Description

In this tutorial, Anna Oliinyk of Sunday Cookers returns for the second time as a Cookie Connection Watch-Learn-Create challenge guest. (In 2023, Anna was the featured guest for Challenge #54 where she demonstrated how to make her signature lifelike cookie bouquets.) Here in her Challenge #59 demo, Anna recreates the four cookies shown in the sneak peek video, above. While Anna covers 12 decorating techniques in the process of making these cookies, she focuses on two wafer paper techniques that lend interesting depth – meaning texture and dimension – to cookies. The first technique is “wafer paper shredding”, which refers to grinding or shredding wafer paper into tiny pieces. This shred is then sprinkled onto wet royal icing to add fluffy texture. You’ve probably seen similar techniques using cookie crumbs, shredded coconut, tinted powdered sugar, or other edibles, but the advantage of wafer paper is it is light and tasteless, so it won’t interfere as much (or at all) with the underlying flavor or texture of your cookies. The second technique is called “wafer paper plating”, which involves cutting relatively large pieces of wafer paper and then attaching them to cookies with thick royal icing to add dimension. Anna’s cookie set is clearly perfect for Easter and other springtime events, however, the wafer paper techniques that she teaches can be applied to cookies for every season and occasion as she shows at the tutorial’s outset. And that’s not all: Before encouraging viewers to enter Challenge #59 (now open through June 8, 2025), Anna demonstrates a final “bonus” hydrangea flower cookie that includes no wafer paper whatsoever, but which rounds out her springtime set quite beautifully.

Once you’ve purchased, you’ll automatically receive a receipt with a link to a downloadable resource list that identifies Anna’s key supplies. 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.

About this Guest: Anna (aka Ganna) Oliinyk is an award-winning cookie decorator originally from Ukraine, and now based in Portland, Oregon, USA. Together with her husband Konstantine, she owns and operates Sunday Cookers. While Anna focuses on designing and decorating cookies, Konstantine handles baking, delivery, content creation, and the couple’s Etsy shop. A proud mother of two, Anna began her cookie journey in 2018, and it quickly evolved into her life’s purpose. Since then, she has been sharing her expertise via in-person classes and her vast database of prerecorded classes in English, Ukrainian, and Russian. From simple cookies to 3-D projects and floral designs, Anna’s class offering covers it all. Anna has earned widespread recognition for her skills, appearing on Food Network and multiple times on local TV. She was also a gold medalist in the 2022 and 2023 editions of Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition™ and a cookie finalist in the 2023 American Cake Awards. She currently serves as a judge of Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition™.

Notes: While Challenge #59 is ongoing (again, through June 8, 2025, 5 pm CT), this tutorial is available for only $5 ($25 off) by applying a special Cookie Connection members-only discount code at checkout. To get this code, click on the discount code button (photo) below. You will be taken to Cookie Connection where you can retrieve the code; you will then be directed back to this page to complete your purchase. If you’re not a Cookie Connection member but want to take advantage of this discount, you certainly can, but you will need to become a member first. Just click the same button, and you will be prompted to sign up for Cookie Connection before you are given access to the code. (The signup process is free and fast!) Of course, you are not obligated to participate in the challenge if you buy this video, but Anna, Manu, and Julia would certainly love it if you do! Again, for more information about Challenge #59, please visit the challenge kickoff post on Cookie Connection.

For other guest tutorials originally filmed for Cookie Connection challenges, including Anna’s Challenge #54 tutorial (“Piped Flower Bouquets”), check out the “MORE LIKE THIS” section below.

Details

Skill Level: All, as Anna explains every aspect of how to recreate this set and how to lend depth with wafer paper

Video Format: Recording of live demo by Anna Oliinyk; lightly edited

Video Length: 2:16:12

What You’ll Learn (~12 Techniques)

Though wafer paper shredding and plating are the focus of this tutorial, Anna covers a large number of other valuable techniques that are listed below roughly in the order introduced in the tutorial:

• Design transfer with cookie templates
• Outlining and flooding, with tricks for lending realistic perspective
• Dimensional piping
• Sculpted (aka modeled) royal icing
• Wafer paper shredding, for added texture
• Wafer paper plating, for added dimension
• Brushed royal icing, for sheer coverage
• Airbrush shading, dusting, and painting finishes, for accentuation of wafer paper elements and added depth
• Bonus: Royal icing transfers (i.e., piped hydrangea flowers)

What You’ll Receive:

• Forever-access to video recording on this site
• Resource list that identifies Anna’s key supplies used in this video

Video Outline (Time Stamp):

• Introduction of guest Anna Oliinyk by host Manu Pezzopane, including review of previous Challenge #54 (0:00 – 8:00)
• Introduction to Challenge #59 (8:01 – 10:02)
• Wafer paper overview and definition of wafer paper plating and shredding techniques (10:03 – 14:16)
• Cookie templates, cutting, and design transfer (14:17 – 16:08)
• Cookie #1: Chick piping with wafer paper plating and shredding (16:09 – 50:55)
• Cookie #2: Eggshell piping with wafer paper plating (50:56 – 1:07:24)
• Cookie #3: Pussy willow piping with wafer paper shredding (1:07:25 – 1:16:56)
• Cookies #1 to #3: Airbrushing, dusting, and painting finishes (1:16:57 – 1:52:36)
• Cookies #1 to #3: Recap (1:52:37 – 1:54:41)
• Bonus cookie: Blue hydrangea flowers (1:54:42 – 2:11:08)
• All four cookies: Recap (2:11:09 – 2:12:31)
• Closing remarks and invitation to Challenge #59 (2:12:32 – 2:16:12)

Purchase Agreement: Julia M. Usher, LLC is the sole copyright owner of this video tutorial. Anna Oliinyk, aka Sunday Cookers, is the sole copyright owner of the companion handout, and has granted permission to Julia M. Usher, LLC to distribute it in perpetuity along with this tutorial. 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 the tutorials in Julia’s Watch-Learn-Create challenge series 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: Anna Oliinyk and host Manu Pezzopane, via ECamm 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 only lightly edited, so there may be brief pauses as the guest gathers tools or cleans between demo steps.