By Erica GendaIn this story:
If buying a packet of supermarket mince pies just isn’t giving ‘festive magic’, and you’re longing for the warmth of freshly baked cookies (but don’t know where to start), it’s time to check out some local Christmas baking classes. There’s really no better time to awaken your inner baker!
We know the feeling… the weather is heating up, the Christmas desserts are winking at you from the checkout aisle, and suddenly, it feels like the most opportune time to master a classic Aussie pavlova!
If your heart is telling you that baking is your new comfort hobby, we’ve put together a few sweet secrets to help you sprinkle holiday cheer all around your kitchen!
Level up your skills
While cookbooks and online videos are great, nothing beats learning directly from local bakers who can show you how dough should feel in warm weather or how to get royal icing with that perfect ribbon consistency without melting in the humidity. Not to mention the elite kind of fun that comes with giggling and baking alongside fellow dessert enthusiasts!
Here are some of our favourite festive dessert classes to bring the Christmas magic (if you weren’t on the Nice List already, Santa will put in a good word after trying these treats).
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Festive baking classes |
How it’ll help you enter your Christmas baking era… |
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Decorate gingerbread cookies in Perth |
This is the sweetest way to dip your toes into the baking pool without getting overwhelmed! Is there anything more charming than bringing tiny gingerbread people and their little houses to life? Gingerbread is perfect for popping into cute treat bags for work besties, sharing at school, or nibbling alongside your morning cuppa. |
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Christmas cake baking in Sydney |
In this class you’ll get stuck right in and learn how to make not one, but two cakes! Get wrapped up in holiday cheer with a Christmas Yule log, then level up with a Japanese cheesecake. You’ll learn all the tips and tricks throughout, but this class comes with more than the benefit of upskilling and building the confidence to bake at home. You’ll also take home some exceptionally fluffy desserts to enjoy with your family. |
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Make some Christmassy chocolates in Sydney |
If your true love is chocolate, learn the art of tempering the traditional French way from master Chocolatiers! You’ll get to design your very own bespoke Christmas chocolate gifts... that is, if they actually make it home without disappearing on the trip! |
Sara E. loved getting into baker mode in her Christmas cake workshop:
“The class was so great! Loved it! Teacher was so friendly and helpful; really nice environment to enjoy a Saturday Morning baking and creating.”
Set up your baker sanctuary
Now that you’ve got a sparkle of inspiration, let’s set the scene! Set up your kitchen to be a baker’s dream, and in no time you’ll be the go-to dessert gal or guy at all your Christmas parties.
- Step 1: Clear your bench and treat your kitchen island like prime real estate. Clear the junk mail, put away the air fryer, and make room for the magic to happen.
- Step 2: Start with a basic baker's toolkit. You don't need a thousand-dollar stand mixer to begin. Gather the fundamentals, like a wooden spoon, a spatula, a trusty rolling pin, a deep mixing bowl, a digital scale, and to top it all off, a set of festive cookie cutters!
- Step 3: Set the vibe! This is the fun part; all you have to do is put on your favourite summer holiday playlist, pour yourself an iced tea and line your ingredients up, ready to get floury! (Make sure the recipe isn’t far out of reach so you can easily check your measurements).
Embrace the chaos and mistakes
Want in on a secret that professional pastry chefs know well? Baking is equal parts science and alchemy, so things will occasionally go awry. Especially when summer heat enters the equation. If your first gingerbread house slumps a little to the side, give it a name and celebrate its personality.
The beauty of Christmas baking lies in the process, the mixing of magic, not just the picture-perfect outcome. A slightly lopsided festive cake still tastes heavenly when slathered in cream, and a burnt batch of biscuits is simply a rite of passage. As with most hobbies, no one starts off being perfect, so laugh at the mishaps, dust off the flour and revel in the joy that comes with festive baking. Don’t worry, along the way, you’ll find your own crowd-pleasing recipes!
Share the magic
The beauty of the Christmas season is bringing people together, and there’s nothing sweeter than bonding over baked goods! So, finally, to top off your festive baking era, it’s time to share your creations with the people you love. Imagine the smiles when you hand over a box of homemade sugar cookies to a neighbour, or when you build the best trifle your family has ever seen.
Hobbies like baking can take a pinch of patience, but the best thing about embracing your inner baker at Christmas time is that no matter how many dry cakes or hard cookies you crumble, the festive spirit keeps us motivated to keep trying! So, what’s the first thing you’ll be baking this holiday season?!
