It’s never too early to involve kitchen-curious tots in the cooking process (and might even make them think twice before turning down their veggies). Fortunately for your Master Chef juniors, there are great cooking classes in LA, both in-person and online, as well as cooking kits that can be delivered right to your door that cater specifically to them. From monster cakes to foreign cuisines, healthy snacks to knife skills, read on to learn about all of the delicious cooking classes for kids open to the younger set and prepare for your kids to be whisked away!
In-Person Kid’s Cooking Classes
Little Kitchen Academy
Your little ones will get a healthy serving of fun and independence at this in-person cooking school for kids in Westfield Century City. The first of its kind Montessori-inspired academy gives your future top chefs the freedom to explore different foods while learning about making healthy choices. Recipes are created using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and each session teaches how to make a healthy snack, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Kids even get to select their own fresh herbs and vegetables from the academy’s living food wall.
Classes are grouped by age, from age 3 to teens. And a little taste of math and reading skills are sprinkled into every lesson. When the cooking is done, kids get to sit down and savor their creations while polishing up their table manners. Read our exclusive interview with founders Felicity Curin and Cat Cora.
Good to Know: 4 class sessions for kids are $480. Classes run three hours long. Special holiday sessions are also available.
10250 Santa Monica Blvd.
Century City
Online: littlekitchenacademy.com
The Gourmandise School
Winner of LA Mag’s Best of L.A. 2021, this Santa Monica Place cooking school has everything your budding chef is hungry for. They’ll learn how to create amazing dishes and treats out of locally sourced and sustainable ingredients and have fun doing it. There’s a choice of in-person classes where the two of you can team up (parent and child cooking classes FTW) to create something delicious in their state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, or live zoom classes you can enjoy from the comfort of home. Kids can learn to make pasta from scratch, cut it into their favorite shapes and sizes and then savor their masterpiece. Or get ready for the holidays with one or more of the special themed classes like Halloween Spooky Treats or Cookies For Santa. Whether in person or online, your child will build their confidence in the kitchen and even learn to enjoy their vegetables. Okay, no guarantees on the vegetables.
Good to Know: Kids live zoom classes start at $75. Parent & Child in-person classes start at $150.
395 Santa Monica Pl., #323
Santa Monica
Online: thegourmandiseschool.com
Online Cooking Classes for Kids
Outschool
This interactive online school dishes up more cooking and baking classes than your little chef can shake a spatula at. With hundreds of live video chat classes to choose from, they’ll find something that whets their appetite. Classes are broken down by age groups, from 3 to 18, and cater to your child’s special interests, needs, and schedule. The littlest chefs will learn how to mix ingredients, roll dough, and get their hands dirty. (Sorry mom). Plus there are fun themed classes like the Disney baking class, where they’ll make meals and treats inspired by their favorite Disney movies. Older kids will get to explore everything from Soul Food to Sushi. And if your child enjoys a side of science with her food, there’s the Science of Baking series. Plus there’s always a healthy dose of social interaction and fun baked into every class they offer.
Good to Know: Classes available for ages 3-18. Prices per class varies, but most fall between $10-$20.
Online: outschool.com
Radical Cooks
Handover the cooking duties to your child with the help of Radical Cooks. Their interactive classes for kids 7 and up are live online and feature local, seasonal ingredients. Give yourself the afternoon off and sign your little chef up for the Friday “Make Your Own Lunch” class, where they’ll learn to make a healthy delicious meal for themselves. Or if they have more of an appetite for dinner, enroll them in the Social Supper Club and then sit down as a family and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Your child have a taste for different cuisines? Check out Radical Cook’s “Pots, Pans & Passports” series, where for 6 weeks they “visit” a different country, learn about its cultural dishes and then recreate them at home. Now, if you could only get them to be excited about cleaning up.
Good to Know: Make Your Lunch Class is $40. Six week class sessions are $100. Birthday parties (or other special events) are from $400.
Online: radicalcooks.com
Tiny Chefs
With Tiny Chefs your child will be cooking up a storm of wonderful dishes right in your own kitchen. Choose a live zoom class. Or try one of their many virtual online series that include pre-recorded instructional videos, shopping lists, lesson plans and additional activities. Perfect for your child to follow along at their own pace. Each class is structured so the whole family can get in on the act. Your tiny chef or teen will learn cooking basics, but also how to take recipes to the next level. With series like Cupcake Wars and Cooking Around the World, they’re sure to find something they’ll be hungry for.
