Baking Retreats

Italy Baking Retreat 2024

This hands-on retreat will give you inside access to Italian kitchens, where you’ll learn from home bakers and immerse yourself in the deep culinary culture of Italy. We’ll start and end this retreat in Milan, with time spent in the Piemonte wine region, along the stunning Italian Riviera, and in the beautiful countryside of Tuscany. All accommodations will be provided in five-star hotels. Due to the nature of baking in home kitchens, the baking experiences will take place in small groups of six.

Italy Retreat 2024

Italy
May 1–10, 2024
$9,500.00 – $12,500.00

  • 9 nights in 5-star hotels
  • 3 hands-on baking and cooking classes
  • Welcome wine reception, breakfast daily, four lunches, aperitivo in Siena, group dinner in Alba
  • Piemonte culinary experience, Ligurian olive oil tasting, and guided bakery tour of Siena
  • Private coach transfers to each location on itinerary
  • Airfare/travel to/from Italy
  • Airport transfers
  • Some meals

South of France Baking Retreat 2024

From the stunning coast of the French Riviera to Provence, where the smell of lavender wafts through the air, this seven-night luxury retreat will immerse you in the baking cultures of the South of France. We’ll begin our time in Nice, where we’ll bake local specialties such as lemon tart with olive oil, and then head to the city of Aix-en-Provence, which is known for its famous street market, walkability, and gorgeous light that inspired Paul Cezanne and other artists. We’ll bake gibassier, a yeasted bread scented with orange blossom water and anise, discover calisson, a local confection, and transform market produce into seasonal tarts and more.

South of France Baking Retreat 2024

France
September 20–27, 2024
$9,000 – $11,250.00

  • 7 nights in 5-star hotels
  • 3 hands-on baking and cooking classes
  • 2 culinary experiences (in Nice and Aix-en-Provence)
  • Fabulous lunch and culinary experience between Nice and Aix-en-Provence
  • Welcome reception, breakfast daily, farewell apéro
  • Private transfer between Nice and Aix-en-Provence
  • One-year subscription to Bake from Scratch
  • Gift bag with some of our favorite baking items
  • Airfare/travel to/from France
  • Airport transfers
  • Some meals

Fall Baking with Brian Hart Hoffman and Erin Jeanne McDowell 2024

Bake from Scratch editor-in-chief Brian Hart Hoffman will be joined in the kitchen by cookbook author and pie maven Erin Jeanne McDowell. During this cozy fall baking weekend, you’ll learn how to make Apple Pecan Caramel Bundt, Pumpkin Sugar Pie, Fried Apple Pies, and Sweet Potato Casserole Cake with Meringue Topping. Learn about par-baking, crust decorations such as braids and cutouts, how to shape hand pies, tips for turning out beautiful Bundt cakes every time, how to torch meringue, and more.

Fall Baking in Birmingham Retreat 2024

Birmingham, Alabama
October 4–7, 2024
$2,250 – $3,250.00

  • Hotel accommodations in Homewood
  • All baking classes
  • Shuttle transportation to/from the Bake from Scratch test kitchen
  • Welcome wine reception, light breakfast, lunches, farewell toast
  • Airfare/travel to Birmingham
  • Airport transfers
  • Some meals

Paris Baking Retreat 2024: Celebrating The Breads of France and Jane Bertch’s The French Ingredient

This October, escape to Paris for a five-night baking retreat and learn how to bake the quintessential breads of France, including croissants, baguettes, and brioche, in three hands-on baking classes at La Cuisine Paris. You’ll also visit bakeries and meet food artisans during two walking tours, one focused on the breads of France and the other on the gourmet stores surrounding Les Halles. Other retreat activities include a welcome wine reception at the fabulous new five-star Le Grand Mazarin hotel, where we’ll stay in Le Marais neighborhood; an apéro in conversation with Jane Bertch, owner of La Cuisine Paris and author of the soon-to-be-released book, The French Ingredient; a private Champagne river cruise on the Seine as the sun sets and the city’s lights begin to sparkle; a group dinner at one of editor-in-chief Brian Hart Hoffman’s favorite restaurants; and a shopping excursion at E. Dehillerin and G. Detou. Fall in Paris awaits, and you don’t want to miss out on this one-of-a-kind retreat to experience The City of Light the Bake from Scratch way.

