Cake Craft Shoppe Youth Baking Academy

We are excited to celebrate 5 years of the Cake Craft Shoppe Youth Baking Academy.

The Academy is designed for young bakers ages 10 to 16, who love baking and cake design and are interested in exploring baking as a future career—or even one day owning their own bakery.

About the Academy

The Cake Craft Shoppe Academy is a 4-year, progressive baking and cake decorating program. Students attend the Academy for six months each year (September–March), 1 weekend each Month building skills year over year in a structured, hands-on learning environment.

To ensure personalized instruction and meaningful mentorship, each class is limited to just 6 students per year.

What Students Learn

Each year focuses on a new set of skills, allowing students to grow from foundational techniques to advanced artistry and professional applications.

Year 1 – Foundations

Students learn the essentials of baking and cake decorating, including:

• Kitchen Safety
• Reading and Understanding Recipes
• Baking from scratch and Using Box mixes
• Making Multiple types of buttercream
• Piping and Decorating techniques using Buttercream
  

Year 2 – Design & Structure                               

This year focuses more on decorating and design, with limited baking:

• Working with Fondant
  
• Working with Modeling Chocolate - Making Figurines
• Design Sculpted Cakes
• Gum paste techniques - Making Flowers

Year 3 – Advance Cake Work - Wedding Cakes 

Students return to baking with a focus on larger and more complex cakes:

• Wedding cake design (classic and traditional styles)
• Stacking, Support and tiering cakes
• Working with Royal Icing
• Understanding cake Types for structural supports of tiered cakes
• Understanding the Texas Cottage Law for Small Business
• Getting their Food Handling Certificate
• Pricing Structure

Year 4 – Advanced Pastry & Showpieces

The final year introduces advanced materials and techniques:

• Pastry and Bread Making
• Working with Isomalt
• Learn to work with Air Brushes
• Working with Chocolate
• Pastry and Bread making

Year End Exhibition

At the conclusion of each 6-month program, students design and create a cake based on the skills they learned that year.

Each student then has the opportunity to take and to present their cakes to experts in the world of Cake Decorating

This experience helps students gain confidence, set goals, and showcase their growth year after year.

What’s Included with Tuition

Each year, students receive a Small Class for more individual attention, take-home kits that allows them to practice their newly learned skills at home.
(A detailed list of items included in each years kits is provided upon registration.)

Important Dates

• Registration generally opens mid June
• Registration Closes: August 1

Enrollment Is Limited

To maintain the quality of instruction and hands-on learning, only 6 students are accepted into the Academy each year.

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Workforce Development & Industry Recognition

The Cake Craft Shoppe Academy is proud to be 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
• Preparing young bakers for future opportunities in baking, pastry, and small business ownership

Our program is intentionally structured to move students beyond recreational baking and into real-world skill building, helping them develop technical ability, creativity, confidence, and professional discipline over a four-year progression.

The Academy reflects IBIE’s mission to support education, innovation, and the future workforce of the baking industry.

Why Choose the Cake Craft Shoppe Academy

The Cake Craft Shoppe Academy is more than a baking class—it’s a structured, skill-based learning pathway designed to help young bakers grow with purpose, confidence, and real-world experience.

A True 4-Year Learning Pathway

This is not a one-off class or short-term camp. Our Academy is intentionally designed as a four-year progressive program, where each year builds upon the last—allowing students to master foundational skills before advancing to complex techniques and professional-level projects.

Workforce Development–Focused

Recognized by the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) for Workforce Development, our program goes beyond recreational baking. Students develop:

• Technical baking and decorating skills
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Time Management and responsibility
• Professional habits used in the baking industry
• Technical baking and decorating skills

Small Class Sizes = Big Growth

With only 6 students accepted per year, each student receives:

• Individualized instruction
• Hands-on mentorship
• Personalized feedback
• A supportive, focused learning environment

This allows instructors to truly invest in each student’s progress.

Hands-On, Skill-Driven Curriculum

Students don’t just watch—they do. Every session is hands-on, with students actively baking, decorating, designing, and troubleshooting. Skills are reinforced through repetition, practice, and real-world application.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What ages is the Academy designed for?

The Academy is designed for young bakers with a strong interest in baking and cake decorating. Students should be able to follow multi-step instructions, work independently, and commit to a multi-year program.

Is this program for beginners?

Yes. Year 1 is designed for beginners, and no prior baking or decorating experience is required. Skills build progressively each year.

Is this a recreational class or a career-focused program?

The Academy is career-pathway focused. While creativity and fun are part of the experience, the curriculum is designed for students who may be interested in:

• Baking or pastry careers
• Cake designing
• Entrepreneurship or bakery ownership

How long is the program each year?

Students attend the Academy for six months each year, from September through March.

What is the time commitment outside of class?

Students are encouraged to practice skills at home using their take-home kits. While homework is assigned each month, practice greatly supports skill development.

What is included with tuition?

Tuition includes:

• All in-class instruction
• Use of professional equipment and tools during class
• A new kit each year to practice skills at home
• Lab time starting in January that allows focus skill development.
• Guidance and preparation for end of year cakes

How many students are accepted each year?

To ensure individualized instruction and mentorship, only 6 students are accepted per year.

Is the Academy a multi-year commitment?

Yes. The Academy is designed as a 4-year progressive program. Each year builds upon the previous one to ensure skill mastery and long-term 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 and availability.