Becoming a Pastry Chef
The first step to becoming a pastry chef is to get some experience in the field. To do this, you must work for several years as an assistant or apprentice under the guidance of someone who has been in the industry for many years. This will allow you to learn how to make pastries and desserts, as well as how to bake and cook them properly.
When you’ve gotten enough experience, it’s time for college! You’ll need to go through a culinary school program that teaches pastry arts. This can take anywhere from two to four years depending on what type of degree you want (bachelor’s or associate). After graduating from culinary school, you’ll need another year or two of apprenticeship before applying for jobs as a pastry chef at restaurants or bakeries. Once hired, you’ll have lots of opportunities for advancement within your company if your employer thinks highly enough of your work!
How To Become Pastry Chef
Becoming a pastry chef can be an exciting way to use your culinary skills and lead a team in a professional career. In this article, we discuss what a pastry is, what they do, how much a pastry chef earns and what it takes to be a pastry chef.
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What is a pastry chef?
A pastry chef is a culinary professional who works in a kitchen and makes various kinds of baked goods, including candies, chocolates, cakes, cookies, cupcakes, pies and bread. Pastry chefs usually earn their titles after working as regular cooks or bakers at restaurants or hotels. Many receive leadership roles because of their performance and creativity on the job.
A pastry chef’s responsibilities might include the following:
- Creating menus
- Creating their own recipes for breads and desserts
- Updating older recipes
- Decorating cakes, cookies and cupcakes
- Training newer cooks and bakers
- Supervising staff
- Taking and fulfilling orders from customers
- Managing a kitchen by taking inventory and ensuring that everyone in the kitchen abides by health and safety procedures
Usually, pastry chefs specialize in one area of pastry-making, while others might make a variety of original baked goods. For example, if a chef owns an artisan craft shop, they might sell different kinds of bread. If someone owns a bakery, they might sell cakes, cookies and cupcakes or just specialize in one type of sweet food. Other pastry chefs may produce a variety of breads and sweets, depending on their place of work.
Related: Pastry Chef vs Baker: What’s the Difference?
Average salary for a pastry chef
Many cooks and bakers have the potential to earn more as they gain experience, become chefs and earn certifications. Earning potential can also vary based on geographic location and the type of establishment where a pastry chef works. For the most up-to-date information from Indeed, please click on the salary link below.
- Common salary in the U.S.: $13.76 per hour
- Some salaries range from $7.25 to $20.85 per hour.
What skills do you need to become a pastry chef?
Pastry chefs must have the following skills:
- Technical knowledge: Bakers must operate ovens and other machinery. They must use mathematical knowledge to measure ingredients and their knowledge of chemistry allows them to ensure that their confections are baked under the proper conditions.
- Creativity: Pastry chefs need to use their creativity as they create new recipes or update older ones. Also, bakers at craft stores or proprietary bakeries thrive by coming up with unique decorations for cupcakes and wedding cakes.
- Managerial skills: Pastry chefs must have managerial skills, especially if they operate their own bakeries and/or supervise a large staff.
- Time management: Pastry chefs will take orders from customers but depending on the type of dessert/food the customer wants, pastry chefs might need more time to fulfill those specialized orders. Pastry-makers should prepare enough pastries to meet demand on any given day and develop policies for taking and fulfilling specialized orders. Ultimately, they must budget their time wisely.
- Patience: Pastry chefs need patience because baking and making confections takes time. They also need to have patience while training members of their staff.
How to become a pastry chef
There are a variety of paths you can take to become a pastry chef, but you will need to have enough experience to lead a kitchen and you might need to earn a degree. Here’s how to become a pastry chef:
1. Choose a specialty in pastry-making
There are many areas of specialization in the pastry field, from baking bread to making candy, so decide which would be most enjoyable for you to do on a regular basis.
