CCS Youth Baking Academy
Cake Craft Shoppe Youth Baking Academy
Cake Craft Shoppe is proud to welcome students into our award-winning Youth Baking Academy, now entering its 6th year.
The Youth Baking Academy is designed for young bakers ages 10 to 16 who love baking, cake decorating, and creative design — and who may be interested in exploring baking as a future career, small business opportunity, or long-term passion.
This is more than a baking class. It is a structured, hands-on learning pathway that helps students build confidence, technical skills, creativity, responsibility, and real-world kitchen experience.
About the Academy
The Cake Craft Shoppe Youth Baking Academy is a 4-year progressive baking and cake decorating program. Each year builds on the skills learned the year before, allowing students to grow from beginner foundations to advanced decorating, pastry techniques, business concepts, and industry-recognized certification preparation.
Students attend the Academy from August through April, meeting one weekend per month, with additional lab opportunities and assignments throughout the year.
To ensure personalized instruction and meaningful mentorship, each Academy year is limited to a small group of students, generally 6 to 8 students per class level.
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What Makes the Academy Special
The Youth Baking Academy is intentionally designed to support skill development, career exploration, and workforce readiness in the baking and pastry industry.
Students receive:
- Hands-on baking and decorating instruction
- Small class sizes with individualized feedback
- Take-home tools and supplies for continued practice
- Textbooks and instructional materials
- Google Classroom access for homework, projects, and feedback
- Portfolio development throughout the program
- Lab time for additional practice and skill reinforcement
- Bakery visits and real-world industry exposure
- End-of-year Showcase experience
- Preparation for future certification opportunities through industry partners
What Students Learn
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Year 1 – Foundations
Foundation Baking & Buttercream Skills
First-year students learn the essential building blocks of baking and cake decorating. This year focuses on safety, kitchen confidence, beginner baking, buttercream, and foundational decorating techniques.
Students learn:
- Kitchen safety and sanitation
- Reading and understanding recipes
- Baking from scratch
- Working with box mixes and understanding how to improve them
- Making American buttercream and other buttercream styles
- Understanding buttercream consistency
- Filling, icing, and leveling cakes
- Basic piping techniques
- Beginner cake decorating skills
- At-home practice and homework documentation
Year 2 – Technique
Intermediate Decorating & Design Skills
Second-year students continue building their decorating skills with a stronger focus on design, structure, and edible decorating mediums.
Students learn:
- Working with fondant
- Working with modeling chocolate
- Creating figurines and decorative elements
- Sculpted cake design
- Gum paste techniques
- Flower making
- Intermediate decorating methods
- Design planning and presentation skills
Year 3 – Design & Structure
Advance Cake Work - & Business Foundations
Third-year students begin working with more advanced cake designs and larger cake projects. This year also introduces students to business concepts and industry expectations.
Students learn:
- Wedding cake design
- Stacking, support, and tiering cakes
- Understanding cake structure
- Royal icing techniques
- Cake types best suited for tiered designs
- Texas Cottage Food Law basics
- Food Handler Certificate preparation
- Pricing structure and cost awareness
- Introduction to small business and bakery operations
- Bakery visit and industry exposure opportunities
Year 4 – Artistry & Professional Pathway
The fourth year introduces advanced baking, pastry, and showpiece techniques while preparing students for future professional opportunities.
Students learn:
- Pastry techniques
- Bread making
- Chocolate work
- Isomalt techniques
- Airbrushing
- Advanced decorating methods
- Showpiece and final project development
- Professional portfolio preparation
- Certification preparation through industry-aligned opportunities
RBA & ACF Industry Pathway
Cake Craft Shoppe is proud to be working with industry organizations including the Retail Bakers of America (RBA) and the American Culinary Federation (ACF) to help create meaningful certification and professional pathway opportunities for our Academy students.
As students progress through the four-year program, they will build a strong foundation in baking, decorating, safety, technique, presentation, and professional standards.
Our goal is to prepare advanced Academy students, especially those completing Year 4, for future certification opportunities such as the Retail Bakers of America Certified Journey Cake Decorator pathway, along with additional culinary and pastry-related opportunities supported through industry partnerships.
These partnerships help students understand that their Academy experience can be more than a hobby — it can become a stepping stone toward future education, employment, entrepreneurship, or professional recognition in the baking industry.
Google Classroom, Homework & Student Portfolio
Academy students will use Google Classroom to receive and submit homework, projects, written assignments, photos, videos, and portfolio documentation.
Homework is required and may include:
- Baking assignments
- Decorating practice
- Written assignments
- Recipe review
- Project planning
- Photos or videos of completed work
- Portfolio documentation
Homework must be uploaded to Google Classroom by the assigned due date, generally 5 days prior to the next scheduled class.
Instructor feedback will be provided through Google Classroom. Students are expected to review feedback, make improvements, and apply corrections in future assignments.
Incomplete or missing homework may affect a student’s completed instructional hours, advancement to the next Academy level, and future eligibility for certification opportunities.
Student Portfolios
Each student will begin building a portfolio of their work throughout the Academy. This may include photos of cakes, cookies, cupcakes, decorated projects, homework, practice work, and in-class activities.
The portfolio allows students to document their growth and may be useful in the future for:
- Resumes
- Applications
- Scholarships
- Customer examples
- Culinary or pastry programs
- Future business or career opportunities
Year-End Showcase
At the conclusion of each Academy year, students design and create a final cake project based on the skills they learned throughout the year.
