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Classes and Instructors

The Bake Fest Holiday Edition 2024

October 5, 2024 - October 6, 2024

All live classes are included in your ticket!

And remember: you'll have recordings of every class for a year after the event ends.

What makes The Bake Fest so special? The HUGE variety of classes! Browse all of the speakers and classes we have lined up for this October’s The Bake Fest below. We’ll continue to add to our lineup as planning goes on, so join our email list to get updated when we add new classes. Remember, your ticket includes recordings of these classes for a whole year, so you can revisit them again and again.

PRINTABLE SCHEDULE

Note: All dates and times listed below are CDT (GMT-5).

October 5, 2024

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Keynote Address: Baking a Difference

Jaime Lehman (@forgoodnesscakeshq)

We are thrilled to welcome Jaime Lehman, Executive Director of the nonprofit For Goodness Cakes, as our opening keynote speaker. Jaime is here to share the story of For Goodness Cakes, which she started in 2016 after delivering birthday cakes to her local foster youth agency. Since then, For Goodness Cakes has opened 18 chapters all across the United States. Today, Jaime and her volunteers (a.k.a. her Sprinkle Army) make and hand-deliver birthday and graduation cakes to at-promise youth and children in foster care, many of whom have never known the joy of receiving a celebratory cake. Jaime’s story is nothing short of inspirational—and it reminds us that baking for others can be the biggest act of love.

Jaime is the Founder and Executive Director of For Goodness Cakes, a nonprofit whose volunteers have baked and delivered over 32,000 celebration cakes to at-promise youth and young adults in 29 regions across the US since 2016. Jaime believes in the transformative power of baking for others, and that’s why she and her volunteers continue spreading love, joy (and frosting) with their special cake deliveries.
Jaime Lehman

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Connect & Chat

Visit our networking area to video, voice, or text chat with fellow attendees, instructors, and sponsors

Featured sponsors:

Artesão Cookie Molds (Demo + Giveaway), ClearBags (Demo), Farmer’s Market Foods (Pumpkin Treats That Aren’t Pie)

Featured instructors:

Jaime Lehman

10:30 AM - 12:25 PM

Elegant Wreath Cakes, Sponsored by LorAnn Oils

Hands-On Class

Kala Boulard (@almonds_and_apricots)

With guidance from cake expert Kala Boulard, your cake can be the star of the show this holiday season! Join Kala’s fun, inspiring and educational class and learn how to design show-stopping holiday wreath cakes using LorAnn Oils gels. You will learn how to build a design, layer textures, add holiday colors, create buttercream florals, and assemble a simple, easy (yet beautiful) wreath cake design perfect for the holidays.

Meet Kala, a celebrated cake designer, recipe developer, and author known for her enchanting abstract buttercream floral designs. Featured in prominent publications such as American Cake Decorating Magazine and Brides.com, Kala’s journey has taken her from owning a beloved wedding cake business in Nevada to where she is today – doing brand work in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Now, she crafts recipes, photos, and videos for her clients, while also offering digital resources like her e-book, “Cultivating Your Home-Based Cake Business.”
Kala Boulard
Kala Boulard

Wintery Palette Knife Sugar Cookies

Hands-On Class

Brette Hawks (@the.outofhome.baker)

Okay, we’re just going to come out and say it: your holiday cookies NEED an upgrade. Join professional baker Brette Hawks in this 2-hour session and learn how to create beautiful holiday sugar cookies adorned with painted buttercream (wintery) flowers. In this class session, Brette will guide you through mixing and baking her favorite sugar cookie recipe, along with making her versatile buttercream used for cakes, cookies, and flower painting. She’ll teach you how to create a stunning color palette using just three gel colors, a simple yet game-changing approach to color theory. You’ll also learn her step-by-step palette knife technique to craft beautiful buttercream flowers that are almost too gorgeous to eat—but irresistibly delicious nonetheless! This is a can’t-miss class for all our sugar cookie lovers out there. See you there!
Brette Hawks is a professional wedding cake designer, decorating instructor, and business coach based along the beautiful Wasatch mountains of Utah. Brette’s “bread and buttercream” are her stunning palette knife flowers. Brette has been a cake designer since 2019, and she does a happy dance whenever a client asks for a cake with flowers and COLOR! Brette enjoys teaching nationally attended destination cake classes in Salt Lake City, as well as mentoring other bakers on their journeys to building their own profitable baking ventures. Brette has three beautiful & energetic little boys that keep her on her toes, and when she’s not baking, she’s probably wrestling them into the car, out for a good run, or dancing to Taylor Swift in the kitchen.
Brette Hawks
Brette Hawks