2. Do some research about the industry
Read books on pastry-making, watch videos, visit online forums dedicated to pastry-making and visit baking websites. You may be able to find books with recipes and communicate with experienced pastry-makers who can give you extra advice.
3. Practice baking on your own
One of the best ways to get experience with making confections is to practice at home. That way, you can work at your own pace and use various resources, like cooking shows and recipe books to help you get started. It also helps to have someone with you to test your recipes and to make sure you are practicing safe baking.
4. Take culinary courses
If you are still in high school and your school offers home economics courses, sign up for one to learn the basics of cooking and baking. If you are no longer in school then seek out restaurants, caterers and baking enthusiasts’ groups that may offer courses close to your home.
5. Attend a culinary school full time
If you choose to attend a culinary school or take advantage of culinary programs at colleges and universities, you could earn a degree from any of those programs. The associate degree program lasts two years and the bachelor’s degree program lasts for three or four years. Attending a culinary school full time will provide you with technical skills and education. Be sure to research the institutions beforehand and visit the facilities if you can.
6. Get some real-world experience
You can gain experience by either working at a local bakery or by participating in baking contests. The former is the most advantageous and some kitchens might hire you whether you received a formal education or not.
Read more: How To Earn a Pastry Chef Apprenticeship
7. Work your way up to become a pastry chef
If you decide to work at hotels or restaurants, you’ll need to first start as a cook or baker and work your way up.
Related: How To Find Your Passion
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FAQs for the pastry chef profession
Some common questions about becoming a pastry chef may include the following:
What are some careers similar to a pastry chef?
The baking industry offers a host of careers that are related to that of a pastry chef. For the most up-to-date information from Indeed, please click on the salary link for each job title below.
Here are some similar roles to consider::
- Caterer: $36,898 per year
- **Restaurant manager: $49,860 per year
- Sous chef $48,535 per year
Are there educational requirements for a pastry chef?
Generally, there are no formal education requirements for pastry chefs. In many cases, cooks and bakers may find work at bakeries even if they forego a formal education. However, certain workplaces with kitchens that sell pastries may require chefs to have extensive experience. Also, some high-end restaurants and hotels may require pastry chefs to have an associate or bachelor’s degree to advance.
Are there any certifications for bakery chefs?
Yes, and interested chefs may earn their certification through the American Culinary Foundation (ACF). The ACF offers six levels of certification for pastry professionals:
- Certified Fundamentals Pastry Cook (CFPC): A cook has a basic knowledge of pastry-making but no professional experience.
- Certified Pastry Culinarian (CPC): An entry-level pastry-maker who works in a foodservice operation.
- Certified Working Pastry Chef (CWPC): A pastry chef who supervises others in the pastry section in a foodservice operation.
- Certified Executive Pastry Chef (CEPC): A pastry chef who serves as department head in a food service operation or manages a specialized firm. This person supervises others and is an administrator.
- Certified Master Pastry Chef (CMPC): A highly skilled and knowledgeable chef in the field of pastry-making. To earn this certification, the chef must submit a separate application and have previously earned a CEC or CEPC.
- Certified Culinary Administrator (CCA): An executive-level chef who has the highest culinary knowledge, as well as human resources and managerial skills.
To earn their certifications, culinary students must take both written and practical exams. The written exam costs $75, and the results are good for two years. Chefs must pass with a minimum score of 70% or 300 points for the Certified Executive Pastry Chef exam. Practical exams cost $100, and the results from those are good for one year.
What is a pastry chef’s work environment like?
Pastry chefs can work at craft stores, dedicated bakeries, store bakeries, cafes, restaurants and hotels. Depending on the place of work and the demands of customers, a chef can be in a fast-paced work environment or one that is relatively relaxed. Especially when taking orders (from a hotel or directly from customers), pastry-makers must work in a timely fashion.
Also, a pastry chef needs to have stamina, because cooks, bakers and candy-makers must stand for long periods of time. To help with their stamina, pastry chefs should eat healthy meals and exercise regularly.
