The Culinary Institute of America, Johnson & Wales University, Central New Mexico Community, and The French Culinary Institute are some of the top bakeries in the world.
These institutions provide thorough curricula that will guarantee you graduate as a top baker. The colleges that provide pastry and baking programs occasionally advertise them under different names. Some institutions refer to their areas of study as patisserie and patissier. The Euro-speak is simply fancy words meaning baker and bakery, so don’t be put off by it.
Is becoming a baker a good career?
There are many opportunities to advance from your starting point when baking. The median annual salary for bakers employed in grocery stores or restaurants, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is $23,140. You can operate a bakery and make much more money than that if you have the necessary talents for this line of work.
Bakery Education
A wide range of credentials are available to prospective bakers. Specialist degrees like certificates and diplomas are frequently finished in a year or less. Select such a program if your goal is to quickly get the necessary abilities and enter the workforce.
Associate’s degrees in pastry arts normally require a two-year commitment. Although learning how to bake is a crucial component of the curriculum, two-year degrees also call for proficiency in courses like arithmetic, English, and communication. Management skills are also emphasized because managing others may be a need of your pastry chef job. Beyond the Associate’s level, more courses are available, many of which necessitate training under a well-known master baker.
No matter where you end up, you can be sure that these foods will at some point be taught in pastry school. The majority of curricula cover cost control and inventory management, but if you want to work as an executive chef or kitchen manager in the future, you should add some advanced management skills to your pastry education.
Where Will I Bake If I Major in Pastry and Baking?
While there are plenty of opportunities for creative patissiers at hotels, conference centers, resorts and spas, cruise ships, casinos, and other types of eateries, many talented pastry chefs work in cafés, bistros, and upscale bakeries.
Specialty pastry businesses like cupcake shops, chocolate shops, and other standalone confectioneries employ creative entrepreneurs. Respected bakers can find employment as private or personal chefs for famous clients all over the world. Only established industry leaders are eligible for prestigious positions at sites like the White House bakery, but you can get one if you have the talent and persistence to become well-known in your field.
Also keep in mind that your total cooking skills may include more than just a thorough education in pastry. In numerous facets of the hospitality industry, pastry professionals are rising as managers, executive chefs, and even TV celebrity chefs.
World’s Top Bakery Schools
Aspiring pastry chefs can obtain a certificate or an associate’s degree in baking and pastry arts from community or technical institutes. Today, some colleges and institutions offer bachelor’s degree programs that combine management or leadership with baking and pastry skills. We’ll examine some of the top schools that provide these kinds of programs in this section.
The top bakeries in the world are listed below:
1. Culinary Institute of America
With three locations in New York, California, and Texas, the Culinary Institute of America has more than 150 seasoned chefs on its faculty. The institute offers certificate, associate’s degree, and bachelor’s degree programs in the fields of culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, and wine and drinks. A bachelor’s degree in baking and pastry arts management or an associate’s degree in baking and pastry arts are also options for aspiring pastry chefs. Both curriculum provide opportunities for internships, externships, and work in the institute’s pastry restaurants.
2. The University of Johnson & Wales
In 1914, Johnson & Wales University opened as a business college; since then, it has grown to provide undergraduate and graduate degrees in subjects like technology, education, and culinary arts. The institution has campuses in North Carolina, Florida, Rhode Island, and Colorado. In terms of the best institutions in the north, Johnson & Wales was ranked 67th in the 2017 US News & World Report rankings.
A bachelor’s or associate’s degree in baking and pastry arts is available to students at the College of Culinary Arts. The associate’s degree program provides each student with their own set of pastry equipment. Both associate’s and bachelor’s degree candidates are required to complete an internship, either domestically or abroad.
3. Albuquerque, New Mexico’s CNM
A baking certificate and associate’s degree program in culinary arts with a focus on advanced baking and pastry arts are both offered at Central New Mexico Community College. Students who complete this curriculum are prepared for business-related studies as well as careers in the hospitality or food service sectors. The school’s curriculum has earned accreditation from the American Culinary Federation, and associate degree holders who successfully complete it are entitled to get the Certified Culinarian certificate.
