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Day of the Dead cookies come in all shapes and forms, but none are as symbolic as Day of the Dead marigold cookies. These beautiful flower-shaped Dia de los Muertos cookies are not only easy to make but also a fun and meaningful way to celebrate the holiday.
Known as cempasúchil in Spanish, marigolds play a significant role in Día de los Muertos traditions, often used to guide the spirits of loved ones back to the world of the living. With this recipe, you’ll learn how to make easy Day of the Dead recipes for kids that combine delicious sugar cookies with a simple marigold design.
The Significance of Marigolds in Día de los Muertos
Marigolds, or cempasúchil, are one of the most important symbols of Día de los Muertos. Their bright yellow and orange colors, as well as their strong fragrance, are believed to help guide the spirits of the deceased back to the altars set up by their families. The flowers are often placed around altars (ofrendas) and graves, forming beautiful and vibrant displays. Marigolds represent the fragility of life and the beauty of honoring those who have passed.
Celebrating with Day of the Dead Marigold Cookies
Baking Day of the Dead marigold cookies is a fun and creative way to involve kids in the holiday while also paying tribute to its traditions. These flower-shaped cookies are simple to make, and decorating them with yellow and orange icing to resemble marigolds adds a festive and symbolic touch to your celebration. Whether you place them on an altar or share them with family and friends, these cookies are a sweet way to honor Día de los Muertos and have become one of our favorite Day of the Dead dessert recipes. And lest’s be honest, it’s a Dia de los Muertos recipe that is more fun for kids to make than other traditional Day of the Dead food.
A Fun and Delicious Tradition
For families looking for easy Day of the Dead recipes for kids, these marigold cookies are the perfect choice. The recipe is straightforward, and kids will love cutting out the flower shapes and decorating them with bright icing. It’s a wonderful way to teach children about the significance of marigolds in Dia de los Muertos while creating lasting memories in the kitchen.
Day of the Dead Marigold Sugar Cookies Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon marigold extract (optional, see tip below)
- Yellow gel food coloring
- Royal icing for decorating (I use this Wilton Royal Icing Mix)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
Step 4: Add the Wet Ingredients
Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and marigold extract (if using) until well combined.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until a dough forms. If the dough is too soft, chill it in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.
Step 6: Roll Out the Dough
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Use a flower-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the marigold shapes.
Step 7: Bake the Cookies
Place the flower-shaped cookies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each one. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
Step 8: Decorate the Cookies
Prepare royal icing according to your favorite recipe or use store-bought icing. Divide the icing into two bowls. Color one bowl with yellow food coloring and the other with orange food coloring. Use a piping bag or a small spoon to decorate the cookies, creating petal designs to resemble marigolds.
Step 9: Serve and Enjoy!
Once the icing has set, your Day of the Dead marigold cookies are ready to enjoy. They make a beautiful addition to your Día de los Muertos altar or can be shared with family and friends.
Tips for Making the Best Marigold Sugar Cookies:
- Chill the Dough: If the dough feels too sticky to roll out, chilling it in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes will make it easier to handle and cut out shapes.
- Marigold Extract: For a floral twist, you can add marigold extract to the dough. To make homemade marigold extract, steep fresh marigold petals in vodka for 2-4 weeks, then strain. Adding 1 teaspoon of this extract gives the cookies a subtle floral flavor, but if you don’t have it, you can use more vanilla extract instead.
- Even Thickness: To ensure even baking, roll out the dough to a consistent thickness of ¼ inch. You can use rolling pin guides or place rulers on either side of the dough to help maintain an even thickness.
- Test Icing Consistency: If you’re new to royal icing, make sure the consistency is right for outlining and flooding. Stiffer icing is best for outlining, while slightly thinner icing can be used for filling the cookie.
Marigold Cookie Variations:
- Color Variations: While these are yellow marigold cookies traditional marigolds can also come in a variety of yellow and orange hues, you can use different colors of icing to create your own marigold flower designs if you’re feeling creative.
- Icing Fun: To make decorating even easier for kids, consider using pre-made icing tubes in bright colors. Kids can create their own designs, adding a fun and creative element to the process. You can also add a sprinkle of edible glitter or gold sugar to make the cookies sparkle!
- Flavored Icing: To add more flavor to your royal icing, consider adding a bit of lemon or orange zest. This will enhance the citrusy taste and pair well with the marigold theme.
