Blog: Competitions

Need one of Julia’s foolproof recipes? Some stunning cookie decorating ideas? Or a quick fix on Julia’s latest news and events? Well then, you’re in the right place! Here, you can stay up-to-the-minute current on everything that’s happening in Julia’s kitchen and studio – and in that always-churning mind of hers! IMPORTANT: Julia is still formatting blog entries prior to 2021 to conform to the new site layout. Please don’t be surprised if some back entries look a little wacky, and please be patient as she edits them over time.
Julia M. Usher

Julia’s Cookie Art Competition 2023

After two years of running her annual cookie art competition online due to COVID, Julia returned with her judging team to That Takes the Cake (TTTC) Show in Round Rock, Texas at the end of March 2023. The turnout was

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Julia M. Usher

Cookie Connection Challenge #54

It’s hard to believe that Manu Pezzopane is already hosting the 54th Cookie Connection decorating challenge (and the fourth in the site’s new Watch-Learn-Create series), but she is! In this challenge, Manu’s featured guest is Anna Oliinyk of Sunday Cookers. Anna is an award-winning cookie

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Julia M. Usher

Cookie Connection Challenge #53

Wow! This third challenge in Julia’s new Watch-Learn-Create series was a real gem! Hosted by Manu Pezzopane on Julia’s community-based site Cookie Connection, this challenge kicked off like every other with a free instructional video by a noted cookie artist that was

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Julia M. Usher

Cookie Connection Challenge #52

Julia couldn’t have been more excited to announce the second featured instructor in her Watch-Learn-Create series! Hosted by Manu Pezzopane on Julia’s community-based site Cookie Connection, these challenges kick off every two months with an instructional video by a noted cookie artist

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Julia M. Usher

Cookie Connection Challenge #51

Earlier in 2022, Cookie Connection‘s popular Practice Bakes Perfect challenges got a makeover, and Challenge #51, which opened on July 20, was the first challenge bearing this brand new look. Woo hoo! Hosted by longtime Cookie Connection contributor Manu Pezzopane,

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Julia M. Usher

American Cake Awards 2023

After a successful sold-out launch event in 2022, the American Cake Awards was back in 2023 with a magical night of celebration with North America’s sweetest cookie and cake artists! Julia and many other sugar heroes were in attendance for

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Julia M. Usher

American Cake Awards 2020 in 2022

Join North America’s sweetest sugar artists for a night of celebration at the brand new American Cake Awards. The culmination of a rigorous online competition, these awards recognize North American talent in the sugar arts across a spectrum of categories and

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Julia M. Usher

Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #50

With the help of three different challenge hosts over the years, Cookie Connection is now celebrating its 50th Practice Bakes Perfect challenge! Woo hoo! Challenge #50 is commemorating that milestone by giving entrants the opportunity to revisit any of the past

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Julia M. Usher

Julia’s Cookie Art Competition 2022

After a false start at its usual in-person home at That Takes the Cake (TTTC) Show, Julia’s annual cookie competition went virtual in 2022. (When TTTC canceled due to COVID for the second year in a row, Julia insisted that

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Julia M. Usher

Julia’s Cookie Art Competition 2022

Important Update: Unfortunately, That Takes the Cake Show canceled on January 16 due to COVID, and so this in-person format of the competition was also canceled. But there’s good news: Julia will be re-launching her 2022 competition in a virtual

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Julia M. Usher

Julia’s Cookie Art Competition 2021

Due to COVID, Julia’s annual cookie competition went fully virtual in 2021. The call for entries closed on October 15 with a record-high number of entries from all over the world. After much deliberation and some extremely difficult decision-making, Julia’s

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Just in time for summer wedding season, my latest 3-D cake tutorial is sure to wow – though it hasn’t a single crumb of actual cake in it! It’s all cookie, modeling chocolate, and royal icing. Another plus: it’s a lot easier to make than it looks! Though my four-tier version embraces my more-is-more mentality, the project can easily be scaled down by making fewer tiers. My tutorial also details every single step so that even beginners can follow along.

To celebrate its launch, I’m offering 50% OFF ALL OF MY TUTORIALS AND CLASS RECORDINGS through June. Just use CODE WOW50 at checkout. – Julia