Learn how to Bake Pies and Tarts – BBC Good Food Pastry Course

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone who wants to improve their skills and techniques when it comes to savoury and sweet pastry-based dishes.

This may include: Baking enthusiasts: Whether the pandemic has ignited your love of baking or you’ve been baking for years, you’re looking for new recipes to try and to better understand the science behind your pastry bakes. Intermediate bakers: You’ve already invested time into learning to bake but want to quantify and improve your skill level by adding new abilities, like pastry baking. Baking nerds: You already have commendable baking skills but want to ensure you know everything you can. You’ve taken baking classes before and enjoy the interactive and social elements of learning in a group. Wannabe chefs: You have basic cooking skills but want to learn more rounded techniques, and build your confidence and knowledge before venturing to cooking school.

What topics will you cover?

Pies and tarts explores the techniques, skills and baking science that are needed to bake a series of savoury and sweet pastry based dishes. The course covers making shortcrust, puff pastry, rough-puff and hot water crust. Techniques include rubbing in, rolling, shaping, blind baking, crimping and glazing. It also looks at decorative techniques and the addition of flavour to pastry.

The course also includes:

How to read and amend a recipe

What to look for in ingredients

Bakeware and kitchen equipment tips

Troubleshooting techniques including ‘avoiding a soggy bottom’

How to get creative with pastry