About the Acclaimed Baking and Pastry Program
Turn your passion for baking into a creative, fulfilling career at The Kendall College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management at National Louis University. When you’re exploring your options for a pastry school in Chicago, IL, it’s to your advantage to choose our highly acclaimed institution. At our Chicago pastry school, you'll learn how to create amazing delicacies under the mentorship of experienced faculty. You'll get hands-on experience working in state-of-the art kitchens filled with industrial-grade equipment, and learn business and foodservice principles that you'll use throughout your career.
In addition, all the classes at our baking school in Chicago are small, so you’ll receive one-on-one attention and plenty of opportunities to perfect your skills. And the delicious baked goods you create in our pastry class in Chicago will be served in our on-campus restaurant and café.
Various Degrees and Certificates Are Available
At our baking and pastry school in Chicago we offer various programs, from associate degrees to culinary arts and baking and pastry certificates. We even have an accelerated program that enables you to add an associate degree onto an existing bachelor’s degree in only five quarters. Any of these tracks will give you the training and experience that employers are looking for today. By studying at our pastry school in Chicago, IL, you can get a head start on landing a new job in the culinary arts sector.
Degrees & Certificates
A.A.S. in Baking and Pastry & A.A.S. in Baking and Pastry Accelerated
Kendall’s six-quarter accredited associate in baking and pastry program blends hands-on kitchen time with classroom instruction and can be completed in just under two years.* Under the mentorship of our award-winning faculty, you’ll learn the science of baking bread and the art of blowing sugar. You’ll study the artistic principles of dessert decoration, from embellishing cupcakes to designing high-end wedding cakes.
Baking and Pastry Certificate
Our baking and pastry certificate program focuses on professional cake decorating, giving students the skills they need to create and sell professional cakes—while attaining degree credit. The courses are offered with evening and weekend options.
Students take eight credit hours per quarter for three consecutive quarters. The program is designed for currently enrolled students, graduates, and individuals looking to start or promote their cake-decorating business.
What You Will Learn
Master fundamental baking techniques and develop your signature style at Kendall College. Under the mentorship of award-winning faculty, you’ll learn everything from the science of baking bread to the art of blowing sugar. You’ll study the artistic principles of dessert decoration, from embellishing cupcakes to designing high-end wedding cakes. In addition, you’ll learn management and business skills that you can apply to a variety of roles within the food industry. Highlights of what you'll learn include:
Foundational Baking and Pastry Skills
Basic food science; Types of cakes; Mixing methods; Piping and decoration; Different branches of pastry; Five fundamental pastry ingredients; Fermentation and bread baking; Specialty flours and grains; Candy making and sugar confection; Chocolate decoration.
Advanced Baking and Pastry Skills
Mousses, custards, petit fours and entremets; Fondant, icings and gum paste; Finishing, plating and garnishing; Sugar artistry; Building custom wedding cakes; Casting, pulling, molding and blowing sugar.
Business and Management
Restaurant management; Dining service; Foodservice purchasing; Receiving and storing methods; Inventory control; Human resources management; Supervisory skills; Financial management; Accounting concepts; Financial statements.
Nutrition and Sanitation
Nutritional concepts and food industry trends; Food allergies and illnesses; Digestion and common disorders; Vegan and Vegetarian meal planning; Recipe nutrient analysis; Hygiene; Sanitary foodservice preparation; Food contamination and foodborne illness; Pest management.
Career Outlook
A Baking and Pastry degree from Kendall College will make you a competitive candidate for the most sought-after positions in restaurants and bakeries. The business and management skills you’ll learn will also set you up for success if, like many of our graduates, you decide to open your own business.
Nationwide, positions for bakers are projected to increase 5 percent from 2019-2019, which is faster than the average for all occupations.* Moreover, the Chicago metro area has the second highest employment rate for bakers in the country. With over 5,195 restaurants in the city, Chicago is the ideal place to launch your career.
Some of the career opportunities an A.A.S. in Baking and Pastry will prepare you for are:
- Chocolatier - Chocolatiers melt chocolate, then combine it with designer ingredients to make delicious bars, truffles, candies, elixirs and other confectionaries.
- Food Stylist - Food stylists prepare and style food for photography and video shoots. They work closely with art directors and photographers to produce enticing images.
- Pastry Chef - Pastry chefs specialize in making pastries, breads, pies, chocolates and other baked goods. They work for bakeries or restaurants or launch their own businesses.
- Research and Development Pastry Chef - Research and Development pastry chefs are well-versed in baking and food science. They develop new bread and dessert items for restaurant chains, suppliers and retailers.
