Hi, Anne! It's so wonderful to have CookieCon's mistress of ceremonies here with us today! Congrats on that accolade, as well as your many others!

Good morning to everyone joining us as well! I encourage everyone to jump in with questions. These chats are for you - and are always more fun and informative when people don't hang back on the sidelines!

Before we dive into Q&A, just a few housekeeping notes for newbies to our chats: questions are answered in the order received, but they will not post to the public/viewable area of the chat until Anne reads and answers them. We'll work through questions that were logged in advance first; then start working on questions asked live during the chat. That said, please be patient and do not re-post the same question. It may take some time to answer your question, depending on where it sits in the queue. But I will personally make sure every question gets answered before we're through.

Also, please ask just one question at a time (per post); it's easier for our guests to keep up and others to read the chat transcript if they're not hit with too many questions at once. Thanks!

ANNE: Before we get too deep in the chat, can we back up a bit, and have you give us a quick synopsis of how you got into cookie decorating? What first attracted you to cookies, and why did you decide to build a business around them?

Hi, Julia! Thank you so much for having me on Cookie Connection! I'm so excited to chat with everyone. Cookies are my passion. I have always loved sweets and doodling, so I'm not surprised I found cookie decorating to be my career. I started decorating mostly for fun when my daughter was born. I just loved it so much! Word of mouth is a strong force. One thing lead to another and, only a few years later, I set up Flour Box Bakery. I have loved almost every moment (running a business is hard work). My business has really evolved over the last 8 1/2 years. I started taking orders, then started classes, and eventually set up my own online supplies shop. Part of that was a reaction to customer needs and part of it was necessity and trying to balance life and cookies! I'm thrilled to still be in this amazing community!

We are thrilled to have you here!

ANNE: Hi! I love your work!! I just wanted to know if, when you started out decorating (early on), did you ever get discouraged to keep doing what you love, or did you know you'd become what you are today . . . an awesome, amazing decorator?!

Everyone on the chat - I am posting questions entered earlier first.

If you have new ones, we'll get to them in a bit.

Hi, COOKIE FANTASY! That is such a great question. I have been decorating for almost 11 years and officially launched my business 8 1/2 years ago. Like any great adventure, there have been many highs but also a few lows. This particular craft is so demanding of our creativity. I have been discouraged many times. Not only does a good night's sleep help, but I have also found that, during the discouraging times, I have taken the opportunity to refocus on my priorities as a decorator and business owner (and mother and person too since it's all tangled together). I have become really good at saying no to opportunities and projects that don't fit my priority list. This has helped keep that discouragement at bay. BUT, a few good cookie friends will also help. They get you and support you when you need it most. Anytime I have really considered quitting, I always come to the same conclusion . . . there's nothing else I'd rather be doing than running my own business.

ANNE: As a follow-on to The Cookie Fantasy's question, do you ever now suffer from bouts of discouragement? If so, what brings them on, and how do you move past them? (I like to ask the tough questions! )

JULIA, I do still suffer from discouragement at times. I don't think I'm alone in that either since we are all creative personalities. I think the thing that brings it on the most is when a project does not go according to plan. I've gotten really flexible. I will tweak designs as I go if they are not developing the way I envisioned. I will also keep in perspective that it is just a cookie and it will be eaten. LOL. Staying creative is a challenge for me. Sometimes I'm discouraged that I feel dry in that area. Taking a break (if it is an option) and/or getting back to simple/basic decorating plans help me to push through those tough times.

No question is a dumb question!

Hi SILVERASSWEETS! I use a basic RI recipe and use the CK brand MP. I don't know that I get the highest gloss, but I have found the following tips to be helpful. I dry cookies in front of a fan. A clean floor fan sits in front of the bakery rack. That quick moving air helps dry the surface and leave behind a shine. I also find low humidity helps, so I decorate in a space with A/C and run a dehumidifier. Other decorators also add a teaspoon of corn syrup to their icing for extra shine. (I don't do this just because I like keeping my recipe super simple.) I admire the shine on cookies that have been dried in a food dehydrator. (Georganne Bell has a ton of info on this.) The fan works great for me, but if you're in a very humid area, maybe the dehydrator would be a good option for you. Finally, I'm not a glaze expert, but it does have a nice shine. There are tradeoffs with that shine (possibility of more color bleeding than RI). Anita from Baking Sweet Hope uses a frankenfrosting (hybrid of RI and glaze) that is popular. I hope this is helpful as you try new ways to add shine to your cookies!