4. The French Culinary Institute
The renowned Jacques Torres founded the French Culinary Institute, a top pastry chef school. Campuses of culinary schools can be located in San Francisco Bay Area and New York City. It is currently known as The International Culinary Center in those two US locations. For full-time students, the curriculum lasts six months; for part-time night students, it lasts nine months. Between $38,000 to $41,000 is what the French Culinary Institute (FCI), currently called the International Culinary Center (ICC), charges annually.
5. The Art Institutes’ International Culinary Schools
Through its several colleges, which are spread out over the country, this distinguished institute offers top-notch training in baking and pastry. There are art institutes in several American cities, such as Denver, Houston, and Seattle.
Each of the art institutes houses various international culinary schools. Programs leading to a diploma or an associate’s degree are readily available, reasonably priced, and offer top-notch training. After registering, you will be given access to courses in a range of exotic cuisines, from French to Middle Eastern. If you only want to take classes in pastry art, you can choose that curriculum.
6. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts
Le Cordon is one of the best culinary art schools for aspiring cooks. The company’s headquarters are in Paris, France, and many graduates who receive honors do well in the world.
In Hollywood, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Maimi, and other American cities, you can apply for their pastry chef program. A 15-week diploma program or a 30-month associate degree program are also options. They have annual charges of €8,100 (plus €500 for application fees) and €22,800 (plus €1500 for application fees).
7. Star Career Academy
Long Island, New York, is home to the Star Career Academy campus. This is one of the best pastry chef schools in North America because of the wide curriculum and great ratings from previous students.
Either full-time or part-time students can earn a certificate in baking and pastry arts. You can study a range of pastry and confectionery arts specialties at Star Career Academy.
The fact that Star Career Academy offers a variety of occupational programs with respectable entrance requirements sets it apart.
8. The Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
The famous Auguste Escoffier’s cooking skills and techniques are taught in the official school curriculum. This bakery school places a strong emphasis on teaching culinary and pastry techniques to both beginning and seasoned cooks.
For aspiring pastry cooks, the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts offers certificate and degree programs at sites across the United States. Additionally, long after they graduate, students have the right to access career help services. If additional charges like lodging, registration, and so forth are not included, the cost of tuition is around $22,110.
9. Kendall School of Culinary Arts
The influence of Kendall College School of Culinary Arts on international cuisine may be attested to by several elite pastry chefs operating in wealthy areas. Kendall College enjoys a solid reputation both domestically and abroad. It is renowned for making active contributions to the innovation of the food and beverage industry. There is a $8,131 tuition fee for Baking & Pastry, which does not cover housing or application fees.
10. New England Institute of Cuisine
As the name suggests, the New England Culinary Institute was founded in England in 1980; nonetheless, there is a branch in Vermont, United States. This culinary school is renowned for producing top-notch cooks who work in a variety of five-star hotels, vacation homes, cruise ships, and resorts.
Without financial aid, the cost of tuition is $40,221, however if the undergraduate receives government or institutional aid, the cost may be reduced by 30%. They provide a variety of courses, such as culinary arts, food and beverage management, baking and pastry, and so on. Only a few years after its founding, it immediately ascended to the top of many global lists of the best culinary schools.
11. The Artisan Food School
The UK city of Nottingham’s Sherwood Forest is home to the School of Artisan Food. It is well renowned for providing in-depth training in a range of artisan crafts, including the technique of manufacturing cheese and bread. One of the best cooking schools in Europe for learning and developing skills is The School of Artisan Food.
So you should consider enrolling in the school if you’re a chef interested in learning certain cooking methods. Many graduates have highly appreciated the inviting way in which the specialised education offered here is presented.
12. Castello di Vicarello
One of the top pastry chef schools in the world is Castello di Vicarello. As a registered member, you can anticipate receiving professional culinary training. Rich guests travel to the institution, a castle hotel in Tuscany, Italy, to relax and take advantage of the region’s wind and sun.
Usually, they offer quick professional courses like degrees. At the castle, you’ll discover how to make delicious pasta and bread. Additionally, The Tuscan Kitchen offers a variety of classes on pastry making. This is a terrific place to be if all you want to do is hone your skills as a novice home cook.