Paris Baking Retreat in October

Paris, France
October 20–25, 2024
$7,250 – $9,500

  • 5 nights in a five-star hotel
  • 3 hands-on baking classes
  • 2 food tours
  • Sunset river cruise on the Seine
  • Breakfast daily at hotel
  • Welcome wine reception, group dinner, and group apéro
  • One-year subscription to Bake from Scratch
  • Gift bag with some of our favorite baking items
  • Airfare/travel to Paris
  • Airport transfers
  • Some meals

Southern-Style Holiday Baking with Brian Hart Hoffman 2024

Led by Bake from Scratch editor-in-chief Brian Hart Hoffman, this weekend retreat will get you ready for holiday baking, Southern style. Throughout the weekend, you’ll prepare some iconic Southern recipes such as yeasted angel biscuits and Lane Cake, a boozy and fruity Alabama icon. And we couldn’t have a Southern retreat without Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Before the weekend is over, you’ll be saying, “Happy holidays, y’all!”

Holiday Baking Retreat 2024

Birmingham, Alabama
November 8–11, 2024
$2,250 – $3,250

  • Hotel accommodations in Birmingham
  • All baking classes
  • Welcome wine reception, light breakfast, and lunches
  • Transportation to/from the Bake from Scratch test kitchen
  • One-year subscription to Bake from Scratch
  • Gift bag with some of our favorite baking items
  • Airfare/travel to Birmingham
  • Airport transfers
  • Some meals

Switzerland Baking Retreat 2024

Known for its grand snow-covered mountains, Alpine villages, and majestic lakes, Switzerland is all aglow during the holidays. Christmas markets are bountiful and brimming with chocolatiers, steaming fondue pots, melty raclette, and mugs of glühwein (mulled wine). In bakeries and home kitchens, you’ll find seasonal cookies and breads baked with generations-old recipes. This five-night retreat begins and ends in Zurich and is what Swiss dreams are made of. In Zurich, we’ll stay at the new Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich, bake with Heddi Nieuwsma of Cuisine Helvetica, and visit the Lindt Home of Chocolate museum for a chocolate class. We’ll then travel to Arosa, where we’ll settle into the lovely Tschuggen Grand Hotel, a five-star hotel nestled on the mountainside that offers ski-in, ski-out experiences. In nearby Chur, the oldest town in Switzerland, we’ll bake Swiss cookies with cookbook author Andie Pilot of Helvetic Kitchen. Grab your passport and bundle up! This is a retreat you don’t want to miss.

Switzerland Baking Retreat 2024

December 12–17, 2024
$8,500 – $12,000

  • 5 nights in 5-star hotels
  • 3 hands-on classes
  • Welcome reception, breakfast daily, fondue in the Alps, bakery experience in Zurich
  • Transportation to scheduled retreat events and between Zurich and Arosa
  • One-year subscription to Bake from Scratch
  • Giftbag with some of our favorite baking items
  • Airfare/travel to/from Switzerland
  • Airport transfers
  • Some meals

SOLD OUT RETREATS

(Join our waitlist)

Macaron & French Baking 2024 with Brian Hart Hoffman and Ladurée Los Angeles Pastry Chef Andreas Pita

For this very special weekend, Bake from Scratch editor-in-chief Brian Hart Hoffman will be joined by Andreas Pita, the executive pastry chef for Ladurée Los Angeles. Andreas will teach the world-famous macaron recipe from Ladurée and walk bakers through every step of the process, including macaronage and how to color the meringue beautiful pastel hues. To keep the weekend Frenchified, Brian will share a brilliant recipe for a laminated baguette.

