This 55th Cookie Connection Challenge, organized by host Manu Pezzopane, centers around dimensional mixed media cookies and features the very talented Carmen Urbano of Inspirations by Carmen Urbano.

Born in Mexico and currently residing in San Diego, California, USA, Carmen is an award-winning cookie artist and international instructor who is recognized widely for helping to popularize dimensional royal icing and mixed media in the USA and Mexico. She has received multiple awards, including first place in all four competition categories at CookieCon Orlando 2023, first place in the Royal Icing category at Cake Artist International 2023, and Best in Show and Innovative Cookie Artist awards at the 2019 San Diego Cake Show.

In her kickoff demo for this challenge, Carmen demonstrates how to add depth and dimension to cookies using multiple elements, including textured royal icing, molded fondant, edible lace, sugar beads, and various dusts. She also provides useful tips for planning mixed media cookies and making and storing embellishments in advance.

For this challenge, entrants are asked to draw on Carmen’s techniques to create a mixed media cookie (or cookies) of their own designs, and they have until January 13, 2024 to do so. In addition to the learning that comes with this challenge, entrants also have the opportunity to win one of three randomly drawn prizes, including free access to a past Cookie Connection Challenge video and Carmen’s cutters used in the demo!

For more information about how to enter this challenge, click on the “LEARN MORE” button, and you’ll be taken to the challenge launch post on Cookie Connection. If you don’t want to enter but want to watch Carmen’s video, that’s fine too! Simply, click here, and you’ll be able to purchase the video for the nominal fee of $5 while the challenge is open. But act fast! Remember, challenge tutorial price increases to $30 once the challenge closes on January 13, 2024.