Description

Originally conducted by Julia as a Facebook Live for a Cake International virtual event in March 2021, this two-hour and 17-minute recorded demo shows how to create a stunning, completely edible heart-shaped cookie box, perfect for filling with more treats for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or almost any other special occasion. This project is a great intro for those just starting to dabble in 3-D cookies, though more advanced decorators will certainly find valuable lessons in it as well.

Once you’ve purchased, you’ll automatically receive a receipt with a link to a downloadable handout, including three recipes, sources, and extensive technique tips. Then, simply return to this page to view the tutorial as often and for as long as you like. If you are logged into the site, the sneak peek video above will disappear and be replaced with the full-length video. To log in, simply go to the upper right account area of the site (in laptop viewing mode), and enter the username and password you created at the time of purchase.

Details

Skill Level: All, though particularly suited to those just beginning in 3-D cookies

Video Format: Recording of live Facebook demo by Julia; unedited, complete with student Q&A

Video Length: 2:17:15

What You’ll Learn (11 Techniques):

• Dough modifications for contoured cookies
• Contoured cookies (how to shape and bake 3-D hearts)
• Molded cookies
• Dipping (vs. flooding) contoured cookies
• Basic royal icing transfers
• Sprayed metallic treatments
• Perfect peak-free dot work
• Modeling chocolate ribbons and bows
• Application of dimensional elements (ribbons, bows, and compound cookies, aka cookie-on-cookie)
• 3-D sandwiched assembly
• Airbrushed and stenciled fondant appliqués (box liner)

What You’ll Receive:

• Forever-access to class video recording on this site
• Detailed 20-page tutorial handout including:
  • recipes for gingerbread, royal icing (with consistency adjustments for dipping, dot work, gluing, and more), and modeling chocolate
  • cookie and royal icing transfer quantities and dimensions
  • supply list with online sources
  • extensive technique tips
  • inspiration images
• Access to Julia via email or Superpeer for tutorial Q&A (at any time, though please allow 48 hours for a response)

Video Outline (Time Stamp):

• Class countdown (0:00 – 0:05)
• Thanks-yous and class housekeeping notes (0:05 – 1:55; fast-forward, if you like)
• Introduction (1:55 – 4:33)
• Cookie overview (4:33 – 7:14)
• Shaping and baking contoured heart cookies, also molding button cookies (7:14 – 27:59)
• Filing and dipping heart cookies (27:59 – 45:52)
• Removing button cookies from molds and trimming (45:52 – 55:19)
• Royal icing transfer prep (55:19 – 1:02:17)
• Spraying and assembling button cookies (1:02:17- 1:08:20)
• Perfect peak-free dot work (1:08:20 – 1:11:37)
• Decorating heart box top, including chocolate ribbons and bows (1:11:37 – 1:43:52)
• Assembling and decorating heart box bottom (1:43:52 – 1:52:27)
• Finishing box inside with airbrushed and stenciled fondant appliqué (1:52:27 – 2:06:14)
• Q&A and closing remarks (2:06:14 – 2:17:15; Julia’s special offers no longer apply)

Purchase Agreement: Julia M. Usher and Julia M. Usher, LLC are the sole copyright owners of this video tutorial and handout. Reproduction, distribution, resale, and/or any other use for financial gain of this video or handout, in whole or in part, are strictly prohibited. However, as the purpose of Julia’s tutorials is to teach, any knowledge gleaned from this video and handout can be used to make cookies or other products for either personal use or sale. In purchasing this tutorial, you acknowledge that you agree to these terms of use.

Julia’s Return Policy: Due to the online nature of this tutorial, all sales are final.

Video Production: Julia, via Facebook Live. Again, this class is a recording of a live online demo, so production value will vary throughout the video depending on internet conditions at the time. It is also unedited, complete with student interactions, Julia’s “um”s and bloopers, and even a brief false start! But, Julia’s crystal-clear teaching style shines through, and there are some great lessons in the student Q&A, so don’t skip past!