Let us help you decide which class suits you the best

Overview

  • Learn the fundamental pastry and baking techniques needed to bake with confidence.
  • Discover how to bake cookies, tarts, breads, custards, pate a choux and more without depending on step-by-step recipes.
  • Work hands-on independently, while building basic baking and presentation skills.
  • Gain new capabilities whether you’re a beginner or seasoned baker.

Topics & Menu

Week 1 | Quick Bread

  • Cream Scones
  • Coffee Cake Muffins with a Cinnamon Streusel

Week 2 | Cookies

  • Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches with Vanilla Buttercream

Week 3 | Custards and Cheesecakes

  • Grand Marnier Creme Brulee
  • Banana Foster Bread Pudding
  • Cheesecake

Week 4 | Pies

  • Apple Bourbon Hand Pies
  • Berry Hand Pies with Lemon Glaze

Week 5 | Tarts

  • Chocolate Truffle Tart
  • Almond Peach Tart

Week 6 | Savory Breads

  • Olive Rosemary Focaccia
  • Black Pepper Cheddar Country Loaf
  • Neapolitan Pizza Margherita

Week 7 | Sweet Breads

  • Cinnamon Rolls
  • Challah

Week 8 | Pate a Choux

  • Chocolate Hazelnut Eclairs

Week 9 | Petit Fours

  • Meringue Kisses
  • Almond Raspberry Petit Fours

Week 10 | Cakes and Buttercreams

  • Chocolate Mocha Cake with Coffee Buttercream

Skill Level

Students of all skill levels will be able to keep up in this class. Beginners will quickly gain new skills and seasoned cooks will refine existing skills while also building new ones. This is perfect for those who:

  • Want an in-depth study into all fundamental cooking techniques.
  • Have the time to commit to improving all aspects of their cooking.
  • Are comfortable working independently and prefer a hands-on approach to learning.

Instructors

Learn from the best!

Elizabeth Trevino

Culinary Chef Instructor

Tanit Parnprome

Culinary Chef Instructor

Richard Lee

Culinary Chef Instructor

Natalie galvan

Pastry Chef Instructor

Jacqueline Martinez

Pastry Chef Instructor

Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellations more than 30 days out: Class credit or refund
  • Cancellations 8-30 days out: Class credit
  • Cancellations 7 days or less: We are unable to offer a class credit for any reason
    *Cancellation time periods apply to the start date of a Culinary Series, based on the date of the first class in the Series. Credit of refunds are unavailable 7 days prior to the first class day of a Series.

Reviews

4.9

 

David M.
Nov 20, 2021

The wife bought me a gift certificate for this place. Used the first half on the knife skills class.
Good instructor, excellent support staff walking around during course to help, and great setup with the layout and TV monitors showing instructors work area.
This class concentrates on vegetables which makes sense. Allows for a lot of varied cutting/slicing techniques. All of this work goes into making a salad that you also get to eat!
Class covered types of knives and how to sharpen and care for them.
Can’t wait for their sauces course!!

Ray L.
Nov 8, 2021

Completed the Holiday bootcamp this past week and I really enjoyed the two-day bootcamp. The food we cooked was delicious and being able to cook in a kitchen with the proper tools was great. The intructor, Chef James, was also pleasant and helpful too.

I would definitely find more classes to learn from here!!

Betty H.
Dec 18, 2020

Took a sample dessert cooking class here. Super nice staff. The facility was new and clean. We got to bake a bit and eat our creations. Really fun. I would return here to take more classes.
In another life, I would be a pastry chef. ha.

Melanie R.
May 25, 2021

Culinary Lab not only prepares you for cooking/pastry, it can also prepare you to work IN the industry with its Apprenticeship Program or prepare you to run your own buisness with its Entrepreneurship Program! I have learned so much valuable information from both programs, but the Entreprenurship Program has made me feel like my dream to own/run a reataurant is more acheivable. Currently the program is one day every other week, for five hours. There is no “fluff”, just valuable information, making my trips from San Diego well worth it. Having gone through its Culinary, Apprenticeship, and Entrepreneurship programs, I can confidently say that this school is built to make sure you succeed! And with 0% financing, why would you choose another school?

Ronnie F.
Mar 21, 2021

This is my 5th class with CulinaryLab Cooking School. We did the French Macaron class, and it was so much fun. We learned Caramel, Ganache and Italian Macaron Method, and now I see why they are so expensive when you purchase them at the bakery. Lovely company, Chef Natalie is always available for help during the class, and the other students all had fun. Thanks again, and I will be back.

Paulina O.
Nov 26, 2020

Just completed the Instant Pot + Sous Vide Boot Camp and not only did I have so much fun, but I learned so much. Chef Lauren was wonderful as well as all the staff at CulinaryLab. They were all so sweet and so helpful.

