Three by Three: Guest Artists in Focus
QUESTION 2. How do you approach the challenge of creating something meant to be both admired and consumed?
ANSWER 2. I worked very hard initially on perfecting my decorated cookie recipe first. Because the bottom line is, even if the cookie is beautiful, if it's not tender, full of flavor, and absolutley delicious - why? I hope my cookies represent both style AND substance - I want the entire experience to be something beautiful and delectable. I often hear from customers, "these are too pretty to eat," and I always say with a smile, "take a picture and then enjoy the yummy cookie - I can always make more."
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Cynthia Ann Raven
Cookie Artist
BIO: Cynthia is a lifelong baker and artist who turned her passion for cookies into a full-time career. After years in corporate Human Resources and earning a master’s in Adult Education, she discovered cookie decorating through a single, magical Nutcracker cookie.
Since then, she’s taught at nearly every CookieCon since 2019, judged and demoed at “Sweet” events nationwide, and even competed on Food Network’s Holiday Wars Season 5—the first to feature Cookie Artists.
Her designs have appeared on local TV, in magazines, and on CBS Mornings before the 2025 Super Bowl.
Cynthia now teaches in-person and online classes, creates custom cookies, and continues to share her love of baking through joyful, artful cookies.
LINK: www.sugarchatcookiestudio.com
QUESTION 3. When a cookie turns out differently than planned, do you see it as a mistake—or as a new kind of magic?
ANSWER 3. I am over the moon when a cookie design turns out exactly as I had imagined. But of course, and to my great frustration, there have been occasions where this has not happened. However, I do consider it all part of a lifelong learning experience. Trying out new techniques or tools or using icing and other edible mediums in new ways, is so enjoyable for me. And many times, something that didn't work the way I planned, but works out in a new and unique and beautiful way are what I call "happy accidents." That is so exciting and rewarding to see something new emerge that I didn't even imagine!
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QUESTION 1. What inspires your color palettes—season, memory, mood, or maybe a flavor?
ANSWER 1. I seek inspiration everywhere...I've taken photos of ceiling tiles in restaurants because I loved the color and the design and wanted to "cookie it." I believe that what we see first, can formulate how we may begin to feel about something...so when I am creating new designs for a class, or a custom order - after knowing/deciding the theme....I of course want the color palette to coordinate, enhance, or even shift someones view from what may be typical to - wow, I hadn't thought of that! For example, during the holidays, I feel compelled to use not only traditional shades of red and green, but include hot pink, mint or lime green, and turquoise. Those colors make me happy and I hope they highlight the holiday shapes and make the recipient feel some happiness as well.
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