Online Bakery Schools
Your unique needs and availability will determine the best online baking class for you. There are many wonderful alternatives here if live courses with a passionate, knowledgeable chef-instructor are not viable for your time or budget. Here are a few internet bakeries you might want to look into:
1. King Arthur Flour
This reputable Vermont company offers simple yet thorough live online lectures that cover anything from scones to pizza to sourdough, all of which are modified from the in-person classes they have been running for years. King Arthur Flour is more than just a mill for making flour. It produces a user-friendly baking magazine and blog in addition to offering practical baking classes in Vermont and Washington for many years. Its online courses are designed with home bakers in mind and incorporate both current favorites and a selection of old baking masterpieces.
2. American Test Kitchen
This well-known brand has been strengthening home cooks’ confidence for years with its meticulous attention to detail and perfect recipes. If you already enjoy ATK, you already know you can trust it to help you break into the baking business. If not, don’t be concerned; you’ll be in capable hands. America’s Test Kitchen is renowned for not assuming that readers are knowledgeable about cooking. To provide you with the best results, its recipes are broken down and then rebuilt from scratch.
3. Baker Bettie
Baker Bettie offers a free online course on her website and YouTube channel that delves into the rationale behind baking principles.
Baker Bettie has started a business offering online classes in cottage baking. Before taking on the persona of Baker Bettie with her eye-catching collection of vintage Pyrex dishes and distinctive red lipstick, Kristin Hoffman worked as a chef and was an avid baker. Although her YouTube channel offers a ton of helpful guidance on baking fundamentals, people who prefer a more structured approach would value her free online baking course. Just watching the videos will take three hours, but following the curriculum will result in hours of real-time baking.
4. The World of Cookies: Learn the Pastry Arts on Udemy
In this lesson, you will learn the basics of baking before getting started on your own batch of cookies. Have you ever found yourself confused while making cookies? A seasoned pastry chef named Marko Ropke wants to change that. Before you even get to the cookie part, this 3-and-a-half-hour on-demand session covers critical baking fundamentals, giving you a stronger foundation to start producing cookies in earnest.
Chef Ropke mixes the history and science of pastry into the lecture using his German heritage, traditional European training, and international pastry experience. The movies are made in a professional pastry kitchen with two cameras set up at various angles so that viewers can see the processes better. $19.99 will get you get videos and recipe PDFs that can be downloaded, making this a low-commitment option for people who are interested in pastry.
5. Apollonia Poilâne Leads Masterclass in Bread Baking
In this session, a master who was born into the bread business will train you in the fundamentals of baking artisan loaves, from pre-ferments to huge, lavishly decorated boules.
This pre-recorded course consists of 17 sessions that last around 3 1/2 hours total and is taught by third-generation baker Apollonia Poilâne. You’ll learn how to make rustic breads, brioche, and pain de mie using classic French baking methods. Poilâne exudes confidence and serenity on film without being bored or uninterested.
Sourdough is covered in this course, but it is not the main subject. If you’re more interested in traditional American loaves, a one-time tutorial from another website will be more appropriate. The annual membership fee for the masterClass is $15. That gives you full access to all classes, with the exception of a few baking-related ones.
Top Culinary Institutes
When selecting a culinary school, what should you keep an eye out for? Different culinary schools use different teaching strategies. The needs of diverse kinds of students are met by various culinary schools. You can choose the right program for you with a little bit of study. Think about adding the following things to your list:
- Visit the culinary school to see lessons in action.
- Consult with instructors and students.
- Review the curriculum and course descriptions.
- Verify the cooking school’s accreditation.
- Think about the faculty-to-student ratio.
- Look to check if the cuisine caters to your interests.
- Examine the flexibility of the class schedule.
- Look at your internship options.
- Find out how many graduates land jobs after graduating.
- Find out if the graduates are working where you want to.
Los Angeles Cooking Classes
Consider taking a cooking course in Los Angeles. Therefore, the following are our best picks for two cooking schools in Los Angeles:
- Learn the foundations of making pasta from scratch in the Chef Luana Class.
In this practical session, Chef Luana will show you how to make mouthwatering homemade sauces and fresh pasta by hand. In the rolling hills of the Marche region of Italy, in Ascoli Piceno, Chef Luana was born and raised, so she is well-versed in the art of making pasta that is genuinely delectable.