ANNE: You do so many things in the cookie world - sell cookies, make your own mini videos, teach online Craftsy classes, teach in-person classes, sell products on your site . . . what else did I miss?! But, if you had to choose just one of these things to focus on, which would it be and why? And no saying you can't decide!

JULIA, I love making the videos and featuring products that I love to use from my shop. That is probably my favorite of all. My husband and I work together on these videos. He is so much fun to work with. I think we dream about him working for Flour Box Bakery full time one day! We'll keep on making the videos in the meantime.

I'm so sorry I am not available today to join in this chat. It's my birthday and we have visitors from the states to entertain. Julia always does a fabulous job hosting and, thank God for Cookie Connection's ongoing extensive library of chats, I can read this transcript later. Anne, I have followed you on Craftsy, and your countless posts and tutorials. Thank you for sharing so much information and your talent with us. Congrats on your new book on teaching a cookie class. I need to put it on my wish list for Xmas. Until then, can you share your thoughts on these issues: (1) How do you manage a student who signs up for an intermediate seminar and has little to no experience? There always seems to be one who requires more attention almost to the point of disrupting others. What do you do? (2) And lastly, what do you think is the perfect size class? Thank you again.

Happy birthday, Tina!

Long answer coming, so I will pause longer for all to read . . .

Hi, TINA AT SUGAR WISHES! Happy Birthday to you! I hope you have a wonderful visit with your guests! Here are some answers to your questions... 1) I have had a few students jump into an intermediate class without having the basics first. I also had a husband and wife take one together. The husband was along for the fun and he was great at making sugar flowers!! LOL. There is always a little bit of review in the class and that is helpful. I take each project step-by-step. Breaking it down into stages helps everyone have success in the class. But I do notice in classes there is always a turtle and a hare (a very slow decorator and a very fast decorator). Often the turtle is a perfectionist. I encourage them and give them tips on how to get the work done without feeling it needs to be perfect. I will give time limits to the turtle to prevent them from slowing down the entire class. With a the fast decorator, I'll give them extra decorating tips to get more finesse in their designs. This helps them to slow down and take their time and go to the next level instead of rushing through each cookie. I chat more about this in my book and also include the four common personality types I encounter in classes. After all, teaching cookies is working with people . . . and that takes some practice! I have taught private lessons to one person and larger groups of 36 people. I like the class size of 8-12. For me that is a profitable sized group (worth my time for hosting the class) but everyone gets lots of one-on-one attention. You'll read more about handling different class sizes in the book too! Again . . . happy birthday!! I hope you have a great day!

Anne, this is a live question from me, a followup to Tina's . . .

Where can one find this new book of yours?

Hi, all on the chat! I have just four more questions in the advance queue and one new one from cookies_by_cole that we'll pick up after those four.

It's an EBOOK and it's available on www.flourboxbakery.com. The response has been incredible to the content of the book. It covers everything from picking a location, pricing, marketing, and creating a class outline. I have set up a private facebook group for everyone that picked up the book. It's been a great forum for privately sharing ideas and questions.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to enter them now. If you're observing as a "guest" as many of you are, you cannot enter questions . . .

you'll need to join the site and login to do so. But that's easy to do from the home page, and it's free!

Onward . . .

What is the best cookie recipe to use?

Hi, LORI! I personally like SIMPLE vanilla recipes that have some bite to them (no chewy, soft cookies for me). There are so many variations of delicious recipes available, and it is a personal preference with taste and texture. I have a video on www.flourboxbakery.com with baking and rolling tips and it includes my recipe. Other popular versions can be found on the LilaLoa (her chocolate recipe is delicious!) and Sugarbelle websites. For royal icing, I also like to keep it simple. I do prefer to use meringue powder. But again, there are several variations of this recipe. When I first started baking/decorating I made several variations and invited my neighbors over for a taste test. It was SUPER FUN, and I found my favorite recipe variation that way!

