Whether you’re planning on making homemade baked goods for your gifts or signed up to bring a dessert to your family holiday get-together, here are five options to sharpen up your baking skills.
Fundamentals of French Macarons
December 1 and 2, 5 p.m.
For those looking to make a food gift this holiday season, try Chef Michael’s Pastry Codex offers a “Fundamentals of French Macarons” class at his Bread & Water Bakery. Michael, who has over 35 years of experience and was executive pastry chef of the Blair House under the George W. Bush administration, shares his tips and tricks. Bread & Water Bakery: 1512 Belle View Blvd., Alexandria, $109
Gingerbread House Decorating Class
December 2, 9 a.m.
Head to your Williams Sonoma for a Gingerbread House Decorating Class for all ages. The class includes admission and a Williams Sonoma Gingerbread House Kit with all the icing, gumdrops, candy canes, and more to decorate a festive creation. Various locations, $29.95
Family Fun: Holiday Cooking Decorating
December 3, 1 p.m.
If your cookie decorating tends to look more like Pinterest fails than wins, this class at Sur la Table could help. You’ll master techniques to decorate gingerbread and sugar cookies, including color incorporation and piping skills. Most of the cookies will be already baked and ready for decorating, but recipes will be available to take home. The class is for ages 7 and up, and paying adults must accompany those ages 17 and under. 326 King St., Alexandria; 1101 S. Joyce St., Arlington, $69
Kids’ Bakeshop: Christmas Cookies with Chef Tami
December 9, 9:30 a.m.–noon
Kids and teens ages 9 to 15 are welcome at this baking class at Culinaria Cooking School. They’ll spend the morning baking gingerbread reindeer, white chocolate peppermint meringues, and hot cocoa brownie cups. Culinaria Cooking School: 110 Pleasant St. NW, Vienna, $75
Family Class: Holiday Baking
December 17, 2–4 p.m.
This family-friendly holiday baking class at Cookology Culinary School is ages 6 and up. You’ll start with making delicious Christmas tree cupcakes (complete with edible ornaments), then you’ll use cookie cutters to make gingerbread cookies. The classes last 90 minutes to two hours. Recipes will be emailed at the end of class. Cookology Culinary School: 4238 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, $65
Feature image by LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/stock.adobe.com
For more holiday activities, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine’s Things to Do newsletter.
