Fall is finally in full bloom in my neighborhood. The temperatures have cooled. Mums are in pots. Pumpkins are on porches. And witches, monsters, and ghosts are popping up everywhere.
All of these signs of fall provide so much levity in an otherwise stressful time. I could not be more grateful for the distraction out there. And right here! Cookie Connection is an absolute mental safe haven! This week, we are once again blessed with a gorgeous collection of seasonal deliciousness. This week's hot list* is glorious escapism and inspiration. Let's get to it!
#1: Cozy Fall Cookies by Evelindecora (This beautiful set is such an exquisite collection of texture and detail. Cozy indeed, @Evelindecora!)
#2: Grateful for You by Heather Bruce Sosa (We are certainly grateful for you, @Heather Bruce Sosa!)
#3: Vintage Halloween by April Berry (Such an elegant take on Halloween creepiness! No easy task, @April Berry.)
#4: Domácí Hospodyňka v Běhu Casu aka Housewife over Time by Dita (It is impossible for me to pick a favorite from @Dita's adorable set. Each cookie is a work of art.)
#5: Wicked Self-Care by Susie Jacobs (This witch is pure joy! A cauldron of fun - just perfect for the cover image. Congratulations, @Susie Jacobs!)
#6: Halloween by Di Art Sweets (Who knew that monsters and bats could be so cute and cuddly?! Great work, @Di Art Sweets.)
#7: Beautiful Fish by yokko (The handpainting here shows so much movement. Absolutely stunning, @yokko!)
#8: Ghostly Art by Susie Jacobs (This picture-perfect cookie is @Susie Jacobs' second appearance in this week's Spotlight. And to think that nearly the entire vignette was composed with sprinkles as part of an online challenge! Way to go with this larger-than-life mini!)
#9: Halloween Pumpkins by Zeena (Such a fun 3-D project! Thanks for sharing this festive creation with us, @Zeena.)
#10: Welcome Baby Cookies by Gloriabakes (This sweet set works for any season. Great job, @Gloriabakes.)
Wasn't that Spotlight a most delightful distraction? Congratulations to everyone featured, and a big thank-you to all who have posted recently. I can't wait to see what comes next!
I hope everyone has a safe and peaceful week.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: In case you're wondering why @LisaF is writing the Spotlight for the second week in a row, get used to it! 
Lucky for me, she very generously volunteered to help me with extra Spotlight duty while I'm prepping to leave town and then away for the next two weekends at Cake International. Thank you, Lisa! I'll be popping on to the site only once in a while to check things, as my class is bound to require most of my attention. So be good in my absence, okay?! 
~JMU]
So that no one has an unfair advantage in making it onto a hot list, the algorithm is secret even to site administrators. Only our platform developers know the code, which has been exhaustively tested by those developers and Cookie Connection staff.
All photos shown here are the courtesy (and copyright) of the designers listed.
To check out our other hot lists, at any time of day, visit our Hot Spot, also found in the site's main navigation line.
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Lisa Foss is a hobbyist cookie decorator. After careers in corporate communications and freelance writing, she focused her attention on the nonprofit sector. She spent more than a decade at various soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and prison reentry programs throughout New York City. Lisa’s cookie journey began in 2011 when she started making gingerbread houses. After getting a handle on construction, she focused on improving her decorating skills through books, videos, and online tutorials. This exploration brought her to Cookie Connection, which has provided her with an incredible community to learn from and grow with. Though she enjoys making cookies for family and friends, Lisa’s main focus is cookies for charity.
For more information about Lisa and her work, please check out her Facebook and Instagram pages.
Byline photo credit: Shutterstock
Note: Saturday Spotlight is a weekly Cookie Connection blog feature written alternately by Lisa Foss and Julia M. Usher. Its primary intent is to cast a spotlight on the week's top-trending cookie posts, as determined automatically by the site algorithms described above. This article expresses the views of the author, and not necessarily those of this site, its owners, its administrators, or its employees. To see all of Cookie Connection's past Saturday Spotlights, click here.
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