I prefer a crunchy cookie too!

Anne, I love your work and am so glad that you are joining us on Cookie Connection for this chat! I was wondering if you could tell me the best way to price out large wedding cookie orders (500+). I looked at wedding cake prices based on the number of guests and, of course, the prices vary greatly based on a lot of factors. Any assistance with this question is greatly appreciated!

Hi, CAROL (Cookies Fantastique)! Pricing is always a tough topic because there are a lot of variables. I typically price by the inch: 3" is $3, 4" is $4. When a cookie is more detailed (lace, text, basketweave, painting), I add on a $1 or more. I also typically plan designs that are 3-4 colors. If more colors are required, I'll increase the price accordingly. Packaging is included in my cookie price (trimmed package with label), but adding a ribbon (+$.25) or treat topper (+$.75) is additional. When doing large orders that the customer wants personalized (monogram or names and wedding date), consider ordering a custom stencil. I do this for corporate orders, and it is a tremendous time saver!!! I should mention that since cookies are made by hand, I do not discount. I find it is helpful to get an idea of the customer's budget $$ first and help them plan the design based on what they are prepared to spend. I do like the large orders, because they are more profitable than doing five smaller orders. There is a streamline to process!

A follow-up question to above one about pricing. But how did you establish that base (per inch) pricing and all of your add-ons? I think it's that pricing process that most people struggle most with, especially as decorating time is very much a function of the design and the decorator's decorating speed.

Posting a few comments while Anne answers my quetion above . . .

I just got your book and it is fantastic!! But the online closed Facebook group is wonderful and so helpful too with real-time answers and encouragement! Highly recommend for all to purchase!!

quetion = question! Yikes! (I hate typos!)

I took the time to calculate time/materials. I also have overhead (employees and costs to managing my space) that factors in. Due to my schedule, I don't do many cookie orders. Teaching and running my online supplies shop occupies my time. BUT, for the orders I do still take, I set guidelines to make them worth my time. I have an order minimum and restrict to 1 design per dozen ordered. I will tend to jump on the larger corporate / event orders for profitability. For holidays I do not take custom orders. Just preplanned collections that I can produce in an assembly line fashion. Custom orders are fun...but very time consuming.

Nicole - I agree completely on custom order pricing. But having a general guide (the inches by price) is helpful to set expectations. Overall, I tend to take on less custom projects and larger event/corporate orders.

Great - I'm a huge proponent of everyone understanding their underlying costs, and not simply applying someone else's pricing as their own standard. Each person's situation is unique.

The cookie class book is awesome! Thank you for taking the time to do all of the work and make it available!

You're welcome Stacy! I'm so glad the book is helpful!

Cookies_by_Cole Hi Cookies_by_Cole! I will freeze cookies to keep my baking schedule manageable. I find this is extremely helpful for big orders and holidays. Once cookies are decorated and the icing is dry I will individually wrap them and pop them in freezer containers (tupperware or bags). Then the day I need them, I bring them out of the freezer and allow them to come to room temp (4-5 hours). At that point I take them out of the freezer bag/tupperware and they are ready to go. I have done with for years with lots of success. Like all things cookie, this might be a personal preference. If you're nervous about freezing, do a few test cookies to see how it works. In my opinion there is no difference in the look, taste, and quality of the cookie and icing! I hope this helpful!!

How long will you freeze them before you say that's too long to serve?

Since the cookie is wrapped AND in a freezer bag, I feel comfortable freezing up to 3 months.

I think you meant they "still dry dull" not "glossy", right?

Cookies_by_Cole I personally don't use the dehydrator, but I tried it at CookieCon and the results were shiny! From what I understand the cookies are only inside for a short time (maybe 20 mins? I could be wrong on that so double check), so the cookie does not dry out. It is a widely accepted method, so I know there would be more tips on Cookie Connection or on www.lilaloa.com.

I believe dullness is very much associated with ambient humidity. So if you're environment is at all humid, you may still have troubles with a fan. The dehydrator basically controls for humidity.