- Marigold Petal Sprinkles: For an extra festive touch, you can sprinkle edible marigold petals over the royal icing before it sets, adding both flavor and decoration.
- Mini Cookies: If you want smaller cookies, use a smaller flower-shaped cookie cutter and reduce the baking time by 2-3 minutes for perfectly sized mini marigolds.
Marigold Extract:
For a floral twist, you can add homemade marigold extract to the cookie dough. To make marigold extract, simply steep fresh or dried marigold petals in vodka for 2-4 weeks, then strain out the petals. This extract can be used to add a light, floral flavor to your cookies.
Day of the Dead Marigold Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon marigold extract (optional, see tip below)
- Yellow gel food coloring
- Royal icing for decorating (I use Wilton Royal Icing Mix)
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
- Step 4: Add the Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and marigold extract (if using) until well combined.
- Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until a dough forms. If the dough is too soft, chill it in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.
- Step 6: Roll Out the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Use a flower-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the marigold shapes.
- Step 7: Bake the Cookies: Place the flower-shaped cookies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each one. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
- Step 8: Decorate the Cookies: Prepare royal icing according to your favorite recipe or use store-bought icing. Divide the icing into two bowls. Color one bowl with yellow food coloring and the other with orange food coloring. Use a piping bag or a small spoon to decorate the cookies, creating petal designs to resemble marigolds.
- Step 9: Serve and Enjoy! Once the icing has set, your Day of the Dead marigold cookies are ready to enjoy. They make a beautiful addition to your Día de los Muertos altar or can be shared with family and friends.
Notes
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
You can find the Royal Icing Mix here and this is the yellow gel food coloring I like to use.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1 cookie about 2.5 inches acrossAmount Per Serving: Calories: 214Total Fat: 8gCarbohydrates: 33.3gProtein: 1.9g
Other Day of the Dead Recipes and Activities
Make and Decorate Day of the Dead Crafts
Creating crafts is a wonderful way for kids to celebrate Día de los Muertos while learning about the holiday’s traditions. These hands-on activities are perfect for bringing the spirit of the Day of the Dead into your home.
Start by making this Sugar Skull Quilling Project, a fun and colorful craft that uses paper quilling to create unique sugar skull decorations. If your kids love animals, try the Day of the Dead Inspired Animal Sugar Skull Lollipops for a sweet and creative project. For something different, making this Catrina Craft is a great way to celebrate the famous Catrina figure. Check out my favorite Day of the Dead crafts for kids here for more ideas.
Cook and Bake Day of the Dead Treats
Día de los Muertos is filled with delicious Day of the Dead desserts, and cooking together as a family is a great way to bond. Check out more Day of the Dead cookie recipes here or try some of these easy and tasty Day of the rrecipes for kids to make your celebration even sweeter.
Bake the traditional Pan de Muerto with your kids and teach them about the significance of this special bread. For something a bit more fun, Day of the Dead Skeleton Cookies are a playful way to enjoy the holiday. If you want to try something new, the Cempasúchil Cream-Filled Pan de Muerto is a unique twist on the classic.
Create Your Own Day of the Dead Decorations
Decorating for Día de los Muertos is a fun way to involve kids in the celebration. These easy crafts will brighten your home and help your family connect with the traditions of the holiday.
Make Day of the Dead sugar skull wind chime to hang up as festive decorations. The create your own sugar skull paper garland craft is perfect for kids, allowing them to cut out and decorate their own garlands. For something extra colorful, try the sugar skull ots and flowers craft to add a pop of color to your space.
Throw a Day of the Dead Themed Party
Hosting a Day of the Dead party is a fun and festive way to celebrate with family and friends. From decorations to desserts, these ideas will make your party a hit!
Start with these Dia de los Muertos free party printables to set the scene, and let the kids create their own Day of the Dead masks as a fun party activity. For a delicious dessert, try baking Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake sugar skulls, and finish with a festive Day of the Dead cake with buttercream frosting.
Enjoy Traditional Day of the Dead Food
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with some delicious Day of the Dead food ideas that include lots of Dia de los Muertos Mexican recipes to connect with tradition. You can also try the marigold flan recipe, which uses marigolds in a traditional and flavorful way. These recipes honor the holiday while adding fun and flavor to your celebrations.
For something a little different learn about Guatemalan Day of the Dead traditions by making Fiambre, a traditional Guatemalan dish served during Día de los Muertos. For something sweet, enjoy Guatemalan Molletes, a dessert that’s perfect for the occasion.
Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .
When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.
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