Around the same time as Halloween, there is Dia de los Muertos in Mexico which unlike Cinco de Mayo is actually a holiday Mexicans celebrate. However, since I’m more focused on Halloween posts this time of year, I usually tend to skip it. But since the US has so many Mexicans living the country, I think I should acknowledge this occasion. Anyway, Dia de los Muertos is a 3 day holiday from October 31 to November 2 when family and friends gather to pray for and remember loved ones who have died and help support their spiritual journey.In Mexico, this is a public holiday as well as was inscribed by UNESCO in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. However, what you may not know that it’s a blend of the the Catholic feast of All Saints and Souls, Halloween, and an Aztec celebration that used to take place in the beginning of summer that was dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl. Traditions include building private altars called ofrendas, honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and their favorite foods and beverages, as well as visiting graves with these gifts. They also leave possessions of the deceased, too. Sometimes there are parties and processions as well, which is where I come in. There are even people who dress in costumes. So for your reading pleasure, I give you a treasure trove of treats pertaining to the Day of the Dead.
- Skull cookies always are great on any Day of the Dead dessert platter.
A lot of these treats featured in this post will have decorated skulls on them. These are in multiple colors.
2. Take a bite out of these skull cupcakes.
These ones seem to be covered in flowers. They also seem quite cute, which is kind of disturbing.
3. No Dia de los Muertos party is a hit without this skull cake.
Well, this one has pink flowers on it. Not sure what to think about the teeth.
4. No Dia de los Muertos cake is complete without a dead flower girl.
I think this is supposed to be a cutesy rendition of La Calavera Catrina. More on her later.
5. This Day of the Dead cake is quite two faced.
Though once a figure of political satire, La Calavera Catrina may have been inspired by the Aztec Mictecacihuatl, Lady of the Dead and Keeper of Bones. She also has roots in the Spanish Dance of Death.
6. These little skull cupcakes are worth dying for.
Seem quite adorable for an image that pertains to death. Love the flowers and icing though.
7. Each skull cookie can have its unique design.
Guess these were professionally made. And each seems unique in its own way.
8. For a flowery touch, go with some cactus cupcakes.
Well, I can’t have them all be skulls. Besides, cacti grow in Mexico so I’m sure these are appropriate.
9. Sometimes a skull cake just needs the right hat.
There are even skulls on the top and the sides. Yes, it’s a really dead cake for a dead celebration.
10. On the Day of the Dead, fiesta colors are always great with skulls.
Then again, Mexicans usually prefer bright colors anyway. Though each skull is unique in it’s own way while the icing is in pink, yellow, and cyan.
11. Sometimes a purple skull cake is a real treat.
Yes, it looks quite morbid as most of these treats go. But since I love purple, I find it hard to resist.
12. Even chocolate skull cookies can be a tasty treat.
Wonder how long it took to decorate these. My guess is that they were professionally made. Hope they’re delicious.
13. You can’t go wrong with this Skull Rice Krispie cake on your dessert platter.
Doesn’t hurt that it’s decorated with candy like Smarties and gumdrops. Though they’re not the most edible decorations around.
14. This skull cake comes in its bejeweled glory.
Either those pieces are candy or are merely inedible. I don’t know which.
15. Want to bite into these sugar skull chocolate brownies?
Well, they may not be colorful. But they’re sure as decorative as the other skulls on here.
16. Have you ever sat through a skeleton serenade.
Like how he has spiky hair and a flowery guitar. Also, love the flowers.
17. Heard of a gingerbread man? How about a gingerbread skeleton?
This one even has flowers and well decorated bones. And I make no bones about that.
18. Skull cookies can also be as dazzling in black and white.
Yet, I’m not sure if these professionally made cookies come cheap either. But they’re just as elaborate.
19. A skull cake should always have flowers.
Don’t forget the red eyes, too, which might make it creepier. Could you imagine eating a cake like this?
20. If you like cats, I have just the cookie for you.
Yes, this is a skeleton cat cookie. And yes, it has a multi-colored rib cage. Don’t ask me about it. I wasn’t consulted.
21. Grace your fiesta platter with these gingerbread skull cookies.
I guess these go with the other gingerbread skeleton cookies. Love how each one is decorated though.
22. This purple skull cake comes with purple flowers.
Also comes with flowery eyes and purple ribbons. Though I wouldn’t want to eat the ribbons.
