What Classes are Required for Pastry Chef
Sweet! You are interested in becoming a pastry chef! Pastry chefs bake desserts, confections, and breads. While there are a few different paths you can take, you will still have to learn the same methods and techniques if you want to be successful. As an amateur or someone interested in learning some tips and tricks, find out why it's important to take at least a day workshop with a pro. However, if you are considering a career as a baker, you will have to take some required courses.
You can choose an intense 3 - 6 month highly regarded certificate program or a formal 2-year associate degree. Some programs require the equivalent of a prior bachelor’s degree. There is an option to earn a bachelor’s degree which includes hospitality management for students that wish to head a staff of bakers.
To prepare you to enter the workforce, you will have training programs in food and kitchen management too. There will be lessons in business and operations management as well. You will have an extensive hands-on experience with any culinary arts program you choose. There should also be opportunities for an internship with a restaurant, patisserie, bakery, or hotel. After all, you will need lots of practice to really be a master of the dough. Here’s a look at what you will learn and classes you would be required to take to become a master of the sweet arts.
24 Week Certificate
Learning includes 720 hours of kitchen time with hundreds of recipes, skills, and best practices.
- Breads, Croissants.
- Sugar Confectionery.
- Chocolate Confectionery.
- Ice Cream and Sorbet.
- Signature Desserts.
- Decoration and Sculpture.
- French Cakes and Tarts.
- Petits Fours and Miniature Pastries.
- Wedding Cakes.
- Safety & Sanitation.
- Theory.
- Equipment and Tools.
60 Week Associate of Pastry Arts
This type of education will include up to 12 weeks of internship. In addition to pastry fundamentals, there will be an emphasis on specialized areas such as experimenting with molecular gastronomy, artisan breads, creating and decorating holiday cakes, and more. There will also be a greater focus on learning to create signature desserts and personal style. As well as consistency, because as a pastry professional, dessert recipes must be followed with precision to achieve identical results every time. For this reason and a few others, it is important to take classes if you want to pursue the perfect puff.
Associate's Degree
Two years of instruction in the art of baking. There will typically be an onsite cafeteria for practical experience and required internship. In addition to classes similar to those already mentioned, additional components include:
- Gastronomy Science.
- Cuisine History.
- Menu Development.
- Nutrition.
- Cost Control.
Bachelor's Degree
A four-year degree will cover much of the same but more thoroughly. Students will explore different regional pastry traditions, history, and cultural techniques and specialties. There are options to concentrate:
- Organic Farming Methods.
- Contemporary Trends.
- Molecular Manipulation.
- Restaurant Law .
- Purchasing.
- Other hospitality business-related focus.
The most important part of any learning experience is practice. You should take your passion and skill to create sweets, breads, and confections into the kitchen every chance you get. Experiment with ingredients, folds, texture, flavor, and decoration until you have your own unique style.
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