Paris at Christmastime

Apple Tarte - French Dessert
Photo by Jason Varney

 

HOLIDAY BAKING IN PARIS RETREAT 2021

Paris, France
December 3–7, 2021 SOLD OUT
December 7–11, 2021 SOLD OUT

$5,000 Single Occupancy
$4,250 Double Occupancy
$5,500 Baking Participant Plus Non-Baking Guest

At Bake from Scratch, we can’t think of a more magical place to get into the holiday baking spirit than Paris. With twinkling lights hung above the streets, cozy cafés decked out in fresh greenery, pâtisserie cases filled with holiday classics, and bustling holiday markets all over the city where shopping is best done with a cup of mulled wine in hand . . . this is Paris in December.

This four-night baking retreat in Paris will feature three days of hands-on baking at the famed La Cuisine cooking school, situated on the banks of the Seine River, and two afternoon holiday experiences.

What’s Included
  • Hotel accommodations in Paris
  • Breakfast daily at hotel in Paris
  • Private coach transfers to/from all scheduled afternoon retreat activities
  • All baking classes at La Cuisine Paris
  • Welcome wine reception, scheduled afternoon holiday experiences, light lunch each day La Cuisine Paris
What’s Not Included
  • Airfare/travel to Paris
  • Airport transfers
  • Some meals
What’s Included
  • Hotel accommodations in Paris
  • Breakfast daily at hotel in Paris
  • Private coach transfers to/from all scheduled afternoon retreat activities
  • All baking classes at La Cuisine Paris
  • Welcome wine reception, scheduled afternoon holiday experiences, light lunch each day La Cuisine Paris
What’s Not Included
  • Airfare/travel to Paris
  • Airport transfers
  • Some meals
What’s Included
  • Hotel accommodations in Paris
  • Breakfast daily at hotel in Paris
  • Private coach transfers to/from all scheduled afternoon retreat activities
  • Welcome wine reception, scheduled afternoon holiday experience
What’s Not Included
  • Airfare/travel to Paris
  • Airport transfers
  • Some meals

Have a question about this baking retreat? Contact us.


SORRY THESE DATES ARE SOLD OUT

Friday, December 3
Arrive in Paris and get settled into the chic Hôtel 9Confidentiel in the lively Marais neighborhood. We’ll have an early evening wine reception at 5 p.m. so you can meet our editor-in-chief, Brian Hart Hoffman, and your fellow bakers. The gathering will be held at La Cuisine Paris, a quick walk from the hotel, so you can see the space where you’ll be baking for the next three days. Dinner will be on your own with our list of top restaurants to try while you’re in Paris.

Saturday, December 4
Day 1 at La Cuisine Paris. The morning baking module will focus on the traditional holiday dessert bûche de Noël. In the afternoon, you’ll master macarons by preparing a special holiday flavor as well as making decorations for your bûche de Noël. A light lunch will be provided at La Cuisine, and class will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Following class, we’ll head back to the hotel for a quick refresh before being whisked off to a fabulous holiday afternoon tea. Transportation in a private coach will be provided to and from the afternoon tea. 

Sunday, December 5
Day 2 at La Cuisine Paris. We’ll meet at La Cuisine and then head to the famed Bastille Market as a group to gather seasonal fruit for the day’s baking projects and cheese and meats for lunch. The day’s baking module will focus on tarte Tatin and other seasonal French tarts. A light lunch will be provided at La Cuisine, and class will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Following class, we’ll head back to the hotel for a quick refresh before being whisked off to a fabulous holiday experience. Transportation in a private coach will be provided to and from the afternoon experience.

Monday, December 6
Day 3 at La Cuisine Paris. The final day of baking at La Cuisine will focus on making puff pastry to prepare your own galette de rois and pâte à choux dough for festive choux buns. At the end of class, we’ll gather as a group for a Champagne toast to an amazing few days of baking. A light lunch will be provided at La Cuisine, and class will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. You’ll have the afternoon free to do a little holiday shopping with our list of the best holiday markets and window displays.

Tuesday, December 7
Departures at the time of your choosing. No retreat programming is scheduled.

 

Photo by Hotel9 Confidentiel


SORRY THESE DATES ARE SOLD OUT

Tuesday, December 7
Arrive in Paris and get settled into the chic Hôtel 9Confidentiel in the lively Marais neighborhood. We’ll have an early evening wine reception at 5 p.m. so you can meet our editor-in-chief, Brian Hart Hoffman, and your fellow bakers. The gathering will be held at La Cuisine Paris, a quick walk from the hotel, so you can see the space where you’ll be baking for the next three days. Dinner will be on your own with our list of top restaurants to try while you’re in Paris.

Wednesday, December 8
Day 1 at La Cuisine Paris. The morning baking module will focus on the traditional holiday dessert bûche de Noël. In the afternoon, you’ll master macarons by preparing a special holiday flavor as well as making decorations for your bûche de Noël. A light lunch will be provided at La Cuisine, and class will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Following class, we’ll head back to the hotel for a quick refresh before being whisked off to a fabulous holiday afternoon tea. Transportation in a private coach will be provided to and from the afternoon tea. 

Thursday, December 9
Day 2 at La Cuisine Paris. We’ll meet at La Cuisine and then head to the famed Bastille Market as a group to gather seasonal fruit for the day’s baking projects and cheese and meats for lunch. The day’s baking module will focus on tarte Tatin and other seasonal French tarts. A light lunch will be provided at La Cuisine, and class will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Following class, we’ll head back to the hotel for a quick refresh before being whisked off to a fabulous holiday experience. Transportation in a private coach will be provided to and from the afternoon experience.