Roll Call: Dinner Rolls & Cinnamon Rolls, Sponsored by NutriMill Bosch

Hands-On Class

Stephenie Reed (@deliciouslybold)

If you’ve ever considered making homemade bread, then don’t miss Stephenie Reed’s beginner-friendly breadmaking class! Stephenie has cooked many a loaf of bread for her big family, and she is here to guide you through each step—from keading, to working with yeast, to letting dough rise. Together, you will make dinner rolls using whole grains milled in the NutriMill Classic, homemade butter for the rolls, AND (wait for it) cinnamon rolls. Throughout the class, you will learn all sorts of tips and tricks for successful breadmaking at home.
Raised in a large family with 7 siblings, Stephenie Reed learned the value of making everything from scratch from a very early age. As a single mom of 6 (and a high school math teacher!), she found creative ways to feed her family nutritious meals on a limited budget. Stephenie started making her own bread and other from-scratch foods as healthier and more afforable alternatives to store-bought groceries. Now, Stephenie is happily married to an amazing, supportive husband who loves her cooking, and she delights in sharing her passion for homemade, wholesome meals with other home cooks like you!
Stephenie Reed
Stephenie Reed

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Connect & Chat

Visit our networking area to video, voice, or text chat with fellow attendees, instructors, and sponsors

Featured sponsors:

Artesão Cookie Molds (Hanging Cookie Mug Cookie Demo + Giveaway), ClearBags (Demo)

Featured instructors:

Kala Boulard, Brette Hawks, Erika Kwee, Stephenie Reed

1:30 PM - 2:25 PM

Pie FUNdamentals

Hands-On Class

Stacey Mei Yan Fong (@50pies50states)

Ready to bake some amazing pies this holiday season? Then come to “Crimp Camp,” aka, Pie FUNdamentals with nationally-recognized home baker Stacey Mei Yan Fong! At Crimp Camp, you’ll learn how to assemble a double-crusted lattice top fruit pie from start to finish. Amid endless tips and tricks, Stacey will teach you her signature large scallop petal crimp method and her secret to never baking a pie with a soggy bottom. Don’t miss this perfect pie masterclass!
Home Baker Stacey Mei Yan Fong now lives in Brooklyn, NY, though her life has carried her across the world. She was born in Singapore, lived in Indonesia, grew up in Hong Kong, and moved to the States to pursue a degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design. While Stacey was a designer in the fashion industry, she launched her “50 Pies 50 States” project, which led to her slinging pies at Four and Twenty Blackbirds Pie Shop. Now, her pies and her cookbook have been featured by Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning, NPR, Eater, and beyond.
Stacey Mei Yan Fong
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The Science of Chocolate Chip Cookies

Erika Kwee (@thepancakeprincess)

The more you know, the more you can do—and when it comes to chocolate chip cookies, there’s more to their deliciousness than meets the eye. Erika will teach you the science behind baking chocolate chip cookies, including how to get your desired cookie texture (thick or thin, gooey or crisp!), how to tweak the flavor of your cookie, why temperature matters, and how to choose the right chocolate.
Erika is the creator and recipe tester behind The Pancake Princess, a baking blog curating popular internet recipes via monthly bake offs. The bake offs, which have been running since 2017, include testing 9-12 different recipes in one day, gathering taster feedback and analyzing the data to find the crowd favorite. Based in New York City, Erika recently transitioned from a product marketing manager at a software company to a full-time content creator.
Erika Kwee
Erika Kwee

Teaching Profitable Baking and Decorating Classes

Nika Spencer (@whiskworthtasting)

Have you ever thought about earning side income by teaching in-person baking or decorating classes? Then don’t miss Nika Spencer’s info-packed business seminar! Nika is an accomplished home baker who hosts her own (profitable) baking classes—and now, she’s here to share all her secrets with you. Together, you’ll learn how to design a baking class or course, how to price and market your offerings, how to partner with host organizations, and, perhaps most importantly, how to organize your workload and maximize efficiency.

Nika Spencer runs a home bakery called A Whisk Worth Tasting, based in Lafayette Hill, PA. The bakery has been licensed by the PA Department of Agriculture since January 2021 and is well-known for creating beautiful custom cakes for all occasions. Since opening to the public, A Whisk Worth Tasting now boasts a steady repeat client base with bookings on schedule two years in advance.