23. To go with a Dia de los Muertos skull cake, check out these cake pops.
Yes, these are skull cake pops with roses in them. But each of them sure look just as lovely.
24. This Calavera Catrina cake comes with flowery eyes.
Kind of resembles a Mexican Tim Burton character. Love the skirt.
25. Of course, these skull cupcakes shall do quite nicely on any dessert platter.
Well, they do have all the flowery trimmings. But not all the skulls are decorated.
26. This flowery skull cake can almost be considered a work of art.
Well, I do love the purple flower eyes on this one. Also think the rose is ornately painted.
27. How about a skull cake in blue?
Well, this one seems really unique. The purple teeth and green flower eyes sure are creepy.
28. Nothing makes Day of the Dead like these sugar skull marshmallows.
Wonder how people decorate these. I mean it can’t be easy to put icing on a marshmallow like that.
29. For your Dia de los Muertos party, you can’t go wrong with these skull pizzas.
These are covered in tomato sauce and cheese with veggie features. Bet you can’t resist these.
30. For lunch on Day of a Dead, take a bite out of this skull sandwich.
The jelly on this one makes it look a bit bloody. But I love how they used seeds for the features.
31. Of course, some cakes go over the top.
Now this one may be festive but it’s just so outlandish. Bet it didn’t come cheap.
32. These Hello Kitty Dia de los Muertos cookies are a real treat.
Yes, these do exist. And yes, many will find them adorable. Not sure about the witch hat though.
33. Nothing makes your Day of the Dead party a hit like these brownie bites.
Some of these have skulls on them. Some of them have bones. What you choose is up to you.
34. If you love the Day of the Dead, then you’ll enjoy these apple and cheese empanadas.
Guess these are small apple pies. Like how this skull one has heart eyes.
35. Heard of candy apples? How about candy apple skulls?
Well, that’s one unique way to decorate a skull besides cakes and cupcakes. Beautifully painted.
36. This skull cake is all flowered out.
Guess this was made at a professional bakery and didn’t come cheap. Love the flower eyes and wreath.
37. These cactus cupcakes come in all shapes and sizes.
Well, one of them is a rose but that’s beside the point. Yet, you see what I mean.
38. These Day of the Dead owl cookies will surely be a hoot.
Doesn’t hurt that they’re chocolate either. Still, don’t know what owls have to do with the holiday but I like them.
39. Sometimes it’s best to go with a simple skull head flower girl.
Well, she is surrounded by skulls but she’s not supposed to be scary. Actually quite adorable to tell you the truth.
40. If you can’t use icing on your cupcakes, sprinkles is the way to go.
After all, you can’t paint these sugar skulls. But they nevertheless look festive.
41. For simple treats, go with these skull Rice Krispie pops.
Each of these has a skull with a flower on it. Includes butterfly bites.
42. This Calavera Catrina Frida Kahlo cake is a work of art.
Frida Kahlo was an iconic Mexican artist who painted surreal self portraits. This is a fitting tribute to her.
43. Never seen an intricate gingerbread skeleton like that before.
This one is even more elaborate and colorful than the other one. Even has a gold tooth to boot.
44. Always keep your sugar skull cookies uniquely decorated.
Though I think these are by a professional decorator. Honestly, someone must spend a lot of time on these.
45. No nino could ever resist this Dia de los Muertos lunch.
Well, it has a skull cookie and some skull treats. However, let’s get this straight, Dia de los Muertos isn’t Mexican Halloween.
46. Sometimes a simple skull cake is best.
This one uses candy and icing decorations. It’s also among the most doable cake on this list.
47. For your Dia de los Muertos, you can’t resist this kind of bread.
Well, this is Pan de Muertos or “bread of the dead.” Not sure what it’s used for. But I do like these bread figures.
48. How about a skull cake encased in a coffin?
Even has cherries on the edges. Kind of morbid yet, kind of creative if you ask me.
49. There’s nothing more Mexican at a Dia de los Muertos party like a sugar skull hummus.
Even includes vegetables as well as blue nachos to dip in. One of the most elaborate hummus displays I’ve seen.
50. These skull cake pops come with interesting attributes.
Some come with flowers. Some come with mustaches. Yet, most come with icing decor.
51. Impress your guests on Dia de los Muertos with this sugar skull bread.
It’s kind of like the pizza one except it has no tomato sauce. But includes plenty of peppers.