Friday, December 10
Day 3 at La Cuisine Paris. The final day of baking at La Cuisine will focus on making puff pastry to prepare your own galette de rois and pâte à choux dough for festive choux buns. At the end of class, we’ll gather as a group for a Champagne toast to an amazing few days of baking. A light lunch will be provided at La Cuisine, and class will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. You’ll have the afternoon free to do a little holiday shopping with our list of the best holiday markets and window displays.

Saturday, December 11
Departures at the time of your choosing. No retreat programming is scheduled.

 

Photo by Hotel9 Confidentiel


Accommodations in Paris
Located in the Marais neighborhood of Paris, 9Confidentiel is a four-star boutique hotel that’s a quick five-minute walk from La Cuisine Paris. This cozy hotel is located on a picturesque street, just steps away from some of the best restaurants, wine bars, coffee shops, tearooms, and shopping.

Due to the uniqueness and European charm of this hotel, double-occupancy rooms do not have two beds. Two sets of linens for one bed can be provided upon request.  

Who You’ll Meet
Brian Hart Hoffman, editor-in-chief of Bake from Scratch magazine

Booking
Half of the retreat cost (50%) is due at booking. The second half of retreat cost (50%) is due October 15, 2021. Your reservation will be confirmed upon receipt of payment. We accept payment by American Express, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and Amazon Pay. Trip prices are in US dollars.

Travel to and from Paris
Guests are responsible for getting themselves to Paris and to 9Confidentiel on Tuesday, December 8, when the retreat commences. Guests will be responsible for getting themselves from 9Confidential to the airport or their next destination on Saturday, December 12.

Costs
The price of the trip includes all hotel accommodations, all baking classes, some meals, and a private coach transfer to/from retreat activities.

Single-occupancy, double-occupancy, and participant plus non-baking guest rates are available.

Your credit card will be charged by Hoffman Media, the parent company of Bake from Scratch.

Cancellation
Since the trip is nonrefundable, we suggest buying trip insurance through a company like Travelex. You can also check with your credit card company to see if they provide travel insurance.

If you don’t purchase travel insurance, you agree to indemnify us against any charges that might otherwise be covered by your insurance. You further agree that we are not responsible for any costs of cancellation or costs related to COVID-19. Due to COVID-19, there may be limitations relating to activities. Certain services and amenities may be reduced or unavailable as a result of changing circumstances. Please know that we are working closely with our partners to plan and execute a safe baking retreat for our guests, but there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 when traveling. By booking this baking retreat, you acknowledge and assume these risks associated with travel. 

If a mandatory quarantine for visitors is in effect for travel to France during the retreat, the retreat will be cancelled, and your money will be refunded in full. If quarantine is required of you due to not meeting entry standards such as a COVID-19 vaccination, you are responsible for adhering to the France’s quarantine regulations and will not be offered a refund. You are responsible for following all travel protocols to enter France. This may include proof of vaccination, a health visa, and negative COVID-19 test. (We will help you navigate this process, don’t worry.)

We reserve the right to cancel this retreat if fewer than 16 participants have signed up by November 5, 2021. We will send an email confirmation to all participants when this number has been met. If Bake from Scratch initiates the cancellation, we will refund all payments. Please note that we will be monitoring travel advisories related to the COVID-19 pandemic closely.

 

Have a question about this baking retreat? Contact us.

Parisian Bakery Window

 


Can I extend my stay at 9Confidentiel?
We have a limited number of rooms available for the evening of Monday, December 7, if you plan to arrive in Paris a day early. To include one of those rooms in your package, place “Hotel add-on for Monday, December 7” in your cart at checkout.

Is breakfast included?
This retreat package includes daily breakfast.

Are children able to attend this retreat?
All participants must be 18 years old or older to attend this baking retreat.

What should I plan to wear at La Cuisine Paris?
Comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes. Long hair should be pulled back. Aprons will be provided.

Are the baking classes hands-on?
Yes, all baking classes will be hands-on in professional kitchens.

If I book a double-occupancy package, will the hotel room have two beds?
Due to the uniqueness and European charm of this hotel, double-occupancy rooms do not have two beds. Two sets of linens for one bed can be provided upon request. 

Is transportation around Paris included?
Transportation in a private coach will be provided to all scheduled afternoon retreat activities. Pickup and drop-off will be from 9Confidentiel. Guests will be responsible for their own arrival and departure transportation to and from 9Confidentiel. Guests will also be responsible for any transportation deviations they choose to make during the retreat. The group will walk together from the hotel to La Cuisine Paris for class each day and back, which is a quick five-minute walk.

I want to bring my travel companion, but they don’t want to participate in the baking classes. What can they do?
We offer a baking participant plus non-baking guest package for this very reason! This package allows you to bake and participate in all retreat activities while your travel companion explores Paris on their own. As a part of this package, hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, welcome wine reception, and scheduled afternoon retreat experiences and transportation to/from experiences are included for your non-baking companion.

Is this retreat better suited for professionals or home bakers?
Our retreats are geared for passionate home bakers, but professionals are always welcome.

What will the weather be like in Paris in December?
You’ll want to bundle up and bring a rain jacket just in case, but we promise the streets will be so festive and the cafés so cozy that you won’t even notice the cold.

What will we be baking?
You’ll learn how to prepare the following recipes from the expert bakers at La Cuisine Paris: bûche de Noël, macarons and macaron decorations for bûche de Noël, tarte Tatin, seasonal French tarts, galette de rois, and pâte à choux buns.

Will we have any free time in Paris?
You will have some afternoon free time to explore Paris on your own the afternoon of December 11. And we will equip you with our list of favorite bakeries, shopping neighborhoods, holiday markets, and window displays.

Photo by La Cuisine