Inventing the Universe With Cookie Dough

Christoph Niemann kneads up some whimsical holiday cheer for his New York Times feature Abstract City.

Let it Dough!

Artistic representation of a ball of clay on a textured, colorful background with biblical text overlay.

Child adding sprinkles to cookie dough on a red surface.

Child adding sprinkles to a mound of dough on a red surface.

A hand adding sprinkles to dough on a red surface.

Rolling dough on a red surface with the text "The World is Flat."

Cookie cutter in the shape of Italy on dough with the text "So I created Italy."

Three white boots on a red background with the text "AND THE ALPS."

Illustration of reindeer and okapi cookies with humorous text about their creation.

Creative arrangement of labeled dough sticks on a red background, illustrating a whimsical representation of city streets and neighborhoods.

Pie chart cookie divided into sections labeled 'Stocks,' 'Bonds,' and 'Sprinkles' with red background.

A smiley face made from a piece of food on a red background with the text "I CREATED EMBARRASSMENT."

Colorful abstract art featuring a laptop silhouette and a circular design, with the text "I CREATED ETERNITY."

Apple's iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 updates are packed with new features, and you can try them before almost everyone else. First, check Gadget Hacks' list of supported iPhone and iPad models, then follow the step-by-step guide to install the iOS/iPadOS 26 beta — no paid developer account required.