Amelie CameronI love baking, but I have to admit I do sometimes struggle with it because it involves much more precise science than I thought. That’s why I attend baking classes every now and then.
Fortunately, there are many establishments in Toronto that offer these. The best part is these classes cover various pastries, baked goods, and cakes.
If you’re struggling like me or want to refine your skills, these are the classes that should be on your radar.
The Chef Upstairs
– From: thechefupstairs
Address: 516 Mt Pleasant Rd
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—9 am to 5 pm
- Saturday—9 am to 10 pm
- Sunday—10 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14165449221
I first heard about The Chef Upstairs from a friend who has had a corporate team building here, but when I heard that there are cooking classes for adults here, I was intrigued.
I attended the baking class centered on chocolates here, and I had such a blast. I learned how to bake all sorts of pastries, such as cookies and donuts. I even learned how to bake a flourless chocolate torte with berry coulis as well!
Next time, I’m planning to attend their baking classes on bread, pies, and tarts.
| Pro Tips: Feeling shy in a crowd? You can hire a private chef and have the lessons at your home instead! You can also book an event at this studio. |
Le Dolci Culinary Classroom and Studio
– From: ledolci
Address: 12 Sousa Mendes St
Contact Number: +16476978568
What I love about Le Dolci is that its studio looks like it’s a set of a Food Network show. Somehow the pretty interior inspires me to cook my best and decorate my cakes and pastries in a way that I’d be proud to post on social media.
There are many baking classes here, and I took the four-week baking boot camp for adults. This one took a lot of time (and money), but it was worth it in the end because I got to learn about many baked goods, such as pies, macarons, croissants, and bread.
| Pro Tip: You can host special events here, such as birthdays and team-building parties. |
The Magpie Cakery Baking Studio
– From: themagpiecakery
Address: 1125 Gerrard St E
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—9 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +16475044474
The Magpie Cakery Baking Studio was founded by Maggie Frith, who was one of the semi-finalists from The Great Canadian Baking Show Season 4. Upon learning that, I immediately booked a class, and I enjoyed my time so much that I’m booking another!
The first class I booked was a choux pastry workshop, which I was slightly nervous about because choux pastry seemed intimidating to me. But the instructor was so lovely and patient that I actually found the process much easier than I thought!
In the future, I’m thinking about taking the classes on focaccia, savory baking, and apple fritter cinnamon buns.
| Pro Tip: Celebrate a special event like birthdays and bachelorette parties here. |
The Rolling Pin
– From: therollingpinto
Address: 1970 Avenue Rd, North York
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Friday—10 am to 2 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—10 am to 4 pm
Contact Number: +14166914554
The Rolling Pin is one of my favorite bakeries in the city, so I’m extra happy to discover that there are classes held here as well. Now I can learn how to recreate some of their beautiful and tasty pastries!
I loved the class on spring floral cakes because it focused on fundamental techniques like stacking and masking cakes and it helped me hone my piping skills. This class also inspired me to channel my inner creativity, so my cake ended up looking so pretty!
| Pro Tip: You can host a birthday party for your kids or a corporate team-building event with your co-workers here. |
Madame Gateuax
– From: madamegateauxtoronto
Address: 2034 Danforth Ave
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Saturday—11 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14164223333
Madame Gateaux is more than just a store selling baking equipment. It’s also a school where you can master baking techniques, from beginner to advanced!
The first class I attended was focused on vintage-style cakes, and I was so happy that I managed to perfect my buttercream frosting. I also improved my piping skills, so now, I can make my cakes look so pretty.
I also tried the sugar flowers workshop simply because I wanted to decorate my cakes further. This one was a lot trickier than I thought, but it was definitely fun!
| Pro Tip: If you want to book this space for an event, send a request via email ([email protected]). |
Jellybean Cake and Dessert
– From: jellybean_cake_
Address: 2nd floor, 3336 Yonge St
Contact Number: +16476880515
The moment I tried a cake from Jellybean Cake and Dessert, I knew instantly that I wanted to attend a class if they ever hosted one. Fortunately, they do have classes, but they only pop up every now and then, so you have to be quick to book them!
I like their classes on Korean desserts. I attended their classes on bean-paste flower cakes, steamed rice cakes, and bubble rice cakes, and I was impressed by how simple they were to make. The flavors were also subtle, so I could devour them in one go!
| Pro Tip: Give a fellow aspiring baker a gift card from this shop! |
Shiela’s
– From: _shielas_
If you can’t find the time to go to a physical studio or you’re a shy introvert, then you might like booking any of Shiela’s classes because they’re all virtual. The best part is you can attend even if you’re not a Toronto citizen!
