Organized by host Manu Pezzopane, this 56th Cookie Connection Challenge (the sixth in the new-ish Watch-Learn-Create series) focused on how to add elegance to simple cookies with finely piped ruffle borders. And its featured guest was none other than the master of finely piped details herself – Noriko Forster aka Cookie Crumbs by mintlemonade!

Known the world over for her meticulous piping and picture-perfect icing – not to mention her ultra-sophisticated color choices – Noriko started her cookie art journey in 2012 when she happened upon a cookie decorating book in a shop in her hometown of Tokyo, Japan. She was so intrigued that she decided she would cover a store-bought cake with cookies for her elder daughter’s birthday to make the cake extra special for her. She did just that, and the rest is history. By 2016, Noriko was teaching six cookie decorating classes per month, all while raising two girls and working as a book editor. Today, Noriko is arguably one of Japan’s finest cookie decorating instructors, having taught an estimated 1,000 students through her series of in-person, hands-on classes.

In her kickoff demo for this challenge, which closed in March 2024, Noriko demonstrated three very unique ruffle borders that employ some unexpected pastry tips and a novel combination of both piping and brush embroidery techniques. At the conclusion of the demo, Noriko and challenge host Manu Pezzopane encouraged viewers to create cookies of their own for Challenge #56 by replicating Noriko’s ruffle borders and by creating brand-new ones using Noriko’s approach. In addition to the learning that came with this challenge, entrants had the opportunity to win one of two randomly drawn prizes: (1) free access to a past challenge video and (2) free access to Noriko’s digital workbook/course (English version) about embroidery-style piping. Judging from the many beautifully bordered cookies submitted to this challenge, entrants certainly took advantage of this opportunity! To see what they made, check out the challenge recap on Cookie Connection.

Though this challenge is over, please remember: the learning is not! To view Noriko’s video lesson, click on the “LEARN MORE” button, and you’ll be taken to the “TUTORIALS: Guest Series” section of this site where you can purchase it for a nominal fee.