Is your child a budding gourmet? Soon your little one could be making you pancakes every morning, not just on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day! Just kidding … but your little chefs will love the opportunity to learn (and eat) more at these cooking and baking classes in the DMV.
Cookology
21100 Dulles Town Circle, Sterling, VA 20166 | cookologyonline.com/kids
Is your little chef looking for more options to hone their culinary skills? Kids with big dreams of becoming a chef can get started at Cookology, which offers a range of camps; family cooking classes; one-on-ones with mom, dad, a grandparent or caregiver; and a workshop. Cooking classes at Ballston Quarter and Dulles Town Center begin as early as age 3. Kids will learn skills such as measuring, mixing and rolling. All age groups will work with a professional chef and explore cuisine including New World, seasonal, healthy and gluten-free varieties.
Henry’s Sweet Retreat
4823 St. Elmo Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814 | henryssweetretreat.com
Serving up all types of candies and treats—nostalgic varieties, candy-by-the-pound jars, every chocolate bar you could imagine (including bacon and potato chips!)—Henry’s opens up its modern candy store to kids with fun classes and camps for baking and decorating. Owner Patty Craver is also a full-time pastry chef, which means she offers lots of house-made goodies in the store, such as fresh pastries, chocolate-covered Oreos, cake pops, buckeyes and fudge. Summer camps for ages 6-12 include lunch and a baking craft.
The Kosher Chocolate Factory
14803 Southlawn Lane (behind the Dunkin Donuts), Rockville, MD 20850 | kosherchocolatefactory.com
Learn how to make your own chocolate at The Kosher Chocolate Factory, part of the JCrafts workshop series. Families can sign up for two programs: chocolate from scratch and truffle making. This kosher series also allows children to explore the historic connection between Jews and chocolate and mold some kosher-themed chocolate shapes. Kids will also get to make their own custom box of truffles to take home. L’chaim!
The Red Bandana Bakery
8218 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 101, Bethesda, MD 20814 | theredbandanabakery.com
Here’s a baking class you and your child can complete in the comfort of your own home. Order kits from the gluten-free bakery with a 4-inch or 6-inch cake round (dairy-free, vegan and keto-friendly options) and frosting, sprinkles, fondant, preserves filling, cake board and a piping bag and get baking. A pre-recorded instruction video from the head baker will be available to play as you create. Kids can also try other kits, including scratch-made pizza, cookie decorating, chickpea blondies, bagels and cinnamon rolls.
Wild Wood Pizza
1600 Village Market Blvd., Suite 120, Leesburg, VA 20175 | wildwoodpizzeria.com
“Pizza is a great equalizer. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old,” reads the Wild Wood Pizza website, and that quote translates to its cooking classes! Kids of all ages will participate in hands-on pizza making in the Village at Leesburg. Chef Curtis Alfred will teach them how to roll and knead dough and create their own pizzas, which will then be placed in the wood-burning oven by Wild Wood staff. Parents or guardians must be on site, but only children younger than 10 require cooking supervision. Purchase an extra DIY pizza kit to take home after class.