 

Nika is a self-taught baker & custom cake decorator with commercial bakery experience. She also teaches cupcake and cake decorating classes throughout the Philly suburbs. Nika has been baking since childhood; she started decorating cakes after making her daughter’s first birthday cake five years ago.

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Nika Spencer

Little Candy Monster Cake (Part 1)

Hands-On Class

Avalon Yarnes (@avaloncakes)

A little spooky, a little sweet, this Little Candy Monster is the perfect Halloween treat! In sugar art expert Avalon Yarnes’ hands-on class, you’ll learn exactly how to make your very own (adorably scary) Little Candy Monster! The process of making this green cutie covers an array of advanced techniques, including character structure, character sculpting, fondant and modeling chocolate modeling, achieving multiple life-like textures, and coloring effects. Halloween is almost here… so grab your apron, prep your ingredients and learn a bunch new skills in this fun hands-on class!
Avalon Yarnes owns Avalon Cakes School of Sugar Art, an online platform for cake and sugar art enthusiasts to learn and explore. She’s also the woman behind The Cake and Cookie Planner, an award-winning line of products for planning and sketching cakes and cookies. She has had the honor of being awarded Best Novelty Cakes Artist and one of the Top 10 Cake Artists of North America. Avalon found her love for art at a young age, but it wasn’t until she began her first job at fifteen that she found her love for baking. Ever since she entered the sweet side of the food industry, she has been challenging herself to go above and beyond. Her passion lies in presenting cake in a form only formally reserved for traditional sculpture, brush, and paper. She found her “happy place” bringing both art forms together. Avalon learned how to create cakes and sugar art through experience and experimentation. Whether it’s realistic busts, defying gravity, delicate flowers, or making colorful watercolor paintings, most of all, she enjoys sharing her findings and teaching others. You can also find her on television shows like Food Network Challenge and Duff Till Dawn. Her work can be found featured in top bakery blogs, magazines and books.
Avalon Yarnes
Avalon Yarnes

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM

Sponsor Demos

ClearBags

Farmer's Market Foods

Stover & Company

Learn all about the products and services that our sponsors offer, plus win attendance prizes from select sponsors.

2:50 PM - 3:05 PM

Sponsor Demos

3Doodler Chef

Artesão Cookie Molds

Learn all about the products and services that our sponsors offer, plus win attendance prizes from select sponsors.

3:10 PM - 3:25 PM

Sponsor Demos

Mason Cash

NutriMill Bosch

The Ta-Daa Box

Learn all about the products and services that our sponsors offer, plus win attendance prizes from select sponsors.

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Sponsor Meet & Greet

Connect with sponsor representatives and get your questions answered by going to the networking area, plus chat with featured instructors

Featured sponsors:

3Doodler Chef (Demo), Artesão Cookie Molds (Flower Cookie Bowl Demo + Giveaway), ClearBags (Demo), Farmer’s Market Foods (Pumpkin Treats That Aren’t Pie), Icing Images (Demo), Mason Cash (Giveaway), NutriMill Bosch (Demo), Stover & Company (Demo + Giveaway), The Ta-Daa Box (Demo)

Featured instructors:

Stacey Mai Yan Fong, Nika Spencer

4:30 PM - 5:55 PM

Home Business Basics for Bakers

Tasha Boone (@sweet_elegantdelights)

If you have a home baking business or want to start one, don’t miss Tasha Boone’s super-informative class on the ins-and-outs of running a baking business from home! Tasha will cover Food Cottage Laws, Planning & Picking a Niche, Packaging & Marketing, Financial Management, Contracts/Terms and Conditions, and more. As someone who has started her own business from scratch, Tasha has invaluable words of wisdom for aspiring bakers and entrepreneurs. Running a home-based baking business is not just about creating delicious treats; it’s about crafting a recipe for success that involves passion, quality, market understanding, effective marketing, continuous learning, customer relationships, and adherence to legal and health regulations. We’ll see you there!
Tasha Boone is a business strategist, mentor, and cake artist lending her expertise to teach bakers how to start, scale and grow their baking business. Tasha fell into the world of cake-making over 10 years ago, and now is the owner and operating manager of her home-based cake studio in Carlotte, North Carolina. Coming from a 30-year career as a professional nurse, Tasha’s brings her background in science, caring for people, time management, and organizational skills to her approach to running a business Tasha also pulls from her bachelor’s in Technical Management and Small Business & Entrepreneurship.
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Farmers Markets, Trade Shows & Pop-Ups