Macarons at Laduree

Birmingham, Alabama
March 15–18, 2024
THIS RETREAT IS SOLD OUT

  • Three nights hotel accommodations in Birmingham
  • Two days of baking classes in the Bake from Scratch test kitchen
  • Welcome wine reception and breakfast and lunch on baking days
  • One-year subscription to Bake from Scratch
  • Gift bag with some of our favorite baking items
  • Airfare/travel to Birmingham
  • Airport transfers
  • Some meals

San Miguel de Allende Baking Retreat 2024

Explore the sweet side of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a Colonial-era jewel and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the central highlands of Mexico. We’ll meander through the pedestrian-friendly cobblestone streets, past the towering pink Parroquia San Miguel Arcángel and the bustling Mercado Ignacio Ramírez y de Artesanías, in search of the best conchas, elotes, and more. We’ll have VIP access to bakers and behind-the-scenes glimpses at the artisans who make this cultural hub so unique. Accommodations will be at the Casa de Sierra Nevada, a five-star Belmond hotel property, set amongst 17th- and 18-century buildings in the heart of the Zona Centro.

San Miguel City

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
April 7–12, 2024
THIS RETREAT IS SOLD OUT

  • 5 nights in a 5-star hotel
  • 4 hands-on baking classes
  • 2 guided tours of San Miguel
  • Private car transfers to/from BJX or QRO airports
  • Welcome wine reception, two lunches, wine tasting, and group dinner
  • Airfare/travel to recommended airports
  • Breakfast and some meals

Ireland Baking Retreat 2024

From the charming cobblestone streets of Dublin to the verdant countryside amidst stone walls and sheep grazing along hillsides, this luxury eight-night retreat will highlight traditional Irish baking and celebrate the country’s best contemporary bakers and bakeries, all while enjoying the lavish hospitality of Ireland at every stop. With classes at Howth Castle Cookery School, Bread 41, Firehouse Cookery School, and Ballymaloe Cookery School, you’ll bake Irish soda bread, scones, cakes, biscuits, and more.

Ireland Baking retreat 2024

Ireland
September 10–18, 2024

THIS RETREAT IS SOLD OUT

  • 8 nights in a luxury hotel
  • 4 hands-on baking and cooking classes
  • 2 culinary experiences (in Dublin and at Powerscourt)
  • Welcome afternoon tea, breakfast daily, some lunches, group dinner at Ballymaloe House
  • Private transfers to/from scheduled retreat activities
  • One-year subscription to Bake from Scratch
  • Gift bag with some of our favorite baking items
  • Airfare/travel to/from Dublin
  • Airport transfers
  • Some meals

PAST RETREATS

British Baking Retreat 2024

British Baking Retreat 2024 with Brian Hart Hoffman and Edd Kimber

Birmingham, Alabama
February 16–19, 2024

Charleston Retreat 2024

Charleston Baking Retreat 2024

Charleston, South Carolina
January 24–28, 2024

Strasbourg, France

Holiday Baking in Paris and Strasbourg, France 2023

Paris and Strasbourg, France
December 11–18, 2023

Buche du Noel

Holiday Baking with Brian Hart Hoffman

Birmingham, Alabama
November 3–6, 2023

Southern biscuits

Yeasted and Quick Bread-Baking 2023

Birmingham, Alabama
February 17–20, 2023

Strawberry Cream Cake

Spring Cake-Baking 2023

Birmingham, Alabama
March 24–27, 2023

Italy Baking Retreat 2023

ITALY BAKING RETREAT 2023

May 28–June 5, 2023

Ratatouille Pizza

Summer Baking Retreat 2023

Birmingham, Alabama
July 21–24, 2023

Baking at the Cooks Atelier

Fall Baking in Paris and Burgundy, France 2023

Paris and Burgundy, France
September 9–17, 2023

San Francisco & California Wine Country 2023

San Francisco & California Wine Country
October 6–11, 2023

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