Pastry classes: themes, group size and what to prepare

Build your pastry classes around one theme each, such as macarons, choux, tarts or a layered entremet, and set the number of places per session by the number of workstations you can equip, not by the size of the room. Prepare the mise en place before participants arrive, so the class is spent on the techniques that matter. Describe the theme, the level, what's provided and what each participant takes home, and let customers book a place online.

Pastry is precise, and a class that tries to cover too much ends with half-finished results. A class built around one theme gives participants time to learn a technique properly: piping and macaronage for macarons, cooking and piping choux, lining and baking a tart case, assembling an entremet. They leave with something they made themselves and the confidence to try again at home.

Themes also help customers choose. Someone who has always wanted to make macarons will book that class; a general "pastry workshop" is harder to picture. And once a customer has done one theme, the next one is an easy reason to come back.

On Book, each service has a name, a price and an optional description shown on your public page. Each slot belongs to one service, with its own start and end, and its own number of places. Customers pick a class, then a session. Each booking takes one place; when all places are taken, the session disappears from your page.

Lengths, places and prices are examples: set your own. Say the level in the name or description ("beginners", "confident bakers"), so participants choose a class that matches what they already know.

In the description, list what's included (ingredients, apron, box), what to wear, and allergens used in the class. The public booking form asks for first name, last name, email and phone, plus an optional note that you read in your new-booking email: ask for allergies and experience level. Book doesn't take payments, so say how and when to pay.

Private groups, such as a birthday, a hen party or a team event, can be a separate service. The public form books one place at a time, so for a group, the organiser can call you and you book the whole group into a session from your calendar, entering the number of people. First and last name are required, email and phone optional; with the organiser's email, they get a confirmation. Create the session first, then book the group in straight away, so it's full and never offered to others.

For children's classes, say the age range in the description, whether a parent stays, and ask for the child's age and allergies in the note. Keep sessions shorter, with simpler techniques and results they can carry home safely.

Customers look for classes when they have time: weekend afternoons, some weekday evenings, school holidays for children. Pick a regular slot, such as Saturday afternoon, rotate themes from week to week, and create each session under its theme's service. Add seasonal themes before holidays: yule logs, galettes, Easter chocolate. If a session doesn't fill, move the booked participants to another date from your bookings list and tell them yourself, since Book doesn't email them about changes. Book costs €5/month, everything included: unlimited services and bookings, no commission, no contract.