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We are currently working on our Spring Class Schedule
Thank you for your patience!
Christopher Garren’s
2011 Fall/Holiday
Class Schedule
2011 Fall/Holiday
Registration Policy:
1. A 25% non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit is required for each class being registered for.
2. Deposits will be refunded to the student in the event of cancellation by bakery.
3. Class Balances (75% of class cost) are non-refundable unless we are notified at least 2 weeks before the date of the class.
4. All classes must be fully paid 2 weeks before the date of the class. Balances will be run automatically if bakery is not otherwise notified.
5. Students must be 16 years of age or older to participate in classes.
This series of classes is directed toward the home baker and beginning decorator. Though some of the classes may sound basic, these foundations are some of the most important skills you could acquire, especially as you are just beginning. Learning good habits and secrets of the trade can make your life a lot easier and your cakes a lot more polished. We've added some additional baking classes that are perfect for brushing up before your holiday gatherings.
Baking 101: Mix No More
If you need to run to the local grocer every time someone asks you to bake a cake then this class is for you. We will teach you how to bake from scratch and give you the confidence to walk away from the box mix forever. You will learn how different ingredients react in a recipe, how to make substitutions, and what happens when you change the acid/alkaline ratio. We’ll talk about different basic ratios that will allow you to experiment with recipes and ultimately learn how to bake without them! The class will include a lecture period, and then we will spend the rest of the time in the kitchen creating and baking multiple variations of a recipe to understand the principles and science behind baking.Date of class:
Sunday, September 18th 9am-1pm (Full)
Sunday, November 6th 9am- 1pm
Now that you’re comfortable baking from scratch, you need to learn how to master delicious homemade fillings! In this demo class, you will learn how to make Italian meringue buttercream, mousses, curd, and ganache, so that you have the foundations off of which to start creating your own unique flavor combinations. Forget the premade fillings and ‘American buttercream,’ and come learn how to make fresh, rich, high-quality fillings.Date of class:
Sunday, September 25th 9am- 12noon
Are you confounded by the lattice top of an apple pie? Or maybe your crust never comes out quite as flaky as your grandmother's crust. Double crust, blind bake, Dutch top, we'll cover it all in this 101 course on pie making. The focus of the class will be on a simple, delicious apple pie done two ways: a lattice top and a rustic tart. Each student will learn how to achieve a perfect flaky crust and how simple it can be to impress the family with a holiday favorite!
Date of class:
Sunday, November 13th 2pm- 6pm
Do you love to savor your morning coffee with a fresh piece of biscotti? In this class you will learn a basic recipe for biscotti as well as the ins and outs of proper biscotti technique. We will discuss different add-ins and flavoring, and each student will create their own specialty to take home!
Date of class:
Sunday, November 13th 9am-1pm
3-D Pumpkin Cake
This class is a great intro to 3-D carved cakes. Many decorators are hesitant to carve their cakes freehand. We'll give you some tips and tricks to get you started and give you the confidence to really delve into the realm of 3-D cake work. Each student will learn how filling, carving, icing, and enrobing their 3-D cakes can be just as straightforward as working with a round cake.
Date of class:
Sunday, October 16th 12noon- 5pm
3-D Purse Cake
When you want to make something really fun and creative, a great way to impress your friends and family is to do a 3-D carved cake. This will take your decorating to the next level, because it requires you to understand the limits of your media: how to support your cake sufficiently, how to smooth the sides, how you can best apply the fondant, etc.
We will teach you the foundations for making a 3-D purse cake, a skill that is sure to be a hit at the next shower or birthday party. From making the purse’s handle, to shaping the actual cake, every step will be covered in the class. At the end of the class, you will leave with a completed purse to take home. Just be careful, or your loved ones may try to open it and take change out when you’re not looking!
Date of class:
Sunday, October 2nd 10am- 3:30pm
includes lunch
Holiday Cookies Decorating
Want to up the ante on your holiday cookie decorating? Learn fun ways to use fondant to decorate shapes such as stockings, snowmen, ornaments, and bells! We will teach you how to give your cookies that professional flair by texturing and coloring your fondant. At the end of the class, you will have a dozen cookies to give away to friends and family!