Though I dry in front of my dehydrator - with the door open. I find that some larger cookies crack and wrinkle in it if too close to the interior fan.

We also did some tests of additives in cookies here on Cookie Connection (under our Toolbox Talk series) to see what lends most sheen (corn syrup, glucose or glycerin).

Glycerin is, by far, the greatest sheen-creator, though it also softens the icing considerably and can prevent it from drying.

Julia - I agree. And I also think HOW the icing is mixed matters too. If the icing is undermixed and looks 'dull' and ivory/pasty straight out of the mixer, it will dry dull. I like to mix my icing to stiff (it will increase in size become whiter) and I find that icing that is mixed properly has a nice shine too.

cookies-by-cole. I use the gallon ziplock FREEZER bags and stack in the freezer. I only stack 3 high (with my shelves this works well) to avoid breaking. I do have color bleeding issues because of allowing the cookie to come to room temp before opening the freezer bag. If you open while the cookie is frozen, condensation will form in the bag and can cause the colors to bleed a little.

(sorry typo) I *do not* have color bleeding issues.

ANNE: I actually don't mix my icing very long at all (so as not to kick unnecessary air into it), so I don't share that same experience with mixing longer for sheen. But I also tend to use real whites (as I am not serving the public). You definitely get shinier results with real eggs; I think the heating of the egg whites (to dehydrate them in meringue powder or to pasteurize them if used in liquid form) denatures the proteins and contributes to less shine. But, even so, if I don't control for humidity (work in an air-conditioned environment and dry in front of dehydrator), they dry dull.

After doing this for so long, everything has challenges... what do you enjoy the most?

I have heard good things about the egg whites. And I totally agree with controlling the temp and humidity in the room. I keep my A/C rocking and a dehumidifier going when working!

you're = you in humidity comment! Yikes! Typing fast!

Just posted a question from Stacy (two up), in case you missed it!

Stacy, I enjoy piping the details the most. To me, seeing the cookie come to life is so magical. I also love the moment of giving the cookies to customers (and friends and relatives). I will never get tired of the reactions when people get their special cookies.

I think real egg white-based icing is also more "elastic" and better for stringwork.

Do you wrap in Saran-type wrap first and then freezer bags?

I pack my cookies individually in a plastic bag and heat seal. You can get more tips on how I box and pack cookies on this helpful blog post (links included on where I find my box and bag supplies) https://www.flourboxbakery.com.../boxing-your-cookies

Any more questions from any of you?

I have a couple earlier ones from me in the queue, so I'll post those now as you all are formulating questions!

ANNE: What's been the biggest struggle you've encountered to date in growing your cookie business - why was it a struggle and how did you deal with it?

JULIA - The biggest struggle I've had to manage so far was balancing my personal life with my cookie life. Cookies can be demanding (if we allow it). Last year I was in a position to care for a family member. I struggled trying to make time for it all. I wanted to grow my business, do new things, put out more videos, etc. But my schedule was really limited. Looking back at that time I know I survived because I cut a few things out. (I took a long break from teaching live classes and reduced cookie orders.) I also have an amazing team that works with me: my husband, two employees, a bookkeeper, and a web guy. Thank goodness for their support. It allowed me to navigate some rough waters and not sink!

Glad you made it, Juliette!

Good morning!! So happy to join you!! I am learning a lot already.

Great to have you here, TUTTYCS!

Thanks for the great questions, COOKIES_BY_COLE. we have chats about once a month, so please stay tuned!

Thank you, Anne and Julia, and all of the great questions!

Hi Juliette! So glad you found us! I will mix icing the day before a project and it stays on the counter overnight. I'm using meringue powder, so this is safe, but if you're using egg whites you should store in the fridge. I'll store any leftovers from a project in the fridge if I plan to use within the week. If I'm not using those leftovers in the week, I'll pop in the freezer (up to a 1). I only freeze icing once and find it stores best in the piping/thicker consistency.

TUTTYCS - I'll post your question about packaging after Anne finishes answering the question above from JULIETTE.

Where do you get your packaging?

