Description

Spanning one hour and nearly 45 minutes, this video tutorial marks the first of the cookie decorating challenges in Julia’s Watch-Learn-Create series started in 2022 (and the 51st Cookie Connection challenge since the challenges began in 2014). In this first part of her two-part challenge kickoff video, Julia discusses how to formulate and handle dough for best results with 3-D cookies as well as four different ways to shape 3-D cookies, including everything from contouring to embossing and even modeling cookie dough by hand. She also begins the discussion of how to cover 3-D cookies with spraying (or airbrushing) and sponging techniques. The discussion of eight other methods for covering 3-D cookies continues in Part 2 of this tutorial, found in the “MORE LIKE THIS” section below.

Once you’ve purchased, you’ll automatically receive a receipt with a link to a downloadable handout, including links to Julia’s gingerbread recipe, supplies, and supplemental (free) instructional videos. 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.

Note: Though this challenge initially ran in 2022, the techniques taught in the video can be applied to 3-D cookies – and even sometimes to 2-D cookies – at any time. They are indeed nearly universally applicable. To see the cookies that challenge entrants made with these techniques, check out the Challenge #51 recap post on Cookie Connection for inspiration. And, if you have any questions about the tutorial, Julia can be reached at sweetlife@juliausher.com.

Details

Skill Level: All, as Julia explains every aspect of shaping and covering 3-D cookies in great detail

Video Format: Recording of live Facebook demo by Julia; unedited

Video Length: 1:44:23

What You’ll Learn (~7 Techniques):

• Formulating and handling cookie dough for 3-D baking
• Four cookie dough-shaping methods:
  • molded
  • embossed (and contoured embossed)
  • modeled (aka hand-shaped)
  • contoured (both hemispheres and half-cylinders)
• Two 3-D cookie-covering methods (eight others are covered in Part 2):
  • spraying/airbrushing
  • sponging

What You’ll Receive:

• Forever-access to video recording on this site
• Handout with resource list including:
  • link to Julia’s gingerbread recipe formulated for 3-D baking
  • supply list with online sources
  • links to supplemental instructional videos on Julia’s YouTube channel
• 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):

• Countdown for Facebook Live (0:00 – 1:57; you’ll want to skip this part)
• Introduction of new Watch-Learn-Create challenge concept and thank-yous by Julia (1:58 – 6:00)
• Introduction of new challenge host, Manu Pezzopane, by Julia (6:01 – 9:42)
• Introduction of Challenge #51 by host Manu Pezzopane (9:43 – 13:16)
• Agenda overview by Julia (demo begins; 13:17 – 15:03)
• Formulating dough for 3-D baking, including discussion of both process-related (handling) and recipe-related variables that impact results (15:04 – 34:50)
• Overview of four cookie dough-shaping methods (34:51 – 41:23)
• Shaping method #1: molding (41:24 – 49:09)
• Shaping method #2: embossing (49:10 – 1:00:48)
• Shaping method #3: modeling (1:00:49 – 1:07:24)
• Shaping method #4: contouring, including both hemispheres and half-cylinders (1:07:25 – 1:28:07)
• Introduction to 3-D cookie-covering methods, beginning with covering methods #1 and #2, spraying/airbrushing and sponging (1:28:08 – 1:44:23; again, the other methods are covered in Part 2)

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 and host Manu Pezzopane, 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 Julia’s “um”s and bloopers and fairly regular glitches in the host’s audio! However, Julia’s instructions, which comprise 99 percent of the video, are crystal clear throughout.