Working with real, premium ingredients to create distinctive flavours and fresh, original pasta, old-world recipes and techniques for everything from traditional tagliatelle to paglia e fieno (green and yellow pasta) will come to life in your hands.
- Come practice your cooking skills with Chef Rebecca while learning about Italian food!
You’ll use fresh ingredients and traditional Italian cooking methods to create enticing, delicious meals. Make delicious heirloom cherry tomato Tuscan bruschetta first, then drizzle it with tangy balsamic. Then prepare a traditional Roman flatbread and decorate it with your preferred toppings, fresh basil pesto, and creamy white sauce. You’ll serve an arugula salad with a vinaigrette made with preserved lemons on the side. Warm mini-olive oil cakes with a lemony aroma will round out the trip.
Culinary Schools in Las Vegas
If you want to become a master of the culinary arts, we will not hesitate to suggest The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas (CALV). The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas (CALV) is the top nonprofit hospitality training institution in the country, offering 15 programs in the sector as well as instruction in technology and employability skills. The academy’s goal is to train individuals for satisfying, family-supporting careers in the Las Vegas hotel industry.
On our campus, as well as through our applied learning partners and places, students gain practical experience. On the main CALV campus, there is a full-service eatery maintained by students called The Westside Bistro. Professional catering company Culinary Arts Catering and Events provides banquet services both on-site at our Events Center and off-site at a venue of your choice. We are the exclusive concessionaire and preferred caterer for The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Additionally, we own and run 500 Grand Cafe, which is housed inside the Clark County Government Center. The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas plays a crucial role in eradicating unemployment and poverty in the neighborhood. We have taught more than 55,000 students for high-quality, family-sustaining employment in Southern Nevada since our founding in 1993.
What Does a Pastry Chef Get Paid?
The average pastry chef salary in the United States is $56,602, with most earning between $49,017 and $80,644.1, according to the market information compiled by Income.com.
The duties of an executive pastry chef are more extensive. Instead of managing only one pastry chef team, an executive pastry chef may be in control of several. For instance, a large resort might have an executive pastry chef in charge of all of the on-site restaurants’ dessert menus. The average executive pastry chef pay, according to Income.com, is $69,607, with the majority making between $55,895 and $83,672. 2
Can you support yourself as a baker?
You can, indeed. The easiest and most sustainable way to pursue a career in baking is to work at a bakery. It’s great that you may bake at home and sell goods because of the cottage food restrictions, but starting off will take more work.
How long will it take me to complete my education to become a pastry chef?
A pastry chef can become one after around two years. A certificate or certification in pastry arts can be earned in around six months, compared to the two years it generally takes associate degree programs to complete. A bachelor’s degree program involves in-depth instruction and practical training in almost every specialization.
What is the price of pastry chef training?
The average annual cost of pastry chef programs is a little bit above $40,000. This puts off a lot of would-be pastry cooks. You will have to pay more than $40,000 a year to attend one of the top pastry chef schools on the list below. Due to additional semester fees, bachelor’s degree tuition may be more expensive.
What degree program is necessary to become a pastry chef?
The following courses are available for Cuisine, but only those that cover baking, pastry, and confectionery:
- PG Diploma in Bakery and Confectionary BHM Catering
- Technology and Culinary Arts
- Diploma in Pastry and Bakery
Depending on your schedule, you can enroll as a full- or part-time student. The majority of culinary school programs range in level from undergraduate to graduate.
How can you submit an application to some of the best bakeries?
The top baking schools are listed here for your consideration. It is wise to ask about the variety of culinary programs offered and to speak with the help desk staff or a recent graduate of such institutions.
As an alternative, you could visit culinaryschools.org, a reliable resource for finding schools. You can search through different categories, pick a school from your personal search results, and arrange courses by duration.
How should your application be submitted?
The best 10 pastry chef schools are listed below, however you can also choose from any institution in your neighborhood. It is wise to ask about the variety of culinary programs offered and to speak with the help desk staff or a previous graduate.
As an alternative, you could visit culinaryschools.org, a reliable resource for finding schools. You can search through different categories, pick a school from your personal search results, and arrange courses by duration.