Janelle Copeland (@thecakemamas)

Farmers markets, trade shows and pop-ups are three great ways to get your name out there and reach more customers. Lucky for us, Janelle Copeland is here to teach us how to STAND OUT at any type of event—without breaking the bank! In this class, you’ll learn how to choose the right events, how to create a standout brand and how to nurture relationships with potential customers. Plus, Janelle will share her top sales strategies for SELLING OUT consistently at events, including how much product to make or bring to guarantee a RETURN on your investment. This is a don’t-miss class for any current or aspiring home business baker.
Janelle, founder of the acclaimed Los Angeles bakery, The Cake Mamas, left her corporate career behind in 2009 to embark on a thriving entrepreneural journey with, of all people, her husband’s ex, Fabiola Gomez! The two launched The Cake Mamas at home and eventually opened a retail specialty bakery together. After winning Food Network’s Cupcake Wars (casual!), Janelle and Fabiola parted ways, and Janelle continued to manage and grow the business. After 12 impactful years, Janelle closed the bakery and has transitioned to mentoring global creators, offering business courses on branding, marketing, pricing, and sales confidence. Additionally, she co-hosts the PUSH Podcast, organizes entrepreneurial retreats across the U.S., and nurtures a dynamic Facebook community for business growth. Outside her professional realm, Janelle cherishes her five “F’s”: faith, family, fitness, food, and her founder journey.
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Janelle Copeland

Troubleshooting French Macarons

Justine Defiesta (@confectionsbyj)

Macarons are tricky business, but don’t worry – Justine Defiesta of Confections ByJ is here to help! In her macaron class, Justine will teach you her tips for “troubleshooting” macarons, or resolving the various problems that can happen when you’re baking these delicious French treats (like hollow shells & sticky bottoms). Specifically, you’ll learn the role of each ingredient of a French macaron, how to get to know your oven, how to handle environmental factors that effect macarons, the best equipment to prevent macaron errors, and the do’s and dont’s of troubleshooting macarons. Berets optional. We’ll see you there!
Justine Defiesta is the owner of Confections By J. In 2020, Justine started Confections By J to share her love and passion for baking macarons. Since then, she has continued on her baking journey and has become known for her macaron patterns, or as she calls it, “macterns,” and the “Mackrispies,” which are macaron Rice Krispies made from extra macarons shells. While working on growing her business, Justine has continued to share her knowledge, troubleshooting macarons and giving tips and tricks on social media, including creative flavoring and food styling ideas.
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Screenshot

3-D Harvest Napkin Ring Cookies (Part 1)

Hands-On Class

Julia M. Usher (@juliamusher)

Looking for a true show-stopper to bring to the table this holiday season? Don’t miss this exciting two-part, hands-on class with world-renowned sugar artist and 3-D cookie maker, Julia Usher! Julia will show you step-by-step how to elevate your fall and winter holiday tables with an unexpected cookie that doubles as a festive napkin ring.

 

Broken up into two parts with one class on each day of The Bake Fest, Julia’s lesson will teach you exactly how to make one or more napkin ring cookies. Along the way, you’ll gain experience with a host of innovative cookie decorating techniques that work beautifully on just about any cookie project. Those techniques include contoured and embossed cookies, contoured and airbrushed royal icing transfers (for the leaves), sculpted royal icing putty (for the berries), piped dimensional royal icing (for the pine cones), stamped fondant appliqués, sponging, spackling, piped beadwork, gilded modeling chocolate bows, and 3-D assembly.

 

While Julia will demonstrate the harvest-themed napkin ring shown in her class photo, she will also suggest other seasonal styling variations along the way. NOTE: On class day one, cookies will be shaped and baked, and long lead-time items that require icing drying time will be made. If you intend to follow along with Julia in class, you shouldn’t miss this first part. On class day two, the elements made on day one will be further embellished and then assembled into these spectacular, tasty, and functional treats!