Good to Know: Live Zoom Classes are $32. Online pre-recorded 5 recipe series $49.50. Online pre-recorded 10 recipe series $99. Classes for ages 3-12.
Online: tinychefs.com
The Kids’ Table
Teach your kids to play with the vegetables and they may actually find they like them. That’s the philosophy at The Kids’ Table, where online zoom cooking classes focus on teaching kids that real food can taste real good. Your little chef will chop, dice, mix, roll and taste their way through a variety of fun and engaging classes. And the price per class is for the whole family, so everyone can get in on the fun together. There are single class options and 5-week sessions to choose from. Featuring dishes like Butternut Squash Ravioli, Pumpkin quesadillas, and Apple Brie Pizza. Kids’ Table also has a large library of on demand classes, prerecorded and ready whenever you and your child have a craving to cook up something wonderful.
Good to Know: Classes available for ages 2-14. Individual one hour classes start at $18, a 5 week series starts at $78. Individual two hour classes start at $35, a 5-week series starts at $160. On demand classes are $4 each, or $15 a month for unlimited access. Virtual parties start at $200.
Online: kids-table.com
DIY Food Kits
Foodstirs
You’ll feel no guilt baking up these sweet treats with your kids. Every kit from Foodstirs is high quality, junk-free, organic, low sugar and most important—delicious. The kits come with an easy to follow recipe card and reusable bakeware. Just add eggs, butter, vegetable oil or a little yogurt. Easy as pie. With choices like tie-dye sugar cookies and donuts, snowflake brownies, and the rainbow fun pancake kit, every kid (and adult) in the house will be happy. It’s a great way to have some family fun, teach your little chefs some new skills, and help them express their creativity. See, you can have your cake and eat it, too.
Good to Know: Individual baking mixes from $6, Individual Kits from $40. Baker’s Club subscriptions for one kit for $35, 3 Kits for $100, and their most popular plan, the 6 Kit subscription is $194.
Online: foodstirs.com
Raddish Kids
If an at home cooking club is more you and your kids cup of tea, sign up for a monthly subscription to Raddish. Your tiny tasters will have a fun hands-on cooking experience from the comfort of your own kitchen. Each month, your child (age 4 & up) will receive a theme-based kit in the mail containing easy-to-follow illustrated recipe guides, a creative kitchen project, culinary skill cards, a grocery shopping list for the adults and a kitchen tool of their very own to use in whipping up something delicious. The folks behind Raddish Kids have created a way to involve everyone in the meal-making process with the theory that kids will be much more eager to eat a meal they have helped prepare from start to finish (bonus). They have also subtly packed their yummy recipes with math, science, history, geography and culture lessons your small fries won’t even realize they’re learning (double bonus).
Ingredient List: Monthly subscription is $24. A 6-month subscription is $22 (with a free apron thrown in for your top-chef-in-training). Not interested in a monthly commitment? No problem–Raddish also offers single kits (like Edible Elements or Harvest Party) for purchase.
Online: raddishkids.com
Baketivity
If you’re looking for an easy and sweet way to connect with your kids, look no further than this subscription baking club. You and your little baker can bond over some pretty delicious treats like Duff Goldman’s fuzzy monster cake, cinnamon buns, or s'more pie. There’s even a gluten-free kit option. Each kit comes with pre-measured dry ingredients, a shopping list for wet ingredients and any baking tools you’ll need, simple, kid friendly instructions and some educational games to play while your masterpiece is in the oven. If you’re not ready to commit to a subscription, you can still enjoy the sweet life with a variety of their individual baking kits. But before you dig into your finished dessert, remember to take a pic of your creation and share it on their website. No matter how you slice it, Baketivity is a treat the whole family can enjoy together.
Good to Know: Perfect for kids aged 3-10, individual baking kits start at $25. Monthly subscriptions start at $33 and come with a free apron and chef’s hat.For the sweetest deal get a yearly subscription for $26 a month.
Online: baketivity.com
—Jenifer Scott & Debbie Fried
Feature image via iStock
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