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From Beginners to Chefs: 13 Cooking Classes to Gift in 2024

November 13, 2024 / 1 Comment
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If you’re on the hunt for the perfect gift, especially for those who seem to have it all, consider the gift of experience. In my opinion, it’s one of the most cherished and memorable gifts one can receive. And what better experience to gift than a cooking class? Cooking classes offer the opportunity to explore new flavors, techniques, and culinary traditions, making them a delightful present for anyone. By presenting a cooking class gift certificate, you’re allowing your loved ones to choose what they want to learn or perfect in the kitchen, making it a truly personalized and thoughtful gift.

This list introduces you to some of the finest cooking schools that offer a wide range of courses. Whether you have friends or family who aspire to be the next MasterChef or those who simply want to refine their cooking skills, you’ll find the perfect class for them. From virtual classes to in-person instruction, these schools have something for everyone.

Each option on this list is unique, catering to diverse tastes and preferences, ensuring your gift is well-received. From traditional culinary skills to specialized baking and pastry classes, these cooking schools offer a variety of options that will excite and inspire your loved ones.

1. America’s Test Kitchen Cooking School
From one of America’s most trusted kitchen sources, this great school offers a ton of classes to raise a home chef’s skills to the next level. The wide variety ensures that all students will get great value out of the subscription. Check out my review here. A one-year cooking school self-guided membership is $179.95.
 
2. Ballymaloe Cookery School 
I first heard of Ballymaloe Cookery School from the Bake From Scratch Authentic Ireland issue. Some of my family is from County Cork in Ireland and I really want to visit and take a cooking class while I am there.
 
They offer full-time culinary instruction as well as some specialized short courses. The short courses start at 95€ (approximately $102) for in-person classes. 
 
3. Cook’n With Class
Cook’n With Class is a cooking school offering classes in Paris, France. They start at 95€ (approximately $102). The class offerings are so diverse anyone will find something they love. Currently, they are offering Macaron classes, Marie Antoinette Dessert classes, French Bread Baking classes, Croissant Baking classes, Family cooking classes, Buche De Noel classes and so much more. 
 
4. Cozymeal

Cozymeal is an online platform that offers culinary experiences hosted by chefs, mixologists, and more. You have the option of the host coming to you for the class or you going to their venue. Plus, they offer online experiences too. They have hosts in over 120 cities worldwide with options in a wide variety of cuisines from Asian food to pasta making to vegan cuisine – everyone will be able to find something they want to take. Classes start at $39 and range depending on whether they are online or in person and where they are offered. 

5. Le Cordon Bleu
Definitely the most famous cooking school on this list, Le Cordon Bleu offers Gourmet & Short Cookery courses for beginners and gourmet enthusiasts. The classes are offered all over the world including Paris, France and London, England. In London, the courses start at £75 (approx. $92). I can’t wait to travel back to Europe to take a course – the Easter chocolate class is calling my name. 
 
6. Lets Eat The World
A unique travel experience focused on food. The trips they offer include accommodation, hands-on cooking classes, exploring the culture of where you are and a lot of the dinner and lunches. Currently they are offering ones to Tsibili, Georgie; Parma, Italy; Provence, France; Seville, Spain; Paris, France; and Southern Spain. It’s the perfect gift for the travel-loving foodie in your life. Plus, they offer some classes online from November – March. 
 
7. Masterclass
Masterclass is a streaming platform that allows you to watch classes taught by over 100 of the world’s best in many fields. Classes are offered in categories such as cooking, writing, acting, sports and more. The cooking classes are taught by chefs Gordon Ramsey, Wolfgang Puck, Dominique Ansel (the creator of the cronut) and more well-known chefs. The membership includes all the classes across all the categories for a yearly subscription of $120.
  
8. Milk Street Cooking School
Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Cooking School offers a variety of cooking classes including live stream classes, self-paced pre-recorded classes, and in-person classes. These classes are great for someone who doesn’t just want to learn a recipe but new techniques and approaches to cooking. Some classes are free to take and the rest start at $19.95.  
 
9. Molly J Wilk Pastry
Molly Wilkinson is a trained Le Cordon Bleu pastry chef. She offers bespoke pastry classes in Versailles in an 18th-century apartment. Recently she launched her online pastry school which offers monthly baking themes, multiple new classes every month, guest experts, and an amazing baking community. It costs $28 a month or $280 yearly. Don’t worry if your loved one isn’t ready for the pastry school you can also take individual classes that start at $27. Make your gift complete by including a copy of Molly’s book French Pastry Made Simple*. 
 
10. Sur La Table
Sur La Table has been offering cooking classes for a long time. They are now offering online and in-store classes. Online classes start at $29 for a household. In-store classes start at $89 per person. It’s a great place to take a class and they even offer knife skills classes which are so helpful to every home chef. 
 
11. The Chef & The Dish

The Chef & The Dish offers private and group virtual cooking classes. Once you book a class they have a kitchen assistant contact you to make sure you have everything you need for the class. At class time the Chef video calls you and you have your lesson. You can learn how to make pasta from a Chef in Italy to Chicken Paella from a Chef in Spain. Classes start at $79 for the group virtual classes. They also offer some class pass options with multiple classes over a period of time. All of their classes are a great gift for a date night. 

12. The Dusty Knuckle Bakery School

The Dusty Knuckle is a bakery and cafe located in London, England. They work to utilize their busy operations to help at-risk youth take forward steps in their lives with on-the-job training and mentorship. The bakery school they run offers classes in pasta making, bread making and more. Classes start at £76 (approx. $93). 

13. Traveling Spoon 
Traveling Spoon connects travelers with local, vetted hosts to learn about culinary traditions while enjoying a home cooked meal. Who wouldn’t love to take a Moroccan Tajine class with a Chef from Morocco while you are traveling there? The classes vary in cost depending on where they are. Plus, they have now started offering online classes, which start at $50. 
 

So, whether you’re shopping for a seasoned foodie, a passionate home chef, or someone who’s just starting their culinary journey, a cooking class gift will provide them with the knowledge and skills to whip up delicious dishes with confidence. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to bond with loved ones over the joy of cooking. Your gift is sure to be a recipe for success and unforgettable memories shared in the kitchen.

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