Tuttycs - Check out this helpful blog post with my favorite packing supplies and preferred box sizes - https://www.flourboxbakery.com.../boxing-your-cookies

I've got one more old question from me in the queue to post, then the rest of the chat is up to you all!

ANNE: What's been your crowning achievement (so far) in the cookie world, and why do you consider it so?

JULIA, a crowning achievement? Oh, goodness. This is tough. There have been a lot of little special moments and big fun celebrations. Recently, I published a book about "How to Teach a Cookie Decorating Class". It's been on my to-do list for a year and completing that project was so much fun. I never thought I could write an ebook and now that I have, my brain is bursting with ideas for future projects!

Yes, good word has already been circulating in this chat about your book! Congrats!

Thank you!! 💖

Thanks for the kind words, JESSEV!

Thank you, Julia!! I love our cookie community. I find we are a great group that supports and shares to help each other.

Thank you Jessev! I find inspiration everywhere. I call it cookie vision and I see ideas everywhere I go. Nature, greeting cards, t-shirts, party invites. The list goes on. I like to trace my cutters and sketch my ideas. This helps me simplify and plan.

Not sure, JESSEV, if your question was also addressed to me, but, since I'm sitting here not doing much . . . I honestly try not to look at others' work and to distinguish mine through use of different/"new" techniques, like the 3-D work I do. Usually I just look to everyday objects, and try to envision how they could be recreated in 3-D cookie form.

I think the above question may have been addressed already - not sure. Anne, could you address this one again if you did so already?

Juliette - I use a plastic bag that is heatsealed. I like this model with the trimmer - https://www.papermart.com/seal...hItemNumber=2930200C

Any questions from others that we haven't heard from - Manu, Ruzanna, Rebeccas-Sewing, Katie . . . we'd love to hear from you!

Thanks again, JESSEV!

This is for both of you: how do you structure your day so you don’t get distracted when working on a project? I seem to get distracted too easily . . . squirrel! Focus can be tough sometimes

When working, I turn off my phone and laptop to keep the distraction of social media out of sight. LOL

Yes, focus is a HUGE problem for me right now, as is available time - there is never enough, and I have a jillion (okay not a jillion, but at least a handful) going at any one time . . .

jillion (projects), that is . . .

I keep long lists to stay on track - I have one multi-page task list that maps out every day of the year . . .

And then I explode that into a more detailed list for each day. I update the list every few days to reflect what was accomplished, new deadlines added, etc.

If I don't have a long-term view in front of me at all times, it's too easy to get behind.

I also don't talk meetings or calls in the middle of the day, as they're too disruptive to my work flow.

talk = take

I think spell-check is getting the better of me today.

Even one project can feel like a jillion! Thanks

I have a very set schedule (using google calendar) since my main priority in life is my family and not cookies. I have developed a great skill of saying no. Overcommitting was a huge issue for me. I also know approximately how long cookies projects will take and I'll write out my schedule for the week. I also have 2 employees, a bookkeeper, a web guy, a graphic designer and a house cleaner. I don't do any of this all on my own. I also have a very wonderful supportive and helpful husband.

I don't really have any questions but I do want to say that I really appreciate all that I have learned from you, Anne. I've taken all of your Craftsy classes and always watch every tutorial you post. I'm so happy for you that your business is thriving.

Thank you so much for the kind words rebecca! I really appreciate it and I'm so grateful to share the joy of decorating with others!

Jessev, As your husband to crunch numbers WITH you to find the right pricing. He sounds like he would be helpful. Streamlining the decorating process as much as possible is super helpful an increasing your profit. My 2nd Craftsy Class is all about this...check it out. I share tons of tips on creating beautiful, but manageable cookie projects.

I added a few minutes to the chat so we can answer the last two questions in the PENDING queue. I know Anne has a class today, so I am going to try to get through those questions very fast.

We can't take any more questions though, folks, due to time constraints here.

How long will the frozen cookies will last once they . . . (are unfrozen)?

Jessev *ask* your

Manu, I added the last part - I'm assuming you meant after they're unfrozen, right?

I suggest people eat the cookies within 2 weeks. The are best in that window.

