The 7 Best Baking Classes In N.Y., N.J.
The New York area offers some of the best baking schools in the world. You can be a world-class pastry chef, bake Kosher breads or educate and entertain your children--all while eating delicious food. By Sherry Mazzocchi
The Culinary Institute of America
1946 Campus Drive, Hyde Park NY 12538
845-452-9430
ciachef.edu
America's premier culinary school offers degrees in Baking and Pastry Arts. Learn to make a mean mousse and fabulous frozen desserts--plus everything about the chemistry of cooking, equipment technology, menu planning and inventory control. This is the place to go if you are passionate about a career in pastry.
The French Culinary Institute
462 Broadway NYC 10013
888-324-2433
frenchculinary.com
FCI offers training for pastry professionals as well as classes for home cooks who want top chef skills. Learn how to construct triple-tiered wedding cakes, bake petits fours and spin sugar flowers. Then start your own TV show.
Le Pain Quotidien
65 Bleecker St. NYC 10012
646-797-4922
lepainquotidien.us
Le Pain Quotidien offers bread baking lessons taught by their own professional chefs. It's an easy way to learn the basics. Students can also take classes in biscuits, baguettes and the fine art of brioche.
Butter Lane
123 E. 7th St. NYC 10009
212-677-2880
butterlane.com
Dream of owning your own cupcake empire? Butter Lane teaches classic icings--chocolate, vanilla and cream cheese. Students are encouraged to invent their own versions of peanut butter, raspberry and cinnamon frosting. Once you start scraping vanilla beans and become a power icer, there's no turning back.
Levana Cooks
210 W. 101 St. NYC
800-433-5423
www.levanacooks.com
Levana Kirschenbaum is famous for healthy gourmet Kosher food recipes. Her Monday night classes are high energy and highly amusing. Learn the secrets of making quick breads or indulge in chocolate fantasies. Eat! It's good for you!
Classic Thyme Cooking School
710 South Ave. West, Westfield NJ 07090
908-232-5445
classicthyme.com
Their motto is "Cooking is always serious fun." Children's classes include recipes for Teddy Bear Bread with Honey Butter and Cub-cakes. Adults can try their hand at cake decorating--including borders, piping and writing inscriptions. Delicacies like strawberry macaroons and gingerbread biscotti are taught at cookie workshops for parents and kids.
What's Cooking?
30 East Main St., Oyster Bay NY 11771
516-922-2665
whatscookingny.com
What's Cooking offers fun classes for children ages 2 -15. Kids think they're just making pretzels, baking cakes and eating frosting, but adults know they're also learning math, reading and kitchen safety. Bubble Wrap stomping is also on the menu.
