Julia continues her latest botanical series with these cookies inspired by the very beauties climbing her own garden arbor. (Or we should say “arbors”; she grows many varieties of clematis!) This edible variety is made entirely of royal icing transfers, some contoured and others stenciled, like the delicate trellis in the background. After drying, each piece is individually airbrushed and then assembled together on the cookie to create this masterpiece. A labor of love, without question, but definitely a project anyone can do with Julia’s detailed step-by-step instructions.
This year’s competition, Julia’s last one before she heads into cookie-retirement, has shaped up to be her best ever! For the first time in competition history, Julia aligned herself with an exclusive media partner, the illustrious D’licious Magazine, to give sponsors more exposure across a wider range of platforms, and to take competition participation across the world to new heights. And so they have! Competition registration reached its highest level in the last five years, and the final prize tally ($32,000 USD) is an all-time record, thanks to 24 amazing sponsors!
The competition closed for entries on May 31, 2026, with submissions coming from countries across the globe – Iran, Ukraine, Japan, Spain, Mexico, Poland, and the United States, to name just a few. While the judges are busy evaluating entries (with the aim to announce winners on June 30), Julia encourages you to show the competition’s sponsors your love by visiting their sites (links behind the teal button below), exploring their products and services, and following them online. It’s the least we can do to show our appreciation for taking this year’s competition over the top!
Julia kicked off 2026 in style with a trip to the D’licious Magazine Awards in the UK, where her site Cookie Connection won the Online Community of the Year Award. (Hurrah!) Otherwise, she’s purposely kept her 2026 cookie class schedule lean, as she will be managing her biggest cookie art competition yet! She also plans to explore some new non-cookie opportunities this year. If you find yourself craving a Julia-class during this time, please check out her vast library of recorded tutorials under the “TUTORIALS” section of this site, or her free instructional videos on YouTube.
Japan Salonaise Association, Japan and Other Asian Markets
Japan Salonaise Association, Japan and Other Asian Markets
Japan Salonaise Association, Japan and Other Asian Markets
Japan Salonaise Association, Japan and Other Asian Markets
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Live sweetly, Julia
