Skull cookies

Skull-shaped cookies are a fun and thematic choice, especially during the Halloween festivities or for a pirate-themed party. Here’s how you can prepare them with an Italian twist.

Ingredients

• 250 grams of all-purpose flour
• 125 grams of sugar
• 125 grams of butter at room temperature
• 1 egg
• 1 pinch of salt
• Vanilla essence or the grated zest of 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• Dark chocolate, sugar paste, or royal icing for decoration

Preparation

1. In a bowl, mix the flour with the baking powder and a pinch of salt.
2. In another bowl, cream the soft butter with the sugar until fluffy, then add the egg and vanilla essence or lemon zest.
3. Combine the dry ingredients with the butter, sugar, and egg mixture, stirring until a smooth dough is formed.
4. Form a ball with the dough and let it rest in the refrigerator, covered with cling film, for at least 30 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
6. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to a thickness of about 5mm.
7. Use skull-shaped cutters to cut out the cookies.
8. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for about 10-12 minutes or until they are lightly golden.
9. Let the cookies cool before decorating them.

For the decoration, you can melt the dark chocolate in a double boiler or microwave, then use it to outline the contours of the skulls or to fill the eyes and nose, bringing the cookie to life. Alternatively, you can use colored sugar paste or royal icing to add more complex details.

Curiosity

The skull shape in sweets is very popular during the Mexican holiday of Dia de los Muertos, where the famous “calaveras” made of sugar are prepared. The use of skulls as a theme for cookies and sweets has spread in various festive contexts, representing a playful way to deal with themes such as death and the afterlife.