Let’s Get Cooking in Southwest Michigan
Cereal for dinner again?
For many parents, cooking can be a chore. Many of us make the same meals on a regular basis, rarely venturing outside of our culinary comfort zones.
Add kids’ activities and parents’ work schedules into the mix, and we often don’t have sufficient time or ingredients to make the meals we want. Before you break out the cornflakes for dinner again, why not check out local cooking classes?
These local events invite both adults AND kids to polish their cooking and baking skills near Kalamazoo. And if scheduling is a challenge, we found some virtual alternatives as well.
SWMI Cooking Classes
In-Person Cooking and Baking Classes in Greater Kalamazoo
“Can I help make dinner?”
A great way to bond with your children is to cook together. Whether it’s preparing dinner or baking the favorite family recipe for chocolate chip cookies, kids can have a lot of fun in the kitchen too.
We’ve highlighted the local spots that include classes for the next generation of chefs plus some adult-only classes as well.
Cornwell’s Turkeyville
18935 15 1/2 Mile RD, Marshall, MI 49068
Ages: KIDS & ADULTS
Turkeyville in Marshall offers “Simpler Life” courses in canning, fermenting, cooking and Mommy & Me style baking.
Mommy & Me classes often include fun sugar cookies or cupcake decorating for the holidays.
These classes sell out quickly, so we recommend booking your reservation early.
Crème Baking & Cooking Classes
PORTAGE, MI
Ages: KIDS & ADULTS
Cremeclasses@gmail.com
Crème classes are designed to teach culinary skills and techniques through a hands-on approach. Follow their Facebook page for info on upcoming classes.
Fresh Food is Fun
Throughout Michigan & Virtually
Ages: KIDS & ADULTS
Cooking classes catered to any age group are brought to your location and on your schedule. Attendees participate from start to finish, from chopping and preparing the food and trying it.
Kellogg Community College
450 North Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49017
AGES: TEENS & ADULTS
Making cookies, cheese, and gardening techniques are all covered on their campus in Battle Creek through Lifelong Learning.
Schedule: Varies, most courses are on weekdays from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Kids: Some classes include teens (see course descriptions)
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
418 E Walnut St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
AGES: KIDS & ADULTS
KVCC’s classes feature both a chef and a registered dietitian as they explore both cooking and nutrition. Classes cover specific foods (making pasta, baked goods) and foods by location (Thai street food, Rustic Italian).
Schedule: Weekday evenings and Saturday mornings.
Pacific Rim Foods
29 West Kilgore Rd, Portage, MI 49002
Classes are offered approximately every month with an easy-to-follow new dish each time. Classes are typically limited to 12 participants.
Private group classes are also available.
The Cake Boutique
56300 City Center Circle, Mattawan, MI 49071
Ages: KIDS & ADULTS
Award-winning cake artist and professional chocolatier, Beth Meyer, offers many private and group classes for kids and adults based based on whatever people want to learn that is sugar, chocolate, or cake-related. For example, a recent class taught how to make sugar-free lollipops that contained dried flowers or sprinkles that moved by shaking the sucker.
While there is no set schedule, classes are offered during less busy times of the year and upon request.
The Candy Lady
640 Romence Rd. Suite 111 Kalamazoo, MI 49024
Ages: KIDS & ADULTS
The Candy Lady offers a variety of events to help you master your candy-making skills through scheduled classes and drop-in sessions. Your best best for up-to-date events is through Facebook.
The Henderson Castle
100 Monroe St, Kalamazoo, MI 49006
AGES: KIDS & ADULTS
This historic bed and breakfast hosts cooking classes for kids and adults. Explore and book a class on their website.
Schultz Sweets
AGES: KIDS & ADULTS
Known for their mouthwatering handmade treats, Schultz’s offers candy-making parties where you’ll learn how to pour, dip, and decorate.
A minimum group size of six is required.
Cherri’s Chocol’Art
AGES: KIDS & ADULTS
Caramel apples. Turtles. Chocolate. ART. Take your pick and make some edible art at Cherri’s Chocol’art in beautiful downtown Kalamazoo!
The People’s Food Co-op
507 Harrison St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
The PFC has partnered with WMU Student Dietetics Association to offer cooking classes approximately once a month. Class subjects vary with a focus on plant-based recipes.
Kids: Classes are geared toward adults, participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Portage Culinary Academy
7340 Garden LN, Portage MI 49002
Portage Culinary Academy offers cooking classes through the City of Portage with area chefs. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced chef learn something new each month at Stuart Manor.
MaddieKakes Bake Shop
St. Joseph and Throughout michigan
With a shop in St. Joseph, MaddieKakes also hosts several cookie decorating classes in and around Kalamazoo. You’ll learn the basics of cookie decorating and create edible pieces of art.
Dessert First
220 Eleanor Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Even though this downtown shop also serves breakfast and lunch sandwiches, you’ll want to eat dessert first. With these all-occasion cupcake decorating classes, you can!
Virtual Cooking Classes & Subscriptions
Need a more flexible option to grow your kitchen skills? Try online courses or at-home subscriptions to enhance your culinary talents.
Fresh Food is Fun
Throughout Michigan & Virtually
Ages: KIDS & ADULTS
Specialty cooking classes are offered virtually, from pizza to tamales to mozzarella cheese.
Kellogg Community College
450 North Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49017
No time to attend courses in person? Kellogg Community College offers online-only courses as a flexible option for learning at home when your schedule permits.
JOANN Fabrics
6151 S Westnedge Ave, Portage, MI 49002
Online video lessons are available in many subject areas including baking and cake decorating. Classes stream through Creativebug.
Raddish
subscription Service
AGES: KIDS ONLY
Another option for your budding chef is Raddish, a monthly subscription service.
Each monthly kit (aimed at ages 4-14) includes illustrated recipes, grocery lists, kid-friendly cooking tools and skill cards to work on their cooking techniques.
More to Explore
