Whether you regularly involve your kids when preparing meals at home or you’re looking for a fun yet educational experience your children will enjoy, you can’t go wrong with a local cooking class. You’ll find a range of educational options designed to teach kids skills they’ll use in the kitchen for years to come. From healthy, farm-fresh meals to treats like cookies and cake, there’s a kids’ cooking class in the area perfect for your family.

Crème de la Crème of West Chester takes the guesswork out of finding some local educational opportunities with this list of kids’ cooking classes in and around West Chester. You’ll find in-person classes as well as virtual options, so you’re sure to find a class structure that suits your child’s learning style.

The Learning Kitchen

Image used with permission via Unsplash by Brooke Lark

The Learning Kitchen, located right here in West Chester, is a great place to start if you’re searching for kids’ cooking classes close to home. Dedicated to the idea that cooking should be easy and fun, not to mention delicious, this popular local spot features a range of cooking classes for adults and kids. Find The Learning Kitchen at 7659 Cox Lane, West Chester, 45069.

Hands-on cooking classes in a state-of-the-art facility let participants cook at their own cooktop and then eat everything they cook. Students get two burners, pots, pans, and all the tools they need to cook the menu for the day from 12 student stations. The facility has an instructor’s station as well. Instructors won’t simply tell you what to do, either. These classes are designed so you can learn the techniques and recipes that go into creating meals on your own.

If your child wants to get in on the action, you’ll want to check out the kids’ camps The Learning Kitchen offers. Camps run for five days of two-hour classes and include an instructor and support staff. Kiddos get to cook a full meal each day, and they’ll often even have leftovers to take home. The camps are designed for kids ages 8 to 16.

The Learning Kitchen offers kids’ camps for two skill levels. The Level 1 Culinary Academy teaches participants about kitchen safety, equipment, hygiene, and knife skills before delving into fun foods. The Level 2 option is for kids with some cooking experience and confidence, building skills to use in the camp and beyond. There’s also a camp called “Around the World in 4 Cuisines,” which teaches kids to cook foods from Mexico, Greece, Thailand, and Japan. All camps end with a friendly Secret Ingredient Competition to close things out.

Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio

Not only is Out of Thyme a great cooking pun, but it’s also an amazing place for cooking classes close to home. Located in nearby Cincinnati, Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio offers courses for chefs of all ages and skill levels. Small classes and themes that vary by season mean you’re sure to find the perfect class for you. Courses are typically 2.5 hours and take place at 11915 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, 45249.

Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio first opened in 2016, and it has since been providing a go-to community space for cooking classes, private events, catering, and fresh meals to take home. You’ll find an assortment of classes designed for different age groups on the schedule, so make sure you check the description for the recommended age. Courses are offered for adults (either 18 and older or 21 and older), teen (14 and older), tweens (9 and older), or kids (5 and older).

Out of Thyme Studio also offers virtual cooking classes you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. Certain online classes also come with kits you can pick up beforehand.

Cincinnati Cake & Candy Supplies

A Cincinnati mainstay since 1965, Cincinnati Cake & Candy Supplies has grown in reputation for decades. Head to Cincinnati Cake & Candy Supplies to shop for baking supplies you’ll use at home, then sign up for a fun class. You’ll find it at 1785 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, 45215.

Sure, the store sells just about every sweet under the sun. It also offers an assortment of classes, many created specifically for the youngest aspiring chefs. From cupcakes to cake balls, cake and cooking decorating to fondant basics to pies and beyond, there’s a class for anyone’s interest here. Kids with a sweet tooth will delight in getting to learn the ins and outs of making their favorite treats for themselves.

Gorman Farm

Gorman Heritage Farm, a 122-acre nonprofit, working farm close to West Chester, has a mission of educating the community about agriculture, nutrition, sustainability, and the environment. It’s no wonder, then, that the farm offers some great interactive educational opportunities for kids that incorporate cooking skills. Visit the farm at 10052 Reading Road, Evendale, 45241.

One great program Gorman Farm offers is the Fruit and Veggie Challenge. Kids learn literacy skills and get to try new fruits and vegetables while learning techniques and using kitchen tools to create their own fresh snack.

Turner Farm

Turner Farm is another area farm that offers educational opportunities for the community. This farm builds on a rural heritage to show that local, organic, low-impact food production can foster both healthy communities and a healthy ecosystem. You’ll find this farm at 7400 Given Road Cincinnati, 45243.

Turner Farm’s Teaching Kitchen provides students of all ages with the opportunity to learn how to cook with confidence, all while using fresh, seasonal, and healthy ingredients. The Turner Farm Teaching Kitchen was created in consultation with the Culinary Institute of America to gives local families practical skills for sustainable lifestyles. Classes take place in a gorgeous renovated 100-year-old barn. If you’re looking to teach your kids how to eat healthy meals that use local ingredients, you’ll want to turn to this farm for guidance.That concludes Crème de la Crème of West Chester’s roundup of kids’ cooking classes and educational opportunities to check out in our area. Hands-on cooking classes can teach your kids much more than just a recipe or two. They’ll come out of these classes with a stronger appreciation of the meals they eat and where they come from, and they’ll gain skills for making healthy choices. But maybe we missed a local class your family loves? Let us know so we can add it!