Stuff We Want: Mexican Sugar Skull Mold, the Ofrenda Craft That Starts With a Bag of Sugar
"dia de los muertos" is rising on Google Trends. Today is the big day.
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Dia de los muertos is climbing on Google Trends today, and that makes sense. Día de los Muertos is November 1 and 2, so today is the day a lot of families are finishing the ofrenda, lighting the candles and putting out the photos.
And if your ofrenda has calaveras de azúcar, somebody had to make them. Usually it's whoever got stuck with the sugar.
This is the mold for that job. The Firstnos Sugar Skull Mold (Original Medium) is one clear mold with two cavities and a flat back. Each skull comes out 3.2 inches high, 2.2 inches wide and 1.5 inches thick. The listing calls that tangerine size.
It's built for making a lot of them. The listing says a 10-pound bag of sugar makes 44 skulls, and that this is the fastest and easiest of their molds, with no scooping required. Instructions and a recipe come with it.
The big forehead is the point. The listing says there's plenty of room to decorate, and enough space to press colored foil onto the eyes, the mouth and a rectangle on the forehead. That's where the name goes, the way it's done on the classic calaveras.
The listing says it's best for 3rd grade to adult, so it works as a family table project. The kids do the icing. You do the cleanup. That's tradition too.
It's sold by Mexican Sugar Skull, and the listing calls them the creator of the original Mexican sugar skull molds.
Who it's for
- Families building an ofrenda who want to make the calaveras at home.
- Teachers and classrooms making a batch together, which is what the listing says this size is best for.
- Crafty gift givers who'd rather hand someone a skull with their name on it than a card.
Who should skip it
- You buy your calaveras at the mercado. Honestly, respect.
- You wanted it for tonight. The skulls need time to dry before you decorate.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two skull cavities per mold, flat back.
- Big 3.2-inch skulls with room to decorate.
- Instructions and a recipe included.
- Made for making big batches.
Cons
- Flat back, so you get a front face, not a full round skull.
- Drying time means you have to plan ahead.
Pros and cons are our read of the features on the listing, not a hands-on test.
How it compares
Vs. the LEGO Altar of the Dead: the LEGO set is a little altar you build once. The mold makes the calaveras for the real one, year after year.
FAQ
When is Día de los Muertos?
November 1 and 2.
How big are the skulls?
3.2 inches high, 2.2 inches wide and 1.5 inches thick.
How many skulls does a bag of sugar make?
The listing says a 10-pound bag of sugar makes 44 skulls.
Does it come with a recipe?
Yes. The listing says mold instructions and a recipe are included.
The verdict
The verdict: hand-picked for ofrenda day. A bag of sugar, a free afternoon and a whole table of names.
#ad. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Hand-picked by The Deez List.
