Growing up, one of my favorite things to do with my mom was bake. Cakes and cupcakes were our specialty (chocolate always!) and after all those years of practice, I can whip up a pretty yummy dessert. Although, I am still trying to get the hang of her lemon meringue pie.
If you go
The Palmer House – A Hilton Hotel
Family Baking Class
Dec. 12 and Dec. 19
www.palmerhousehiltonhotel.com
I’m so glad that my 4-year-old now enjoys creating those same memories with me. Recently, we visited the Palmer House – A Hilton Hotel for a family baking class. This time of year is perfect for trying new seasonal flavors and we were so excited to help make (and eat!) the different treats on our menu, which included pumpkin pie, cranberry cheesecake and pecan pie. As a bonus, the Palmer House is beautifully dressed for the holidays, with Christmas trees and lights everywhere you look.
Palmer House Executive Pastry Chef Fabrice Bouet led the class, which included a handful of kids and their parents, among others.
For the adults in attendance, Chef did a nice job of explaining each step and why certain ingredients were better to use over others in each recipe. He promised to email recipes to anyone interested following the class, so it was nice to just watch and take in everything he was showing us instead of worrying about taking notes.
Each child had plenty of opportunities to get their hands dirty by cracking eggs, brushing them on pastries and mixing ingredients. There was also plenty of taste-testing going on, which was probably my daughter’s favorite part. Sugared cranberries were a hit!
By the end of the class, two hours later, we all went home with desserts to enjoy and new techniques to test out.
On Dec. 12 and Dec. 19, the Palmer House is hosting two more family baking classes where you can learn to make cookies and gingerbread men, respectively. For reservations, call or visit the Lockwood Restaurant& Bar host stand, (312) 917-3404.