Hi Anne - I absolutely love the "decorating classes" e-book. It answered all questions and in one place! My question to you and Julie: what's your favorite, must-have tool for decorating cookies? Love and follow your work!

Hi, all! I have two questions left in the queue from Cookies_by_Cole and Tutty. That's all we can take, as we can't go very over time today, as Anne has a class today..

Ruzanna, I'm glad the ebook was helpful!!! <3 My favorite tool is my scribe. I never decorate without it. I know a toothpick does all the same tasks, but I like the longer handle and the thinner point of the scribe.

My must-have tool is a parchment pastry cone - not sure what all the hoopla is about tipless bags, as cones have been around for eons and they are biodegradable to boot! I use them for 99-percent of my piping.

Yes Julia, thank you! So no difference with cookies that haven’t been frozen. I am curious now, I would like to try!

I'm going to chime in on the above question, because I believe there is a clear right and wrong answer here . . .

If you intend to copy a design (cookie, art, anything), then you cannot do that without permission from the copyright holder, unless the work you're copying is in the public domain. This is US copyright law.

Manu - definitely test it out! It could be a big help to manage your cookie schedule.

Though, Anne, feel free to contradict me on the "use of ideas" question!

I think the interpretation of "use of ideas" is the crux of the question. Use of techniques or material alteration of a concept (using it only as "inspiration") is acceptable, IMO, but a literal copy (or very close facsimile) without permission and attribution is not.

Cookies_by_cole - Getting permission is always the way to go if recreating a design. If you're inspired by another design, credit them as the inspiration. I put out a ton of free video tutorials out that have step-by-step instructions (the YouTube version). I expect people to copy and it is flattering to me when someone uses one of my designs. But we are all different, so if you're uncertain, ask first before posting a photo publicly. You didn't ask about this, but I'm also really careful about not doing characters. They are a pain and I don't have the license....so I stay away from them!

Again, every content creator and copyright holder has different standards as to what's acceptable, that is why permissions must be sought with each person.

I too have tons of videos. I expect people to copy my work for learning purposes, but I hope they will not post reproductions of my work without a credit, or try to sell my work as theirs in videos and classes - which people have done before - as this directly encroaches upon my bread and butter.

Thank you Anne, I don’t sell cookies, but I am considering trying out to make Christmast cookies for my family. I am also interested in your e-book, though I don’t give classes... I am curious about the four profile of students you mentioned above 😊 I am interested in everything about cookies, and I think your book is just genius and perfect timing.

Okay, our last question is re: the zebra cookies above.

Thanks Manu!

In the meantime, I want to thank Anne for her generosity today - and all of her sage advice. I hope to do a follow-up in-depth Cookier Close-up interview with her after CookieCon, which will pick up where we left off here - if she's game, that is!

Thank you ladies!! 💖

Thank you as well to all who attended and asked such great questions! I appreciate your contributions and look forward to having you join our next chat!

Thank you, Anne and Julia, looking forward to reading the Close-up interview!

Tuttycs, I'm not sure if this is much you can do with this situation (other than offer a slight refund if you feel compelled to). But moving forward I would change how you get cookies to the customer. Make sure you are the one to deliver. Then you know the state of the cookies at the transfer. I would also be clear about packaging at the start to avoid that situation. Animals with thin legs can break. If you're concerned about that in the future choose a less fragile design (maybe zebra head, not full body). Finally, I'm not sure how you delivered the cookies. But boxing might help keep them safe from breaking. The cookies are really great so it is always disappointing when things don't go perfectly. Don't let this situation get you down or discourage you. This is a great learning opportunity!

Only extended the chat, so Anne could finish typing her last answer. Otherwise, the chat could close automatically on us!

Thank you, this was awesome to have you both on the same chat! Have a great weekend

Thank you Julia! I'd love to do the Cookier Close-Up. This was a blast. We covered so many great topics! Thank you to all that joined in!

Awesome to have you here too, Stacy! Thanks for the great questions!

Yes, SO much! You are a font of experience and knowledge. Thanks again!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, everyone, and have a great class, Anne! I'll talk to you about the Close-up soon! XOXO

I really appreciate all your feedback!! Thank you so much!

Thank you!!