A.A.S. in Baking and Pastry: What It Is and How It Can Advance Your Career
An Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Baking and Pastry is a 2-year, career-focused degree that teaches students the techniques for creating a wide array of baked goods and pastries. This degree program is ideal for individuals looking to start their careers in baking and Pastry and interested in learning techniques for creating a wide array of desserts. Several culinary schools offer an A.A.S. in Baking and Pastry, including National Louis UUniversity'sKendall College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management.
What Is an A.A.S. in Baking and Pastry?
A well-rounded Baking and Pastry program teaches the basic techniques for baking bread and pastries, as well as for making and decorating cakes and other desserts. There are also classes in sugar work and other artistic uses of sugar. Students also learn about nutrition and food safety, and get a glimpse into the business and management side of a bakery or pastry shop.
Kendall College's A.A.S. in Baking and Pastry program is a six-quarter degree that is American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC)- accredited. This program has been accredited by ACFEFAC since 2008. The A.A.S. in Baking and Pastry program teaches students the science of baking bread, from blowing sugar to dessert decoration principles, such as decorating a cupcake to designing a wedding cake. Nutrition and food safety topics are also taught, including food allergies, sanitary foodservice preparation, and foodborne illness prevention. In addition to these skills, the student also learns management and business skills to aid in their search for food service-related employment. More information about this program is available in Kendall College's program overview.
Why Pursue an A.A.S. in Baking and Pastry?
The A.A.S. degree in Baking and Pastry Arts is best suited for a student with a passion for making desserts and a desire to specialize in this area of culinary arts. They will gain a unique set of skills to become bakers or pastry cooks. Students can enter the workforce in a short period of time with an Associate Degree. Baking and Pastry Arts is a distinct area of the culinary arts, requiring specific techniques and an understanding of baking science. Most importantly, the student will develop hands-on skills and a portfolio of work that will impress potential employers.
This degree is also a good choice for people who want to start their own bakery, cake business, or other type of pastry shop. In addition to learning the technical skills to become skilled bakers, students in these programs learn the business and management skills needed to run a successful bakery.
Students with an artistic bent are drawn to the creative aspect of baking and Pastry, be it cake design, sugar sculptures, or beautifully presented desserts. For such individuals, the field of baking and Pastry presents a unique opportunity to combine artistic expression with cooking, a blend of art and cuisine.
Key Questions About This Degree
Do I need prior baking experience to enroll?
No prior experience is needed to enter into a Baking and Pastry program, as all techniques are taught from the ground up. While prior experience with home baking is a plus, as it will allow the student to get a head start on learning more complex recipes in the initial portion of the program, it is not a prerequisite for entry into a program.
How is this different from a general culinary arts degree?
Baking and Pastry training is very different from Culinary training. A culinary program can cover a wide variety of cuisines and cooking methods. Baking and Pastry, on the other hand, is a very specific type of training, focused on the art of baking goods and desserts. The techniques used for breads, cakes, pastries, and desserts differ significantly and often require a high degree of precision. Understanding the chemistry of baking is a large part of being a successful baker.
Why does specialized accreditation matter for this degree?
Specialized accreditation for this Associate's degree is provided by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC). The bakery and pastry arts curriculum is put into practice by students utilizing industrial baking equipment in commercial kitchens. A range of equipment, such as mixers, specialized ovens, pastry-decorating tools, and high-end cake and pastry designs, is available to students to help them master baking, pastry arts, and cake-decorating techniques.
What kind of facilities does this kind of program typically use?
Commercial baking equipment and facilities in the kitchens of culinary schools offering baking and pastry programs allow students to become familiar with the high-volume baking found in professional bakeries. Students in these programs are exposed to mixers, ovens, and specialized equipment needed for cake and sugar work, as well as equipment for making and decorating pastries and other baked goods.
Career Outcomes
Bakers and related workers can expect to find a variety of job openings as bakeries, restaurants, hotels, and even the bakery sections of many grocery stores continue to rely on their services. By visiting the Occupational Outlook Handbook's Bakers page on the BLS website, students can review the BBureau'smost current employment projections and median annual salaries for this group of workers.
Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bakers.
Those who graduate from a Baking and Pastry program with business training have the opportunity to open their own bakeries or cake shops, or even start a catering service that specializes in desserts. They can apply both the artistic and business sides of their training to be successful. Many of these individuals will go on to work in hotel and restaurant pastry programs, in wholesale bakery production, or even start up their own specialty dessert and chocolate businesses.
A.A.S. in Baking and Pastry at National Louis UUniversity'sKendall College
Kendall College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management at National Louis University offers a six-quarter A.A.S. in Baking and Pastry degree. The baking and pastry degree is a specialized culinary arts program that focuses on teaching students fundamental and advanced baking techniques, as well as advanced dessert decoration and artistic presentation. Students learn about nutrition as it applies to baking and learn how to apply proper food safety practices to their baking. Finally, the student also learns management and business skills that will apply to the sstudent'sfuture career in the food industry.
