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LinkedinFancy yourself a future Star Baker? Whether you want to master sourdough, perfect your macarons or learn how to decorate a celebration cake, there are plenty of baking classes across Bucks, Berks and Oxon to get your bake on.
With The Great British Bake Off returning to Channel 4 on Tuesday 22 September at 8pm, baking fever is officially back. From hands-on bread-making workshops and sourdough courses to French patisserie and plant-based baking, we’ve rounded up 11 places where budding bakers can sharpen their skills and learn something new.
So, if you’re searching for baking classes in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire or Oxfordshire, ready, set… BAKE!
French patisserie at Alain Roux Culinary School, Bray
For those who want to take their baking ambitions up a notch – or several – the Alain Roux Culinary School at the Waterside Inn in Bray offers a decidedly luxurious take on baking.
Set within the grounds of the legendary multi-Michelin-starred restaurant, the state-of-the-art school hosts masterclasses led by professional pastry chefs.
Expect high-end French patisserie, laminated puff pastry, intricate chocolate work and restaurant-style desserts. It’s one for aspiring pâtissiers who fancy trading the humble Victoria sponge for something rather more sophisticated.
Baking classes at Rachel’s Apron, Cumnor
Based from her home in Cumnor, West Oxford, Rachel’s Apron offers relaxed, hands-on classes designed to give budding bakers the skills and confidence to recreate their bakes at home.
There’s plenty for sweet-toothed bakers to get stuck into, with classes covering everything from bread by hand and sponge cakes to sweet traybakes, choux pastry, macarons and patisserie. There’s even an afternoon tea class for those who fancy going all-out with their next spread.
Classes are kept small and practical, with demonstrations, plenty of opportunity to get hands-on and, importantly, your creations and recipes to take home.
Sourdough workshops at Wild Baker, Ewelme
If the Bake Off’s bread week has you staring longingly at a sourdough starter, Wild Baker could be just the ticket.
Based in Ewelme, near Benson, these small-group workshops take you through the whole sourdough process, from creating and maintaining your starter to kneading, shaping and proving your loaf. With a maximum of six participants, there’s plenty of time to get stuck in and ask questions.
While your loaf is cooling, you’ll also make and bake sourdough pizzas – and you’ll leave with a freshly baked loaf, another loaf ready to bake, sourdough starters, a proving basket, dough scraper and, hopefully, the confidence to keep your starter alive.
Plant-based patisserie at Cocolico Pâtisserie, Reading
Fancy tackling some seriously impressive bakes without the eggs? Cocolico Pâtisserie offers online masterclasses and in-person workshops near Reading, specialising in high-end vegan desserts and classic pastries.
Its Vegan Macarons Masterclass teaches you how to make delicate macaron shells and fillings using potato protein instead of egg whites, while other online courses cover everything from cakes and brownies to croissants, brioche and éclairs.
With professional guidance and plenty of plant-based pastry know-how, it’s a sweet spot for anyone looking to take their vegan baking skills to the next level.
Bread-making courses at Cornfield Bakery, Wheatley
Fancy getting to grips with the science behind a proper loaf? Cornfield Bakery in Wheatley runs artisan bread-making courses for everyone from complete beginners to experienced home bakers.
Its one-day course covers the journey from creating and nurturing a sourdough starter to producing a finished loaf, alongside different loaf shapes, traditional yeasted breads and a simple 24-hour no-knead bread.
There’s also plenty of troubleshooting along the way, so you’ll learn not just how to bake bread, but why things sometimes go a little… well, kneadlessly wrong.
Sourdough classes at Bramble Bakes, Princes Risborough
Set in the Chiltern Hills, Bramble Bakes is all about taking the stress out of home baking, with relaxed, small-group sessions designed to build genuine confidence in the kitchen.
Run by passionate baker Kate from her studio in Princes Risborough, the classes focus on naturally leavened sourdough, seasonal artisan breads and foundational yeast doughs.
It’s a good option for anyone wanting to move beyond the occasional supermarket loaf and start making beautiful bread from scratch.
Baking classes at Honesty Cookery School, Newbury
Set in a beautiful rural barn at North Sydmonton House, Honesty Cookery School takes a relaxed but thorough approach to teaching practical food skills.
For budding bakers, that includes fundamental bread baking, home cake making and seasonal cake decorating, as well as entry-level chocolate making.
The emphasis is on useful skills that can be taken back into your own kitchen, making this a good place to build confidence without needing to be a seasoned Bake Off contestant first.
Bread masterclasses at Hartley’s Cookery School, Haddenham
At Hartley’s Cookery School, baking enthusiasts can swap their kitchen for a contemporary cookery school at Bradmoor Farm and get stuck into a dedicated programme of bread masterclasses.
The courses combine professional techniques with practical skills that can actually be put to use in a home kitchen. Bread lovers can learn the secrets behind classic tin loaves, focaccia, soda breads and speciality doughs from around the world.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to add a few new tricks to your repertoire, there’s plenty to get your hands on.
Baking masterclasses at The Woodspeen Cookery School, Newbury
Situated alongside the award-winning Woodspeen restaurant near Newbury, this state-of-the-art cookery school offers intimate, chef-led masterclasses for home cooks of all abilities.
Baking highlights include French macarons, with their crisp shells and soft centres, as well as technical sweet tarts and artisan table breads.
So, if your macaron attempts have previously resulted in something resembling colourful biscuits rather than elegant pâtisserie, this could be your chance to crack it.
Cake decorating at The Cake School by LissieLou, Faringdon
If your idea of baking success involves a beautifully decorated celebration cake, The Cake School by LissieLou is one to have on the radar.
Based at Henleaze Farm Barn near Faringdon, the vibrant cake studio caters to hobby bakers and budding cake business owners alike, with a particular focus on the decorative side of baking.
Classes cover everything from sharp-edged celebration cakes and different buttercream techniques to structural cake assembly and contemporary decorative finishes – perfect for anyone wanting their next birthday bake to have a little more wow factor.
Bread-making workshops at Northern Woods Farm Microbakery, Flackwell Heath
For a more intimate baking experience, Northern Woods Farm Microbakery opens its home kitchen for practical, hands-on workshops in Flackwell Heath.
Classes are deliberately kept exceptionally small, making this a good choice for beginners who want plenty of individual tuition. The focus is on getting the fundamentals right, from understanding different flours and kneading techniques to mastering proving and achieving that all-important perfect crust.
Small class, big bread energy.
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