdered sugar, butter, vanilla extract, almond extract and egg. Beat until light and fluffy.
3. Add flour and baking soda. Mix for 1 minute on high.
4. Put dough in a plastic ziplock bag and refrigerate for 1 hour to chill.
5. In the meantime, prepare your icing and frosting.
6. For the icing, whip powdered sugar, milk, melted butter and vanilla extract in mixer on high until smooth. Set aside.
7. For the frosting, whip butter, cream cheese, vanilla extract and powdered sugar on high until light and fluffy. Separate the frosting into as five small bowls. A 2-3 drops of food coloring into each bowl and a dollop of frosting. Mix well until color is even. Set aside.
8. Roll out your chilled cookie dough and cut with a skull cookie cutter. Transfer the cookies to the baking sheet and bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
9. When the cookies are cool to the touch, pour a spoonful of icing onto each one. Set aside to harden for 15 minutes.
10. Now the fun begins! Put your colorful frosting into piping bags and decorate the skulls. Use the picture above for inspiration or let your own creativity guide you! You can also add sprinkles, mini chocolate chips or other candies for extra fun.
11. Give the sugar skull cookies to your friends and neighbors and wish them a Feliz Dia de los Muertos!

More Day of the Dead Recipes:

Pan de Muerto

Calabaza en Tacha

Mexcian Tamales