Eggless Chocolate Lava Cake
Instructions:
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Learn The Science Behind The Pastry
Every pastry chef knows the sciene behind the pastries and desserts they create. When I say this, I mean they understand how each ingredient works to create certain flavours and textures.
Reading and studying from established guides on baking, like The Professional Pastry Chef: Fundamentals of Baking and Pastry by Bo Friberg, wil give you important knowledge that you will need to be a successful pastry chef.
What Inspired You To Become A Pastry Chef
My passion for baking goes way back. My earliest memory of baking was of me sitting on the kitchen stand beating sugar and butter with my grandmother, to make a classic pound cake. I had always been inclined towards baking and as years passed by baking became a therapeutic experience. The calm and creative freedom that baking brings is what inspired me to become a pastry chef.
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Free Teacher And Student Resources
Harvard University offers a free Science and Cooking course on EdX.org with the option to pay a small fee receive a verified certificate upon completion of the course.
- The chemical and physical principles that underlie everyday cooking and haute cuisine techniques.
- How chefs can use enzymes to make foods that would otherwise be impossible.
- How to use the scientific method to learn how a recipe works, and find ways you could improve it.
- How to think like a chef AND a scientist.
What Certifications Are Required To Become A Pastry Chef
Certification can make you stand out from other job applicants when youre looking for a position in the pastry world. In fact, some executive chefs wont consider applicants that are not certified.
Having your skills certified shows that youve gone above and beyond for your career and invested time into your growth. Certification makes your skills undeniable.
Certified Master Pastry Chef and Director of Culinary Industry Development at Escoffier Frank Vollkommer knows a thing or two about dedicating himself to his craft. A self-described lifelong learner, he says, I think that competition and certification both represent opportunities to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and to learn a lot.
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The Road To Becoming A Pastry Chef
There are different ways you can become a pastry chef. While there really are no formal educational requirements, employers do have a tendency to like those degrees and certificates. Dont be fooled though, a good pastry chef is a good pastry chef, no matter what path they took to become one.
Formal training can be in the form of a certificate, diploma, or degree. Culinary and pastry chef programs are available through culinary schools, community colleges, trade schools, and universities. The hardest part is deciding which way to go.
Curious about the difference between a culinary arts certificate or associates degree?
Another option, although not highly recommended, is through online courses. Most of the pastry and baking instruction online is geared toward a casual baker, someone wanting to learn but not as his or her profession, necessarily. If you do decide to go the online route, you will still be expected to take the lab portion in a classroom. Rightfully so, you need that hands-on experience if you want to be a successful pastry chef!
Your associate degree courses will look a little something like this:
- Fundamentals of Baking
- Regional Pastries
- Food Purchasing
During your formal education, youll also have an internship where youll be completely hands-on. After graduation, you may want look into an apprenticeship, where you can learn directly under a professional pastry chef.
Is It Hard To Become A Professional Baker
To be a certified baker, you need to have 4 years of work experience, and to call yourself a certified master baker, youll need 8 years of work experience, along with 30 hours of professional development training and 30 hours of sanitation coursework.
Is being a baker stressful?
Its a very physically, mentally demanding job. Youre working with your hands all day long and if something goes wrong, its because you did it wrong. So you have to be on point every moment youre working. The main ingredient is a basic passion for the job and self-motivation
Is being a baker fun?
Every day in a bakery is great fun. Youll find characters from all walks of life unite every day to make the best quality products that they can. There will always be strengths and weaknesses in a team. Some members will be great at scoring or doing oven work, some may make the perfect dough each time.
What does a baker do on a daily basis?
A Baker, or Pastry Chef, is in charge of preparing baked goods for sale to customers. Their duties include creating recipes, ordering ingredients and coordinating baking schedules to produce breads, cakes, pastries, pies, cookies and other goods.
Is the baking industry growing?
The market size of the Bakery Cafes industry in the US has grown 1.3% per year on average between 2017 and 2022.
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How To Become Pastry Chef
Experience is key for a pastry chef. A high school diploma or its equivalent is usually the minimum requirement to enter this career field, though it is pertinent to find employment to gain experience. Most start in a variety of other positions in the kitchen and advance as they gain more on the job training from bakers or other pastry makers that may work with. You can also attend a technical school or community college to earn credentials as well by learning nutrition, basic math, and food safety. Some schools even offer specialized programs that focus directly on pastries and offer an extensive apprenticeship.
