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Saturday Spotlight: Top 10 Valentine Cookies

Julia M. Usher 1/23/1611:47 PM

Well, you clearly decorated your hearts out - literally and figuratively - this week! We've had an impressive influx of heart cookies since our last Saturday Spotlight, all in anticipation of Saint Valentine's Day.

You name it, our hot list* has it. Hearts under isomalt, hanging hearts, hearts edged with crocheted lace, hearts belted with burlap, mixed media hearts, mini hearts, handpainted hearts . . . yessirree, there's ample inspiration here to keep you decorating to your heart's content.

Now, lest you be eating your heart out, thinking there's no way you could ever decorate to the level of this week's honorees . . . please, please remember that our Spotlights aren't just about showcasing the standouts; they're about connecting you with cookiers, techniques, and advice too. Should you have any questions about any of these cookies (or any others in any other Spotlight), I encourage you to reach out to the creator, and ask anything your heart desires (pertinent to the cookie design, of course)! I assure you, if you ask, you shall receive. We are a very generous community!

And now, before I have a change of heart, let me dispense with the trite heart expressions and move onto the reason we're all here - introducing this week's talented honorees!

#1: Love Tree by Dolce Sentire

#2: Love Is in the Air! by Le Monnier du Biscuit [EDITOR'S NOTE: One of our many wonderful Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #14 entries!]

#3: Valentine Snow Globe by Magadiuz [EDITOR'S NOTE: Another Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #14 entry!]

#4: Cupid Strikes by Cookie Celebration [EDITOR'S NOTE: And another stunning challenge entry - note all of the mixed media, the challenge's theme!]

#5: The Rose by Teri Pringle Wood

#6: Romance by Teri Pringle Wood [EDITOR'S NOTE: Decorating hearts is clearly second nature to Teri! ]

#7: Hearts by Tina at Sugar Wishes [EDITOR'S NOTE: Our fourth challenge entry this week, as beautiful as the first!]

#8: Lacy Valentines by Teri Pringle Wood [EDITOR'S NOTE: What did I tell you? Hearts are definitely Teri's forte. Way to go on your third win this week, Teri!]

#9: Shabby Chic Heart by Magadiuz [EDITOR'S NOTE: Cheers! Another serial winner this week!]

#10: Sweet ColibrÍ by VerÓnika

Now, don't those cookies just warm the cockles of your heart? (Sorry, I had my heart set on working in a few more heart expressions! )

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone, and congrats again to the cookiers showcased above!

* As a reminder, a word about how the rankings are determined: The rankings are not at all subjective. In fact, they are determined essentially by you, our members, and the activity (number of views, likes, and comments) you've bestowed on each photo. The site uses a top-secret algorithm that weighs these various factors to determine which photos are trending most quickly (i.e., are the "hottest") over specified periods of time. As such, the hot list at the time of this announcement may look a little different a few hours or a day from now as more photos are added to the site.

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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iscreamforicingGobbler

My question: HOW DO YOU GET THAT BEAUTIFUL CRACKED EFFECT? !!? WOWZA

1/24/1612:02 AM

Julia M. UsherFounder and Host, Cookie Connection; Owner, Recipes for a Sweet Life

iscreamforicing posted:
My question: HOW DO YOU GET THAT BEAUTIFUL CRACKED EFFECT? !!? WOWZA

There's a tutorial on the method on Con Azucar y Algodon's blog. Basically you paint on extended powder color before baking the cookie and then bake it.

1/24/1612:08 AM

iscreamforicingGobbler

Julia M. Usher posted:
iscreamforicing posted:
My question: HOW DO YOU GET THAT BEAUTIFUL CRACKED EFFECT? !!? WOWZA
There's a tutorial on the method on Con Azucar Y Algodon's blog. Basically you paint on extended powder color before baking the cookie and then bake it.

Thank you so much for answering julia. I will try and find her blog on google.

1/24/1612:11 AM

EvelindecoraCookie Queen

Congratulations to all the winners! One the best spotlight ever, every single cookie in this list is a masterpiece!