Students may have the opportunity to present their final cakes during an end-of-year Showcase or exhibition event.
This experience helps students gain confidence, set goals, receive feedback, and celebrate their progress.
Workforce Development & Industry Recognition
The Cake Craft Shoppe Youth Baking Academy is proud to have been recognized by the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) for our commitment to workforce development.
This recognition highlights the Academy’s focus on:
- Skill-based learning
- Career pathway development
- Hands-on industry training
- Student confidence and leadership
- Future opportunities in baking, pastry, decorating, and small business ownership
Our program is intentionally structured to move students beyond recreational baking and into real-world skill building. Students develop technical ability, creativity, confidence, responsibility, and professional discipline over a four-year progression.
What’s Included with Tuition
Tuition includes:
- Scheduled Academy instruction
- Small class sizes
- Use of professional tools and equipment during class
- Student kit and supplies for practice
- Textbooks and instructional materials
- Google Classroom access for assignments and feedback
- Portfolio development support
- Lab opportunities for additional practice
- Guidance for final Showcase cake projects
A detailed list of included items is provided during registration.
Important Registration Information
Registration generally opens in June.
Enrollment is limited to maintain the quality of instruction and hands-on learning.
Only a small number of students are accepted into each Academy year. Once spaces are filled, students may be placed on a waitlist.
Why Choose the Cake Craft Shoppe Youth Baking Academy?
A True 4-Year Learning Pathway
The Academy is not a one-day class or short-term camp. It is a structured, four-year program where each year builds upon the last. Students master foundational skills before advancing to more complex techniques and professional-level projects.
Small Class Sizes
With limited enrollment, students receive more individualized instruction, mentorship, and feedback.
Small classes allow instructors to truly invest in each student’s growth.
Hands-On Learning
Students do not just watch demonstrations — they bake, decorate, design, troubleshoot, and practice. Skills are reinforced through repetition, homework, labs, and real-world application.
Career & Certification Focused
The Academy supports students who may be interested in baking, cake decorating, pastry, entrepreneurship, or future culinary education.
Through our work with RBA and ACF, students are introduced to industry standards, professional expectations, and possible certification pathways.
Confidence, Creativity & Responsibility
Students grow not only as bakers, but also as young leaders. The Academy encourages confidence, accountability, teamwork, patience, and pride in their work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages is the Academy designed for?
The Academy is designed for young bakers ages 10 to 16 with a strong interest in baking, decorating, and creative design.
Students should be able to follow multi-step instructions, work safely in a kitchen environment, and commit to a structured program.
Is this program for beginners?
Yes. Year 1 is designed for beginners, and no prior baking or decorating experience is required.
Students begin with foundational skills and build progressively each year.
Is this a recreational class or a career-focused program?
The Academy is a career-pathway focused program.
While creativity and fun are an important part of the experience, the curriculum is designed for students who may be interested in:
- Baking or pastry careers
- Cake decorating
- Culinary education
- Entrepreneurship
- Owning a bakery or home-based baking business
How long is the program each year?
Students attend the Academy from August through April, meeting one weekend per month.
Additional lab opportunities, homework, portfolio work, and Showcase preparation may also be required.
Are labs required?
Yes. Labs are an important part of the Academy experience and help students meet required instructional hours.
Labs give students extra time to practice techniques, receive instructor support, complete assignments, and work on final Showcase projects.
Will students have homework?
Yes. Homework is required and is part of the Academy structure.
Assignments may include baking, decorating, written work, project planning, photos, videos, and portfolio documentation.
How is homework submitted?
Homework is submitted through Google Classroom.
Students are required to upload assignments by the assigned deadline, generally 5 days before the next scheduled class.
Instructor feedback will also be provided through Google Classroom.
What happens if homework is incomplete?
Incomplete or missing homework may affect a student’s completed instructional hours, ability to advance to the next Academy level, and future eligibility for certification opportunities.
What is included with tuition?
Tuition includes scheduled instruction, student supplies, take-home tools or kits, textbooks, use of classroom equipment, Google Classroom access, lab opportunities, portfolio development, and guidance for final Showcase projects.
A detailed supply list is provided during registration.
How many students are accepted each year?
To ensure individualized instruction and mentorship, enrollment is limited. Each class level generally accepts 6 to 8 students.
Is the Academy a multi-year commitment?
Yes. The Academy is designed as a 4-year progressive program. Each year builds on the previous year to support long-term skill development and growth.
Can students join after Year 1?
Enrollment typically begins with Year 1. Limited placement in higher years may be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on skill level, experience, and availability.
Will my child participate in a Showcase?
Yes. Each Academy year concludes with a final cake project that may be displayed during a Showcase or exhibition-style event.
The Showcase gives students the opportunity to present their work, celebrate their growth, and receive feedback.
Does the Academy prepare students for certification?
Yes. The Academy is being developed to support future certification opportunities through industry-aligned pathways.
Through our work with Retail Bakers of America and the American Culinary Federation, advanced students may have the opportunity to prepare for certification-related goals as they progress through the program.
How do I register?
Registration information, applications, payment details, and deadlines will be provided when enrollment opens.
Because space is limited, a student’s spot is not guaranteed until the completed application and required payment are received.
Interested in the Youth Baking Academy?
If your young baker is ready to learn, grow, create, and explore the world of baking and cake decorating, we would love to welcome them into the Cake Craft Shoppe Youth Baking Academy.
Registration opens June 1st. Spaces are limited.