I recommend booking the class on soft pretzels. You’ll learn about three types of soft pretzels—cinnamon sugar, salted, and cheese stuffed—and how to create them from scratch. I had so much fun with this class, and I even experimented on my own pretzels.
| Pro Tips: If you want to host a private workshop with your loved ones or co-workers, you should send an inquiry via the contact form. If you want to try making other baked goods on your own, there are a few recipes available on the website. |
George Brown College
– From: gbcchca
Address: 300 Adelaide St E
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday—7 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14164152000
If you’re serious about forging a path as a baker, then you might want to join a baking program at George Brown College Center for Hospitality and Culinary Arts.
I actually haven’t tried this myself because the tuition fee is way too expensive for me, but I have a chef friend who did study here. She took the Baking and Pastry Arts Management, which is a diploma program, and she said it was worth it.
For this particular program, she learned a wide variety of pastries, from simple tarts and petit fours to artisan sugar confections. There are also lessons on specialty cakes and other desserts with names I’ve heard of before.
| Pro Tip: The college has adopted the Bring Your Own Device initiative, so you need to have your own laptop for class. If you don’t have one, you can borrow equipment from the library. |
Nella Cucina
– From: nellacucina
Address: 876 Bathurst St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—9 am to 5:30 pm
- Saturday—10 am to 4:30 pm
Contact Number: +14169229055
Nella Cucina is the real deal when it comes to cooking classes. The studio looks like a professional setup in a cooking competition show, so I’m always inspired to do my best.
I attended the Afternoon Baking class once, and that one focused on the basics of making a cake. For the class, we baked a citrus olive oil cake, complete with a sugary glaze, and I loved it so much that I immediately made another one at home.
| Pro Tips: Host a private event at Nella Cucina. If you want to practice your cooking skills at home, you can try some of the recipes available on the website. |
Pan y Cafe
– From: panycafebaq
Address: 211 Jarvis St
Contact Number: +16478961674
When it comes to baking, bread is one of the things I’m scared of trying because the process has always looked so complicated to me. Fortunately, the bread-making class at Pan y Cafe has made me realize that the process is actually not as bad as it seems.
Making bread does take a lot of time and energy, but what I love about this class is while our dough was resting, we could enjoy a nice cup of coffee and a slice of fresh bread. Then once we finished baking our bread, we were served wine and cheese.
| Pro Tip: This class only has a few slots, so if you want to reserve your spot, send an email to [email protected]. |
Culinarium
– From: culinarium.to
Address: 1215 Weston Rd, York
Contact Number: +18448552433
If pizza is your passion, then Culinarium is the baking school for you. This studio is focused on Italian cuisine, so you can take your pizza-making skills to a whole new level!
I had so much fun attending the pizza course. I felt like a child every time I did a pizza toss, and I got creative with my toppings (they were all just cheeses, to be honest). It was also exciting getting to use the wood-fired ovens because it was my first time ever using one.
| Pro Tips: Book a private event with your loved ones at Culinarium. If you enjoyed the classes here, you might be interested in joining the VIP Club. This membership program lets you enjoy fun perks like free cooking classes and exclusive discounts. |
Cirillo’s Academy
– From: cirillos.academy
Address: 118 The Esplanade
Contact Number: +14169013491
The classes at Cirillo’s Academy change every month, so you never know what you’re going to get until they release the schedule. Most of the classes follow a specific cuisine, but sometimes there are also courses centered on baking.
The last time I came here, I attended a pie-making class. I already love making my own pie at home, but I still learned new tips and tricks, especially regarding how to make the perfect flaky pie crust. I also tried making a savory pie, which I’d never done before.
| Pro Tip: You can host social events like corporate team-building and intimate parties at Cirillo’s Academy. Sometimes the studio hosts their own special events like wine tasting. Attend one when you can. |
Velvet Lane Cakes and Cafe
– From: velvetlanecakes
Address: 173 King St E
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday—8 am to 5 pm
- Friday—8 am to 6 pm
- Saturday—9 am to 6 pm
- Sunday—9 am to 4 pm
Contact Number: +14162624159
What attracted me to Velvet Lane Cakes and Cafe is its gorgeous display of cakes. I’m always in awe of their beauty every time I pass by the shop, so I made it my mission to learn how to make my own beautiful cake!
I attended the Vintage Cake Workshop, where I learned how to layer cakes like a pro and the different kinds of buttercream. The instructor also taught us different piping styles and how to use them to decorate a cake.
Now my cakes look so good every time, and I’m forever thankful for this shop!
| Pro Tip: The baking studio has limited space, so there are only a few slots for each class. To ensure your spot, I recommend booking as soon as the classes are open because they operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. |