1/24/162:12 AM

Dolce Sentire - Aixa ZuninoSuper Gobbler

Thank you, Julia! I am just next to incredible artists! What a happy day! Thanks thanks thanks! Congrats to all the winners <3

1/24/165:22 AM

Tina at Sugar WishesCookie Queen in Training

iscreamforicing posted:
My question: HOW DO YOU GET THAT BEAUTIFUL CRACKED EFFECT? !!? WOW
I was so excited today to finally achieve this effect. Con Azura blog is in Spanish. She was so kind to write that blog after I questioned her several times on her technique ;as I am sure did many other.
In short what you need to do is have a powder white color in which you mix a few drops of vodka and make a none pasty mix- mine was not runny but neither pasty. Brush that evenly over a raw cut cookie and refrigerate the cookie for a bit. Then bake it in a warm over- I did 140 C in an air oven for about 15 minutes. And you will see it cracks. As it cools it cracks even more. Tomorrow I will share my results but I was very happy to finally get it right. It's never difficult if we know the way! I hope this helps. Good luck. Tina

1/24/1612:42 PM

MagadiuzSuper Gobbler

I must thank Cookie Connection's Community, because in 14 months I learnt so many techniques that I couldn't have learnt otherwise. I believe being a part of it it's a great opportunity for each of us. But most of all I'll be always grateful to Julia who had the great idea to create it. God bless you all! ❤️

1/24/163:16 PM

Julia M. UsherFounder and Host, Cookie Connection; Owner, Recipes for a Sweet Life

Magadiuz posted:
I must thank Cookie Connection's Community, because in 14 months I learnt so many techniques that I couldn't have learnt otherwise. I believe being a part of it it's a great opportunity for each of us. But most of all I'll be always grateful to Julia who had the great idea to create it. God bless you all! ❤️

Awww, thanks so much! blush But Cookie Connection is only as good as the many great community members who contribute each day!

1/24/163:42 PM

MilySuper Gobbler

Congratulations to all you!

1/24/168:06 PM

CHELY MoralesSuper Gobbler

Muchas felicidades a todos, hermosas galletas!

1/24/1611:14 PM

RosannaGobbler

Congrats!

1/25/161:20 AM

Cookies FantastiqueCookie Queen in Training

Julia, 'bless your heart' but I just can't thank you enough for the following paragraph:

"Now, lest you be eating your heart out, thinking there's no way you could ever decorate to the level of this week's honorees . . . please, please remember that our Spotlights aren't just about showcasing the standouts; they're about connecting you with cookiers, techniques, and advice too. Should you have any questions about any of these cookies (or any others in any other Spotlight), I encourage you to reach out to the creator, and ask anything your heart desires (pertinent to the cookie design, of course)! I assure you, if you ask, you shall receive. We are a very generous community!"

I've bolded the parts of this paragraph that speak the most to me, the burgeoning cookie artist (if I dare say it ). Thank you so very much 'from the bottom of my heart' (had to keep the heart theme going...) for your support and all your work to make this such a comfortable place for cookiers of all levels of experience. YOU are much appreciated!!

1/28/161:37 PM

Julia M. UsherFounder and Host, Cookie Connection; Owner, Recipes for a Sweet Life

Cookies Fantistique by Carol posted:
Julia, 'bless your heart' but I just can't thank you enough for the following paragraph:
"Now, lest you be eating your heart out, thinking there's no way you could ever decorate to the level of this week's honorees . . . please, please remember that our Spotlights aren't just about showcasing the standouts; they're about connecting you with cookiers, techniques, and advice too. Should you have any questions about any of these cookies (or any others in any other Spotlight), I encourage you to reach out to the creator, and ask anything your heart desires (pertinent to the cookie design, of course)! I assure you, if you ask, you shall receive. We are a very generous community!"
I've bolded the parts of this paragraph that speak the most to me, the burgeoning cookie artist (if I dare say it ). Thank you so very much 'from the bottom of my heart' (had to keep the heart theme going...) for your support and all your work to make this such a comfortable place for cookiers of all levels of experience. YOU are much appreciated!!

My heart fills with joy () as I read this! Thanks, Carol!

1/28/162:25 PM