Using food coloring, paintbrushes, and water, Instructor Mariah Brancheau guided teen and adult participants through a class on Friday evening in which they each were given six pre-frosted cookies that Brancheau made. She gave ideas on how to decorate the cookies, and each person used their imagination to create beautiful and delicious art. Many of the cookie creations were Christmas-themed, and others were creatively decorated with whimsical designs.

“The class seemed to sell out pretty quickly, which is exciting,” Brancheau said, explaining that the cookies came in different holiday shapes, such as wreaths and stockings.

Brancheau taught the holiday class for the first time on Friday.

“During the (Alpena) Flower Festival, I did it for kids, and we did flower designs, but this is the first adult one of its kind,” she said, adding that because it was so well-received, another similar class will likely be offered in the near future.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Jeannie Lamb-Jasso and her granddaughter Ember Jasso decorate holiday cookies on Friday night at Art in the Loft.

Brancheau explained why it’s fun to create edible art.

“I like to make everything I do artistic and fun and colorful,” said Brancheau, who owns Lovely Little Lettering Co. and teaches art at several places in Alpena. “I just feel like this is another way to spread a little bit of color and a little bit of fun into something unique. We use just regular food coloring on top of the frosted cookies. We use it just like we would use watercolor on paper. Similar techniques and everything. It’s really fun.”

In the class, she walked participants through the process, one cookie at a time, giving them tips and ideas. From there, they could let their creativity take over.

Jeannie Lamb-Jasso and her granddaughter Ember Jasso were thoroughly enjoying the class.

“We like making memories,” Lamb-Jasso said. “We like experiences over gifts. That’s something we’re really big on.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Instructor Mariah Brancheau poses before the watercolor cookie decorating class with the frosted cookies, food coloring, and paintbrushes.

“I like that I get to eat the cookies,” Ember Jasso said as the class wrapped up, “It was fun.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Danielle Miller holds up two of the cookies she decorated during the watercolor cookie decorating class on Friday night at Art in the Loft.