Becoming A Pastry Chef: From Student To Professional
Nowadays, there are a lot of television shows about cakes, pastries, and desserts. It can be easy to fall into fantasies about sparkling sweet confections, drizzled with chocolate and sculpted from fondant. However, becoming a pastry chef is hard work. You’ll have to create a variety of pastries and gain experience using different pastry supplies. In addition, if you dont receive a scholarship, there can be a heavy financial burden.
Before you take the leap into a new career, its a good idea to do some research first. If youve ever wondered what it would be like to attend baking and pastry school, the best way to get a sense of the experience is to talk with someone whos lived it.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Kajal Narang, who graduated from the pastry program at LAcademie de Cuisine and is now working as a pastry chef at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Her journey from pastry student to pastry chef required a lot of hard work and dedication. Through this interview, she gave us an idea of what its really like to attend pastry school, and what advice becomes especially useful as you enter a career in this industry.
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How Long Does It Take To Become A Bakery Chef
Although there are no strict requirements to become a bakery chef, getting a two-year associates degree or a four-year bachelors degree in bakery and pastry arts can teach you the skills you need to be successful in this field.
Getting certified by the Retail Bakers American is also a way of proving your skills to a potential employer.
The RBA offers four levels of certification: Certified Journey Baker, Certified Baker, Certified Decorator and Certified Master Baker.
The education and experience requirements vary depending on the certification you want to obtain.
In order to become a Certified Journey Baker, you need a minimum of one year of experience, while a Certified Master Baker needs at least four years of work experience.
The certification exam consists of written and practical tests.
Practical tests are organized several times a year.
Once your application is accepted, you will have two years to obtain your certification.
Stay On Task And Able To Perform Under Pressure
Baking takes place in a hot kitchen where everything must be timed and mixed in ways that can be pretty exact. Youll need to be in control of an orderly environment or your kitchen will end up in disarray. Staying aware of your surroundings and being able to think quickly could salvage a baked good from disaster should there ever be any missteps.
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Some Responsibilities Of A Pastry Chef:
- Creating, testing and evaluating new pastry and dessert recipes. The pastry chef will often consult the executive chef to ensure the desserts are in line with all other menu items. Depending of the business, the pastry chef will also be in charge of the preparation of all baked goods including all type of breads.
- Keeping a budget for the pastry department as well as being responsible for inventory and cost control.
- Ordering food and supplies for the creation of his/her dessert menu items and for running the kitchen.
- May be required to train or supervise other kitchen workers who may be involved in the preparation of dessert items.
- Ability to work in a team-driven environment, take direction, offer direction and assist with problem solving.
- Continuously develop and research recipes to keep the dessert menu appealing to customers.
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What Skills Do You Need To Become A Pastry Chef
Pastry chefs must have the following skills:
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Technical knowledge: Bakers must operate ovens and other machinery. They must use mathematical knowledge to measure ingredients and their knowledge of chemistry allows them to ensure that their confections are baked under the proper conditions.
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Creativity: Pastry chefs need to use their creativity as they create new recipes or update older ones. Also, bakers at craft stores or proprietary bakeries thrive by coming up with unique decorations for cupcakes and wedding cakes.
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Managerial skills: Pastry chefs must have managerial skills, especially if they operate their own bakeries and/or supervise a large staff.
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Time management: Pastry chefs will take orders from customers but depending on the type of dessert/food the customer wants, pastry chefs might need more time to fulfill those specialized orders. Pastry-makers should prepare enough pastries to meet demand on any given day and develop policies for taking and fulfilling specialized orders. Ultimately, they must budget their time wisely.
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Patience: Pastry chefs need patience because baking and making confections takes time. They also need to have patience while training members of their staff.
What’s It Like To Work As A Pastry Chef
Pastry chefs or Pâtissiers enjoy creative freedom in their careers despite the challenges that comes with being a chef. They work with other staff within the kitchen to plan dessert menus to accompany the rest of the menu pleasantly, they also use their experience to make and test new desserts and pastries.
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What Are The Educational Requirements For Pastry Chefs
Bakery jobs do not require advanced degrees. Most confectionery chefs start at the bottom as low-paid apprentices. They receive on-the-job training that can sometimes last several years. If a pastry chef decides to change employers, they often need to start from the beginning and prove their skill and knowledge.