Date of class:
Sunday, December 11th 1pm-5pm
Even if you’ve taken the sugar rose class or tried your hand at gumpaste roses before, you need to try this class! Chocolate clay is an amazing medium to work with, whether you’re a beginner or a pro. In this class, you will learn the basics of making and working with chocolate clay, as well as how to fashion beautifully lifelike roses with paper thin petals.
Dates of classes:
Sunday, October 9th 9am- 1pm
Looking for a class to hone your sculpting skills? This class is aimed toward students who have taken a previous sculpting class with us and have some experience with chocolate clay. Students will learn about facial structure and techniques for adding expression and texture to this fantastically ghoulish creation.
Date of class:
Sunday, Oct 23rd 9am-3pm
includes lunch
Are you Santy Claus? In this class, we'll visit Christmas Eve in Whoville, in the midst of some evil plunderings. Each student will learn how to sculpt a Grinchy Claus from chocolate clay and build a gingerbread chimney for him to slither down. It's a great class for beginning to intermediate students, and you'll leave with a festive edible centerpiece to place besides your roast beast!
Date of class:
Sunday, December 4th 9am-3pm
includes lunch
Although it is one of the most common flowers for wedding cakes, the rose is also one of the trickiest to get right. In this class, students will learn how to make their petals appear paper thin and delicate while still able to hold their shape. We will also go over several techniques of petal placement and tricks to give life to this classic flower.
Date of Class:
Sunday, December 4th 9am- 1pm
Phalaenopsis Orchid
Commonly known as a moth orchid, the phalaenopsis is common in floral arrangements because of its exotic beauty and symmetry. In this class, each student will learn the parts of the orchid and the proper proportions to make them from sugar. We will discuss methods of wiring and tricks for making this sugar flower dimensional and lifelike.
Date of Class:
Sunday, October 16th 9am- 1pm
With the crowds and bustle of the holiday season, it's nice to be able to set aside a little time for yourself. Chris will even share some of his recipes for rest and relaxation this holiday season for a little extra something.
2 hrs $100/student
Looking for some great homemade drinks to serve at your holiday parties? Join us for an evening of festivities as we share some of our favorite recipes including mulled wine, spiced cider, eggnog, and peppermint hot chocolate. We'll also provide some treats to go with the refreshments for a little preholiday party!
Date of class:
Sunday, December 11th 5pm- 7pm
Personalized Cake Education
We understand that our class schedule doesn’t work for everyone, especially if you have specific interests or don’t live in the Orange County area. These options give you the opportunity to customize your learning experience to fit your needs. Please note that each case is scheduled with us ahead of time on an individual basis. Please call for more information.
Out of Towner
If you’re one of those cake enthusiasts that’s dying for a chance to absorb as much cake knowledge as possible, this may be the perfect opportunity for you. This is a great option for people who are interested in learning from us, but are from out of town. It is scheduled on a case by case basis, but has a minimum of 4-5 days to be effective. Students will get a chance to ‘intern’ with us and learn the basics, such as filling, icing, and fondant, as well as other decorating techniques that are dependent upon our orders for that week. You get a chance to work in our commercial kitchen and see how the business runs from the beginning of the production week until the cakes go out the door.
Group pricing 4+ students $75/hr
This options allows you to customize your learning to fit your interests and your schedule. If there is a topic that is not covered in the existing class list, or maybe you can’t make it to the classes you’d love to take, this intensive learning option may be a great choice for you. You can schedule it as 1 on 1 classes, or if you get a small group together, you can get a group discount.
christophergarrens@gmail.com or give us a call.
Don’t wait until the last minute to sign up, because we have to cancel classes that don’t
meet the minimum number of students!
If you are ready to sign up for classes please call us at (714) 445 -0189
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely,
The Staff at Christopher Garren's