We won’t bore you with the teaching kids to love cooking at an early age encourages healthy eating habits school of thought. Or the kids are more likely to eat the foods they prepare mantra.
You’ve heard it before and we know you probably already incorporate cooking with your kids at home as best you can. But what we will say is for all those budding Julia Child enthusiasts, there are tons of opportunities in the Indy area for kids to chop, whisk, and sift until their hearts’ content.
Sprouts Cooking School
13190 Hazel Dell Pkwy, Unit 100, Carmel
(317) 688-7499
Launched by Indy mom Stephanie Drewry, Sprouts Cooking School has nailed the market for youthful cooking fun. Stephanie delivers with seasonal courses tailored for Tiny (3-5), Junior (6-8), or Tween (6-13) chefs, as well as family classes and camps. Peruse the class schedule to find the right one for your little chef!
Williams-Sonoma
8702 Keystone Crossing #145, Indianapolis
(317) 848-1431
Williams Sonoma offers free Junior Chef classes where kids learn delicious recipes with “plenty of tasting along the way.” Classes coincide with the season and vary in skill for kids ages 8-13. Call to see what classes are coming up next!
Joann Fabrics
Multiple Indy locations. Find one near you!
Not your traditional cooking course, but Joann Fabrics offers oodles of kids cake and cupcake decorating classes. Budding bakers will learn basic decorating techniques with buttercream icing (yum!). A supply list is provided prior to class. Classes typically cost $35/child.
Artisano’s Oils & Spices
1250 E 86th St #200, Indianapolis
(317) 251-4100
Artisano’s hands-on classes run throughout the year, with kid-focused classes about twice a year. Kids are typically allowed at other classes as well at the parents’ discretion and must have an adult along with them. Registration required. Bookmark their Eventbrite page to see what’s coming up!
Jack’s Donuts of Carmel
516 E. Carmel Drive, Carmel
317-993-3501
Jack’s Donuts of Carmel offers donut-making sessions for kids, plus tours of their kitchen where all the magic happens … and yes, it really is as fun and unique as it sounds. $10 per child, paid when you get there. The fee gets you a behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen, a chance to roll dough and practice cutting out donuts or donut holes, your own yeasted donut to decorate with frosting and sprinkles, your choice of a beverage from the refrigerated case and a dozen glazed donut holes to take home. Sessions are available only on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. They offer sessions in the late morning and early afternoon.
Related Article: Make Donuts and Go Behind-the-Scenes at Jack’s Donuts of Carmel
The Gallery Pastry Shop
1101 E 54th St G, Indianapolis
(317) 820-5526
The Gallery Pastry Shop holds pastry classes for kids and adults throughout the year. The classes typically run for about two hours. Advanced registration and a $25 deposit are required. The remaining balance (varies) is paid upon arrival for the class.
Sur La Table Clay Terrace
14400 Clay Terrace Blvd, Suite 100 Carmel
(317) 575-0953
Treat young chefs to an unforgettable immersive experience! In the summer, kids can enjoy 3 or 5 days courses with hands-on fun, making all their favorite summertime foods from scratch. During the rest of the year, sign up as a family for Family Fun cooking classes.
Panera Bakers-In-Training
Multiple Indy locations. Find one near you!
Panera offers a ‘bakers in training’ class to teach bread-making and cookie decorating, designed for kids aged 5-12. Registration is $20/child and requires a 3-week notice to schedule. Each class is about 1.5 hours long. This program is available at multiple Indianapolis locations.
We do our best to verify information such as what’s posted above, but sometimes details change! We highly recommend contacting the program you are interested in for more information.