52. This skull cakes seems rather fruity to me.
And boy, does it use a variety, too. Even has a fruit frame to go with it.
53. Wish your guests un feliz Dia de los Muertos con estes cookies.
I don’t know the Spanis word for cookie. But I do love how these are decorated.
54. When it comes to flowers, sometimes less is more.
Here we have another doable skull cake. Can also double as a Halloween cake. Then again, so can most of these treats.
55. This sugar skull pizza has all the toppings.
Indeed like pepperoni and veggies galore. Like the eyes and mouth.
56. A skull cake like this comes with blue, yellow, and green flowers.
This seems somewhat toned down compared to some of the other ones. Still, the green teeth is kind of disgusting.
57. Sometimes the skulls can just be among the trimmings.
Like you see on this cake, which wouldn’t be for Dia de los Muertos without them. Still, love the flowers.
58. You never know how elaborate a skull could be on a cake.
I think this one is for a birthday. Yet, I do like the pink flowery touches.
59. Yellow skulls and black flowers show up well in black.
This might be a wedding cake or for a birthday. I can’t tell which. But I guess the ornate decor doesn’t come cheap.
60. These Oreo skulls always make tasty treats.
You almost don’t want to eat them with their adorable faces. But since they’re Oreos, how can you resist?
61. From the faces, these Dia de los Muertos cookies almost seem like works of art.
Some of the faces seem kind of creepy if you ask me. Includes orange flowers and butterflies.
62. Sugar skulls can also take a chocolate form.
Yes, these do exist. And you can buy them in Mexico during this time of year as well.
63. For healthier options, try a skull salad.
This treat article doesn’t seem to have a lot of healthy stuff in it. Then again, sometimes you have to go with what you have.
64. Take a bite out of these sugar skull Rice Krispie treats.
Well, each seem to be bite sized and decorated. But they’re nevertheless adorable.
65. These sugar skull cake pops would do quite nicely on any Day of the Dead dessert platter.
These seem a bit more painted than the other ones. They also seem to look less like skulls.
66. These Frida Kahlo Oreos are an artist’s delight.
Strangely, her art might seem appropriate for the Mexican holiday as well. These are perfect with the Frida Kahlo cake.
67. These skull candy apples come Disney approved.
Yes, these are Mickey and Minnie Mouse skull candy apples. Disney isn’t just popular in the states, you know.
68. A Day of the Dead fiesta always needs a cake like this.
Has decor and flowers near the top and middle. Yet, the skulls are on the bottom, instead of what’s featured.
69. There’s nothing more flowery than this Day of the Dead skull cake.
Well, the flowers are all over the skull in this one. But I can’t help but adore it.
70. Of course, no Day of the Dead party can ever be without a Catrina cake.
Well, this is an older rendition of Catrina. But she really knows how to buy a hat.
71. These sugar skull and cross bone cookies shall delight.
I guess these are for the Mexican pirates in your life. Then again, I’m kidding around.
72. This skull cake comes with a cameo.
Just not the one Stan Lee makes in the Marvel movies. It’s a kind of jewelry pendant.
73. Sometimes you don’t have to ice the skulls before you decorate them.
Well, as far as these sugar cookies are concerned. Yet, I guess these were made by a professional.
74. Don’t like sugar skulls? How about flowers?
This one is a Mexican flower cake with pots. And yes, this doesn’t come cheap as well as is over the top.
75. This cake has a girl on top of a hat.
Even has a heart flower wreath as well. Professionally made but I like it.
76. Decorating these cookies requires a delicate touch.
Yes, I’m sure these require considerable time and patience fore each detail. If you mess up, you might be done.
77. Cat lovers would always want a cake like this for their Day of the Dead party.
Yes, this is a cat skeleton cake. Don’t ask me how it was made. But I’m sure you can’t eat the flowers.
78. Sometimes the most artistic skulls are done on sheet cake.
This one really brings out the colors. Not sure if a regular decorator can pull this of. But wow.
79. For Dia de los Muertos, bet you never saw such a spectacular cake like this.
This is a wedding cake and a very expensive one at that. Contains skulls, flowers, and birds galore.
80. Sometimes a simple cake design might just do the trick.
Sure it doesn’t have skulls on it. But it has flowers and hearts just the same. Love it.
The Lone Girl in a Crowd 
Very cool! A little morbid-but still very cool!