It's one of those weeks where mysterious unknown outside forces 
are causing lots of previously posted cookies to trend again. This phenomenon usually happens around key cookie holidays, like Valentine's Day and Christmas, when some other blog post or online feature points traffic toward our members' stunning seasonal cookies.
While our home page feeds and hot list* may seem a bit anachronistic this week, the result is only something to exclaim loudly and positively about! We all get to take a little walk down memory lane; members we've missed pleasantly revisit us again; and the convergence of various Cookie Connection eras is nothing short of spectacular.
To see what I mean, let's explore this week's featured cookies together, shall we?! The first three honorees as well as the last one are recent additions to the site, whereas all of the others hark from days much further back.
#1: Robbie Burns Cookies 2024 by Joanna (Cookie Mojo) [EDITOR'S NOTE: What a delightful duplex of photos! ~JMU]
#2: Australian Day by Petra Florean [EDITOR'S NOTE: I love all of the tiny details on this Australian sea turtle. It's also reminding me that I need to tack a few extra days onto my trip to International Cake Show Australia to appreciate the many natural wonders there. Woman-traveler does not live on cake and cookies alone! 
Thanks for the beautiful reminder, Petra! ~JMU]
#3: L❤️VE! by Di Art Sweets [EDITOR'S NOTE: Di Art Sweets is on a roll with adorable cookies. She had equally darling sets featured both last week and the week before! Congrats on your cuteness-consistency, @Di Art Sweets! ~JMU]
#4: Engagement Cookies by Evelindecora [EDITOR'S NOTE: What's not to love about these very elegant cookies first posted back in 2017?! ~JMU]
#5: Pierniczki z Kronką aka Gingerbreads with Kronka by Teresa Pękul [EDITOR'S NOTE: Another gorgeous set from 2017! Sadly, here's a situation where Google's translation eludes me. (I always like to know what every title is saying!) Perhaps @Teresa Pękul can tell me what "kronka" means? ]
#6: Isomalt Butterfly Suncatcher by iSugarfy (aka swissophie) [EDITOR'S NOTE: This cookie, first posted here in 2018, is so stunning that I'm frankly shocked it hadn't been featured before today. Leave it to @iSugarfy (aka swissophie) to wow us! ~JMU]
#7: Lilium Cookies by Evelindecora [EDITOR'S NOTE: @Evelindecora is another member who consistently wows. In fact, she's now done it twice in this one Spotlight with these cookies dating back to 2014! ~JMU]
#8: Valentine Cookies by Anita K.C. [EDITOR'S NOTE: So perfectly Valentines-y in their marbled pink splendor, these cookies from 2021 earned this week's cover spot! Kudos to you, @Anita K.C.! ~JMU]
#9: Christmas Sweater by Sweet Prodigy [EDITOR'S NOTE: Though probably the most anachronistic cookie of the week - having been made in 2016 and not even for Valentine's Day (!) - this masterfully piped cookie is no less magical. Impeccable work, @Sweet Prodigy! ~JMU]
And, last but not least . . .
#10: Bridesmaid by Icingsugarkeks [EDITOR'S NOTE: @Icingsugarkeks, aka Gabi, makes another appearance this week with this cookie, also featured recently in our Challenge #55 recap. Gabi is becoming a regular to our Spotlights, thanks to her consistent and well-crafted postings!]
Speaking of challenges, Challenge #56, ruffle borders with @mintlemonade (cookie crumbs) aka Noriko Forster, opened last weekend, and her kickoff video is absolutely mesmerizing, as @Manu biscotti decorati, early viewers, and I can attest. Don't forget to grab your exclusive Cookie Connection members-only discount code (via the button below) to get Noriko's video for a mere $5 while the challenge is open! I can't wait to see your cookies over the coming week - here's hoping many of them include ruffles!
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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