How to Get a Pastry Chef’s Education
Below are practical steps on how to become a pastry chef:
1. Determine whether you have an inner desire to become a chef
As with any secular career, one must assess the potential of becoming a chef. You must decide in your heart if this is the vocation you want to follow in the future years. Research the sector after you’ve convinced yourself that this is the right profession for you.
2. Figure out what aspect of pastry arts you like:
Almost every chef you meet specializes on something. As a pastry chef, you may be expected to master one component and specialize in it. It might be bread, cakes, croissants, or another type of pastry. You have a choice!
3. Develop your baking skills
independently:
Your excitement and strong ambition to become a chef should motivate you to bake alone. You should sample sweets and confections throughout your free time. You’ll definitely be glad you did in the future! Never forget the saying, “Practice makes perfect.”
4. Enroll in a culinary or pastry chef program
You must hone your baking skills, and one way to do this is to enroll in a pastry chef school. You may be certain that you will graduate from a reputable culinary school with a certificate and gain internal recognition once you enroll. This seems to be the most important and first step for some pastry professionals.
5. Amass experience and submit job applications
Put some effort into learning by yourself if you’re going to spend money on it. You should attempt to gain some practical experience during your education by taking part in baking competitions.
Essential Competencies Needed for Courses in Bakery and Confectionery
Candidates must be passionate about baking if they plan to pursue higher education in the field of bakery and confectionery courses. The foods they create must be appealing, therefore they must also have excellent presentation skills.
The skills you’ll need to enroll in bakery and confectionery courses are listed below in brief:
- Baking abilities
- Confidence
- Ability to multitask
- Paying close attention
- Committing
- Dedicating
- Creativity
- understanding of substances
How Do Culinary Schools Work?
Professional, acknowledged education in fields including cooking, recipe development, food presentation, and more is offered by culinary schools. You will learn all aspects of food preparation and service in culinary school. The degrees and diplomas offered by culinary schools vary depending on what you studied.
In a culinary school, what degree is awarded?
Although attending culinary school is often connected with becoming a chef, these programs really offer a wide range of degrees. The kind of degrees offered at culinary schools, however, differ based on the institution and program you enroll in.
These are a few of the most well-liked culinary school courses:
- Gastronomic arts
- Gastronomic management
- Foods from around the world
- Arts of baking and pastry
- Hospitality administration
- Restaurant administration
Graduates of culinary schools have a variety of employment options. You can work as a chef, baker, director of food and beverage, manager of a resort, or in a completely other field.
Does Attending Culinary School Make You a Chef?
Simply put, no. To become a chef, one does not necessarily need to go to culinary school. In the culinary industry, experience is quite important. Many chefs start out in the industry as line cooks or other types of kitchen helpers.
Having said that, going to culinary school has its benefits. You will receive a diploma that demonstrates your education and readiness. Your ability to find employment as a chef will be aided by your culinary school credentials.
Best Bakery Schools in the World, in Summary
One thing unites all of the bakeries schools listed here: they all support a methodical approach to ‘farm to table’ culinary instruction. Students are taught everything at the aforementioned institutions of higher learning, from where food comes from to how to prepare and serve meals at the table. Students will learn the value of cleanliness and food quality both inside and outside of the kitchen from a top-notch pastry chef school.
FAQs: Top Bakery Schools Worldwide
Which nation is the greatest to study pastry in?
Switzerland, France, India, and Peru are the finest nations to study baking.
What does a pastry chef’s future hold?
According to statistics, there will be a 25% increase in pastry chefs’ employment between 2020 and 2030.
What nation pays its cooks the most?
Chefs are paid the most in Switzerland. Switzerland is the highest paying nation in the world for chefs and head cooks, according to a poll published in 2022, but this report was between 2019 and 2020.
Are there any quality online culinary courses?
They are, indeed! You may hone your skills from the comfort of your home by selecting from reputable online baking classes or even digital pastry chef training. The curriculum for each of these options will be customized to meet your unique needs, and you may always ask your lecturers any questions.
Do You Allow Home Baking Classes?
Of course you can. You can learn to bake without going to school because there are countless videos online. However, many would contend that in-person instruction from a subject matter expert is incomparable. Being instructed by someone who is knowledgeable about what they are doing has the advantage of increasing your chances of success considerably higher.