A little while ago we told you about the fabulous KitchenAid shop in the heart of London’s West End and the cooking and baking classes they run (you can read about it here, and I can now report back from the hugely enjoyable Modern Baking course I attended last week.

I am an enthusiastic hobby baker with a bit of experience (here’s a link to my cakes and bakes), but this course caters to novices as well as people like me and I certainly learned a few new recipes,  tricks and tips and I thought it was excellent value for money.

I arrived early and received a warm welcome from Mandy, the store manager, Lisa, our instructor and Nathan, who is a KitchenAid demonstrator, but on this day had the task of cleaning up after us and doing the washing up. There was freshly brewed coffee and tea and orange infused water from a Kilner dispenser, and you are surrounded by all the great appliances and machines Kitchen Aid produces

Six people, including me, attended the course, among them a couple of friends in their twenties and a mum who was dropped off by her teenage children. One young woman who needed gluten free ingredients which were already ready and waiting for her, so a real mix of ages, abilities and needs.

After a short intro and health & safety talk from Mandy on the kitchen counter, we got right to it. Lisa showed us how to use the KitchenAid Mixer and how to prepare the dough for our first bake, Lavender, Chia Seeds & Honey Shortcakes and off we went our individual workstations where all the ingredients were waiting for us, all weighed and laid out. An apron, oven glove and tea towel were also provided.

First of all I have to say, it is such a pleasure to work with the iconic KitchenAid Mixer. They are a work of sheer beauty. Mine was a glorious copper colour and so easy to use, sturdy and powerful, and I will have to get one now. Seriously, how can you expect me to go on baking with my little hand mixer after this?

We prepared the biscuit dough and left it in the fridge to harden and made our way back to the counter, where we got our instructions for the second bake of the day: Red Velvet and Beetroot Cupcakes with a White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. Off we went to make the batter and fill our cup cake forms (or rather muffin forms), pop them in the oven. While they were baking, Lisa showed us what to do with the biscuits dough and when the cupcakes were done, the biscuits went straight into the oven.

Lisa showed us how to make the frosting for our cupcakes and a glaze for a slab of the most delicious Chocolate & Walnut Brownies I have ever eaten, which she had made earlier. Then it was back to our workstations and the decorating of our cupcakes. Mine did not look very professional, but still good enough to eat. I was quite pleased with them. And they tasted fantastic. And so did the biscuits! After all our hard work, we had a chance to taste our creations and have another natter with Mandy about who she has served in the shop – Nigel (Slater) & Nigella (Lawson), amongst others – and Lisa how she got to become a pastry chef and cooking instructor and the food festivals and chefs she works with.

The four hours flew by. All that was left to do, was pack up our goodies – yes, you get to take everything you have baked home – and we were given boxes, bags and bows to make everything look extra pretty. We even received a goody bag with recipe cards & card stand, a pen and one of the fab KitchenAid spatulas.

I took some of the goodies into work the next day and promptly received an order for the Lavender, Chia Seed and Honey Shortbreads. And George and I ate the rest!

I honestly loved every minute of it, and I think one of these courses would make a wonderful gift for somebody – male or female, old or young – who is difficult to buy for/ has everything/ loves cooking or baking or even doesn’t know how to cook or bake. Or a great – and productive – afternoon out with friends, a team building event or even a hen do. The maximum number of participants is 12.

Or buy a place for yourself. There are some lovely courses coming up, like pizza & pasta making or edible Christmas gifts. Go on, spoil yourself!

Classes – a mix of demos and hands-on cooking – include:

• Health & Wellbeing – 19th September
• Pasta & Pizza Master Class – 17th October
• Chocolate Making Workshop – 14th November
• Edible Christmas Gifts – 12th December

For more info about the courses and to book a place online click here

To find out more about the store order KitchenAid products, click here

KitchenAid Experience Store

98 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 3RN

T: 020 7935 2575

E: londonexperiencestore@kitchenaid.com

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