Patisserie and Baking Majors

Baking and Pastry Arts, sometimes called Patisserie and Baking in classic French programs, is distinct from a straight up culinary arts major. As a baking and pastry major you learn the art of the Pastry Chef.

Schools That Offer a Baking and Pastry Major

The baking and pastry major is commonly offered in tandem with the culinary arts majors. Look at these schools for pastry and baking arts programs and pastry chef majors:

• Your community college
• Vocational and career schools, such as the Art Institutes’ International Culinary School programs
• Standalone culinary schools, such as Le Cordon Bleu Academies, Kitchen Academy and the French Culinary Institute
• Four-year colleges and universities, such as Johnson and Wales University

Pastry Chef Curriculum

As a student pastry chef you learn:

• Culinary arts basics including kitchen skills and how to use professional kitchen equipment
• General cuisine and food preparation and presentation
• Main stations of the professional kitchen
• Cost and inventory control
• Menu development
• Baking techniques, including classic and modern methods
• Breads, rolls, and various types of doughs
• Design and preparation of various confections, including cakes, tarts, pies, chocolates and sugars, and cookies and bars
• Baking for events and competition

Depending upon the degree level you seek, you may also learn the basics of kitchen management.

Unlike the Culinary Arts majors you will find far fewer Bachelors degrees in Pastry and Baking. Why? Traditionally the pastry chef was a component in the station chefs hierarchy, in company with roast chef, garde manger, sauce chef, and fry cook, to name a few. But today the job of Pastry Chef has risen to the level of Executive Chef in some kitchens. If you wish to pursue management skills in combination with your pastry and baking major then think about going onto earn a restaurant management degree.

Careers for Pastry and Baking Majors

In the contemporary American marketplace the position of baker has risen to become its own standalone specialty. Celebrity chefs now include a diverse array of pastry chefs among their ranks. Many rank as Executive Chefs and chef/owners of their own establishments.

Career-wise you can work almost anywhere there’s a professional kitchen—Americans can’t live without their sweets. Cafes, bistros and upscale bakeries all starve for new chefs and cooks eager to test-drive their skills.

But also look to fine restaurants, hotels, resorts and spas, casinos, and consider catering and private pastry chef jobs.