I don’t consider myself a good cook and was nervous about keeping up in the class, but I was so comfortable and everything was demonstrated so well. It was such a great experience and I can’t wait to return for their 12 week beginner’s course.

Janet S.
Nov 14, 2020

I absolutely loved my home cooking class. The chef was thorough with the instructions and process. I gain so much knowledge about how to prepare meats and vegetables. I learned how to make sauces, cut and cook fish and so many other things. The best thing is the confidence I gained in my own kitchen. Loved, loved loved it. Already signed up for more classes.

Jessica N.
July 27, 2020

Cannot recommend this place enough!! I was timid about taking the plunge purchasing the 12 week beginners home cook series because it was on the weekends and I am pretty busy, but they were SO accommodating when you need to make up a class! Also, the price was scary but omg it is worth EVERY penny! It is a class of 12 people so it is super hands on learning, plus you get to eat everything you make/take home leftovers (be prepared to gain a few pounds lol). The quality of food and service is honestly more than I could have hoped, you become such good friends with everyone in your group and learn so much during these short 3 months!

I loved it so much that I am happy to say I am enrolled in the Intermediate Home Cook series now and am even looking into some of their bootcamps and possibly pro! Such a great vibe and awesome company! 11/10 would recommend to anyone!

Narin J.
Nov 1, 2019

I have wanted to go to culinary school for years but needed the financial security of my full time job so have kept up with cooking as a hobby and taken classes here and there at Sur La Table. I was delighted to find Culinary Lab Cooking School’s Home Cook Series giving the opportunity to learn consistently over 12 weeks. The classes have been much more than I could have expected. We learn the same skills as professional culinary students and were taught a variety of techniques from sous vide to braising. The teachers are excellent and truly help you both by showing you the proper way and correcting your mistakes. I highly recommend this program for the beginning cook or even someone more advanced as there is so much to learn at an exceptional value.

Kate M.
Apr 20, 2019

I just completed the 12-week Beginner Pro Home cook series and thoroughly enjoyed myself and learned so much! I would consider myself a pretty good home cook before this class, but didn’t really know professional knife skills and although I would be creative in the kitchen, I really didn’t know what ingredients complement what. This class is really well structured. You will learn new techniques each week and get to practice them as the weeks continue, building on prior knowledge and adding more skills. It’s a great way to expand your knowledge or start from scratch! I enjoyed our professional Chef (Chef Matt Roman) who had a great sense of humor and explained things very clearly. I enjoyed my experience so much, I signed up for the Intermediate class!!!

Terri S.
Apr 8, 2019

I just completed the 6 month Pro Pastry program at the Culinary Lab & it has been a dream come true. I retired this past year and had always wanted to attend culinary school–it is never too late to follow your passion. I researched different schools in the Orange County/ Inland Empire area & I am so happy I found the Culinary Lab. The entire staff is so supportive & encouraging beginning with Founders Chef Ryan & Lisa Wagner. Chef Colleen is amazing. She is a top-notch pastry chef & I have no doubt these past six months I had the great opportunity of learning from the best. It was a very challenging & rewarding experience & without reservation I highly recommend this school.

Jim A.
Oct 6, 2016

This week I took the first home cooking class offered by the Culinary Lab in Tustin. It was on grilling, one of my favorite ways to cook. The class lasted over 3 hours. We made four different delicious recipes and overall it turned out to be a fabulous class. What I enjoyed, besides the tasty food that we prepared, is that we the students were the ones that prepared the food. The Chef would briefly demonstrate how to make a recipe and then give us the ingredients and we would then prepare it ourselves. He would oversee us and offer advice and suggestions along the way. He was very patient and willing to answer any questions that we had. Overall I thought the food we made was outstanding, learned a lot of valuable cooking techniques and look forward to taking more classes in the future.

Taught by professional chefs

Small class sizes, max. 16 students/class

Pick from Fri., Sat. & Sun. classes

Monthly payment options available

Average Rating 4.9

10,813 followers

Average Rating 4.9 11, 295 followers

Average Rating 5

Beginner Pastry Series

For anyone wanting to learn a specific culinary skill.

5

$2,100.00

or from 200.00/mo

0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop
    Scroll to Top

    Request for Information

    We’d love to share more about Co-Lab’s hands-on cooking programs, schedules, and admissions process.

    Explore a learning experience designed for aspiring cooks, career changers, and food professionals seeking practical kitchen training in a real-world environment. Our programs focus on building foundational technique, confidence, and industry-relevant skills through guided, hands-on instruction.

    Co-Lab
    201 E 4th St
    Santa Ana, CA 92701

     

    Contact Us

    Pop Up Form
    Name

    By submitting this form, you agree that Co-Lab may contact you by email, phone, or text about programs, events, and admissions. Consent is not required to enroll. Message and data rates may apply.

    By submitting this form, you agree to receive communications from CulinaryLab. Msg and data rates may apply.