It’s time to stretch your cookie skills once again! Woo hoo! Organized by host Manu Pezzopane, this 55th Cookie Connection Challenge (the fifth in our new Watch-Learn-Create series) 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.

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. In addition to the learning that comes with this task, entrants 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! How wonderful is that?! I hope you’ll join the fun and learning! For more information about challenge rules and how to enter, please visit the kickoff post on Cookie Connection.

UPDATE, January 13, 2024: This challenge has closed, but you can still learn from Carmen’s challenge video by purchasing it in this site’s “Guest Series” section under “TUTORIALS”. You’re also sure to be impressed and inspired by all of the gorgeous mixed media entries in the recap post on Cookie Connection. Do check it out!