While a high school diploma is enough to get your foot in the door, a formal training program is recommended for those who are serious about their careers. Successfully completing a culinary training program gives you several advantages over your competition.
- If you dont have previous bakery experience, a degree from a formal study program shows that you are capable and knowledgeable.
- The techniques you learn in class can be used right away in a commercial kitchen. You will need less training, which saves your employer money.
- Training programs expose you to a variety of production methods. Your studies will prepare you to work in many different settings, which gives you more career options.
- In addition to learning how to create delicious baked goods, culinary training programs teach important business fundamentals. The ability to control food costs, work cleanly and safely, and efficient production will elevate you from entry-level employee to invaluable asset.
An accelerated training program can prepare you for kitchen duty in about 15 months.
Train And Practice Your Skills Under Experienced Mentors
Chef Colette Christian, an Escoffier Chef Instructor and Certified Master Baker, explains the importance of being intentional and motivated when you embark on a career in the pastry arts. You have to have a good foundation, set realistic goals, and then not get discouraged. A large part of the foundation she refers to is mentorship.
Christian, who trained under former White House Pastry Chef Albert Kumin, encourages her pastry students to work in as many fast-paced, respected professional kitchens under the guidance of experts as possible.
Mentorship is critical when you set out to become a pastry chef. You need to be able to watch masters at work, practice skills and receive feedback, and ask all the questions you may have. Good mentors can help you set goals, guide your next steps, and even create networking opportunities for you.
In culinary school, mentorship comes in many shapes and sizes. In your courses, experienced Chef Instructors take you under their wing to help you overcome obstacles and lean into your strengths. During hands-on industry externships, an important piece of many culinary curricula, accomplished professionals welcome you into their kitchens, where you can get a taste for being a chef in the real world.
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How Much Does A Pastry Chef Make
The national average for pastries chefs varies widely based on certain factors, such as:
- Reputation of the establishment
The starting salary for a pastry chef typically starts around $13.50 per hour and can potentially exceed $30 per hour. As of 2021, the national average for pastry chef earnings is around $19 per hour.
Once you begin putting in your hours and perfecting the craft, you can expect to see it reflected in your salary as well. Depending on the specialty you choose, where you live, and where you work, you can potentially earn a salary in the range of $60-100K per year.
Bakery Chef Job Description
A bakery chef works to prepare specialty cakes, desserts, bread and other sweet treats.
They usually have experience as a cook or chef, and move on to specialize in this role later in their careers.
When you become a bakery chef, you may find yourself rising early to prepare the desserts for the day.
You may also have to work split shifts, or odd hours on nights and weekends, depending on your type of employer.
A bakery chef also needs to be continually coming up with new ideas and recipes.
Its likely that you will be responsible for coming up with a daily special.
Here are some of the tasks that a bakery chef might be responsible for:
- Planning out menus
- Researching and testing new recipes
- Communicating with other chefs and staff
- Ordering ingredients
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Are There Educational Requirements For A Pastry Chef
Generally, there are no formal education requirements for pastry chefs. In many cases, cooks and bakers may find work at bakeries even if they forego a formal education. However, certain workplaces with kitchens that sell pastries may require chefs to have extensive experience. Also, some high-end restaurants and hotels may require pastry chefs to have an associate or bachelor’s degree to advance.
Pastry Chef Salary & Job Outlook
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics , bakers earned an average annual salary of $27,110 in May 2017, whereas, chefs earned a median annual salary of $45,950. The highest ten percent of bakers those with a degree and experience earned more than $39,000, and the highest ten percent of chefs earned $75,000 per year. For both bakers and chefs, the level of pay varies by region, level of education, experience, and employer. And, only one in 20 chefs were self-employed in 2014.
Employment of chefs is projected to grow nine percent from 2014 to 2024, which is faster than average for all career fields. This is true in part because of population growth, but also an increase in income for many people. Employment for bakers is projected to see a seven percent increase from 2014 to 2024, which is about as fast as average for all occupations.
Job prospects for pastry chefs are very good, primarily because of the high turnover rate. Chefs with years of experience and a good education, particularly in preparing pastries, should have the best job opportunities.
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