If you’re looking for mummy decorations for Halloween, we have a party plan for you! Surely our Department 56 Mummy House, DIY mummy wreath, and yummy mummy cake will keep your guests wrapped up all night long.
Mummy Decorations for Halloween, You Say?
The practice of mummification, or attempting to preserve human bodies after death, was practiced by many peoples over the ages. Today, to be sure, we are most familiar with the Egyptians and their mummification processes.
Although processes varied over time among the Egyptians, their goal was to preserve the body from decay. They believed in magic and the possibility of mummified bodies coming back to life. (Hence Hollywood’s preoccupation with mummy movies. 😉)
Following embalming or the use of other methods, Egyptians wrapped the body in strips of linen. All things considered, this is where Western culture gets its general depiction of mummies today. Voila!
Department 56 Mummy House for Halloween
Department 56 says, “Halloween is a time to unwind and take in the fun adventures of hayrides, apple picking, corn mazes and trick-or-treating. Walk the neighborhood and take in the spooky decorations and colorful foliage, and maybe dress up to cause a fright for fun!”
This Mummy Wreath Is a Wrap!
No question about it – you can assemble this mummy wreath quickly and easily. What’s more, it can be easily disassembled and all four materials in your wreath repurposed after Halloween!
To begin with, I took a 24-inch blue Douglas fir artificial wreath and battery-operated lights. (You can use battery-operated or plug-in lights of your choice.) Once you’ve loaded the battery pack, weave the lights through the wreath. Then secure the battery pack to the back of the wreath frame with a piece of wire. If you choose a plug-in light string, weave the lights through the wreath, ending with the plug.
At this time, you’ll need a roughly 18-inch plush or doll to serve as your mummy. Given that, I chose our 19-inch, plush Grinch Santa. (He’s available in-store or by contacting customer service at 989.652.9931 or customerservice@bronners.com – #1207895, $22.99). Plush doesn’t really describe him; he’s so soft! After Halloween, he can find his way to a child’s Christmas stocking, decorate the tree, or be gift-wrapped and placed under the tree for Christmas morning.
At this time, you’ll need about 10 yards of 3-inch rolled gauze. I bought a multi-pack of shorter lengths to use. However, if you start out with a 10-yard length, you may want scissors handy to cut and work with shorter lengths. All things considered, you can simply tuck gauze ends into overlapping wrap. Start and end wrapping where you like; just be sure to overlap sufficiently. Gently set and position your finished mummy in the center of the wreath.
Yummy Mummy Cake
Whether your mummy is a scary stalker or a soft sweetie, one thing is certain: Mummies rank low on the good looks scale – ha! With this in mind, don’t feel bad if your mummy cake isn’t a looker either. This cake has layers of delicious flavors!
Fudge Brownie Cake for Yummy Mummy Cake
Equipment
- 3 6-inch round cake pans
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- 1 medium pan
- 2 large mixing bowls
- 1 medium mixing bowl
- 2 wooden spoon
- 2 spatulas
- 1 electric mixer
- parchment paper
- scissors
- 1 pencil
- 1 offset spatula
- 1 bench scraper
- 1 rotating cake turntable
- 1 cake board
- 1 large microwave-safe bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups white sugar
- 4 tablespoons cocoa
- 2 sticks margarine or butter
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 eggs
- 4 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 bag marshmallows
Instructions
- Measure flour and sugar into large bowl; set aside. Measure cocoa, margarine and water into a pan and boil until margarine melts. Pour over sugar and flour, mix well.
- Combine sour cream, eggs, soda and vanilla in medium bowl; pour into batter, mix well. Pour into three greased 6-inch pans, bottoms lined with parchment rounds that are also greased (spray or butter). To make your parchment rounds, turn one pan upside down on parchment. Using a pencil, trace three circles and cut them out.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 18-21 minutes. Cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs but no batter. (Mix Bronner's Festive Cookie Frosting – great on cakes, too – while your layers are baking: https://www.bronners.com/cookie-frosting-recipe. Cover it and store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to frost.)
- Cool cakes on rack for about 10 minutes. Here are some great tips from King Arthur Baking Company for removing cakes from their pans when they've cooled: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STScg7zU_VI&ab_channel=KingArthurBakingCompany.
- If the layer cakes have domed, remove the domes with a cake leveler or serrated knife. Wilton shows you how: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqo3YzoRKgA&ab_channel=Wilton.
- Frost and stack the layers. Add a thin frosting crumb coat using an offset spatula and bench scraper. Tips here from Chesweets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxcWDrPAeWM&ab_channel=Chelsweets. Chill the cake in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Remove the cake and frosting from the refrigerator and frost. I recommend you keep both the crumb coat layer and final layer as thin as possible. This is one case where a little brown cake or crumbing showing through your frosting will only add to the realism of your mummy. (My final layer was a little too thick and tended to pucker and droop when I added the marshmallow strips.) Chill your cake again for 20 to 30 minutes after adding the (thin) final frosting layer.
- Melt half a bag (about 6 ounces) of marshmallows in a large microwave-safe bowl for 1 minute. Stir with a wooden spoon. If the marshmallows are still lumpy, microwave for an additional 30 seconds. The melted marshmallows will be hot! Let them cool to a temperature you can handle them at without burning your fingers.
- Pick up the marshmallow with your fingertips. Spread your fingertips to create the illusion of linen strips and wrap them all around the cake. You may be tempted to melt more marshmallows for more wrap, but resist the temptation. Too much marshmallow makes it difficult to slice the cake.
- We made our mummy eyes and mouth using black pipe cleaners, but your options are endless.
- Keep your yummy mummy cake chlling in the refrigerator when it's not on display or being served.
More Decorations for Halloween
Looking for more spooktacular ideas? In that case, you’ll want to try our DIY ghost displayer and friendly monster wreath.
I have read the recipe 3 times and still don’t know why a pencil is needed?????????
I’m sorry for the confusion, Marge. I’ve added this to the recipe: “To make your parchment rounds, turn one pan upside down on parchment. Using a pencil, trace three circles and cut them out.” Hope that is helpful!