Julia M. Usher is a world-renowned sugar artist most recognized for her pioneering work in 3-D cookies. She’s authored over 15 books and ebooks, manages the prominent Cookie Connection™ online community, sells her own line of cookie products, and travels the world teaching cookie decorating. Julia’s many awards and accolades include Cake Masters Cookie Artist of the Year (2013), EAGAA International Sugar Artist of the Year (2016), TASTE Breakout Foodie of the Year (2019), Best Online Cookie Decorating Classes by The Spruce Eats (2020), Australian Cake Artists and Decorators Association (ACADA) Global Sugar Hero (2024), and American Cake Awards (ACA) Industry Icon (2024). Recently, she introduced licensed 3-D cookie courses with the Japan Salonaise Association. Julia’s favorite mantra is “live sweetly,” which she urges everyone to do every day!
Julia M. Usher
Julia M Usher

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM

End of Day Remarks

Wrap up the first day and win prizes

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Happy Hour

Kick back and unwind with fellow attendees after a great day of learning by going to the networking area

Featured sponsors:

The Ta-Daa Box (Demo)

Featured instructors:

Tasha Boone, Janelle Copeland, Justine Defiesta, Julia M. Usher

October 6, 2024

8:30 AM - 8:55 AM

Day 2 Welcome Message

Get excited for day 2 and win some prizes

9:00 AM - 10:55 AM

Value-Based Wedding Cake Pricing

Anna Astashkina (@floreacakes)

Calling all current and aspiring business bakers! In Anna’s empowering and educational business seminar, you will learn the art of structuring your cake prices based on the complexity of your designs rather than the hours it takes you to complete a project. Using Florea Cakes’ proven framework, you will learn how to reverse engineer your own pricing strategy and dive deep into all the aspects of upgrading your brand, so you can communicate your prices clearly and book profitable wedding cake clients with confidence.
Anna Astashkina is a pastry chef, award-winning wedding cake designer, and educator for cake designers and home bakers at Florea Cakes. Her mission is to make creating wedding cakes simple and enjoyable so you can grow your cake business.
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Anna Astashkina

Stacking & Frosting Insta-Worthy Cakes

Hands-On Class

Alejandra Olivas (@cakesbyalejandra4230)

You know those be-a-utiful cakes with evenly-spaced layers and perfect edges? Well guess what: your cakes can look like that, too! All you need is the proper tools and guidance. So join Alejandra’s hands-on cake class, where you’ll learn how to achieve clean and sharp edges on your buttercream frosted cakes AND how to stack a two-tiered cake with the proper support. Alejandra has spent years perfecting her process, and now you can learn her tried-and-true techniques for a flawless frosted cake.
Alejandra Olivas is a self-taught cake decorator whose viral cake creations on social media has earned her over 1M followers and has inspired thousands of beginner bakers to pursue their cake journeys. After successfully growing her own home bakery, Alejandra began sharing step-by-step decorating videos explaining the process and stories behind each customers unique cake request. Alejandra is committed to passing on her expertise and experience to aspiring cake artists.
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Alejandra Olivas

Tasty Tarte Tatin

Hands-On Class

Molly Wilkinson (@mollyjwilk)

Calling all Frech pastry lovers! Le Cordon Bleu-trained pastry chef Molly Wilkinson is here to teach you how to make a true French classic: Tarte Tatin, which is apples baked in caramel piled onto a flaky puff pastry. Traditionally known for being made in a saute pan that you flip upside down after baking, Molly will show you how to master this recipe using a cake or pie pan instead (much easier). You’ll also learn how to make delicious puff pastry at home without the fuss. So join this home baker-friendly, hands-on class with Molly – you’ll truly be like a super-baker after making the final flip, and of course, you’ll get to enjoy a super-delicious (and holiday appropriate) French pastry!
Molly Wilkinson is a pastry chef living in Versailles, France. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Molly moved to Paris in 2013 to study pastry at Le Cordon Bleu. After working at several bakeries both​ in France and the US, she now teaches pastry from of her 18th century apartment and on Zoom! In 2021, Molly released a cookbook called French Pastry Made Simple; her method is all about making French pastry easy by breaking down recipes and showing you lots of tips and tricks to help any baker achieve extraordinary results.
Molly Wilkinson
Molly Wilkinson

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Connect & Chat

Visit our networking area to video, voice, or text chat with fellow attendees, instructors, and sponsors​

Featured sponsors:

Artesão Cookie Molds (Unique Cookie Mold Uses + Giveaway), The Ta-Daa Box (Demo)

Featured instructors:

Anna Astashkina, Alejandra Olivas, Molly Wilkinson

12:00 PM - 1:55 PM

Cake Fails and How to Fix Them

Katelyn Allen (@sweetkatebake)

Do you ever feel down about messing up your cakes? The holidays are stressful enough—so let Katelyn Allen of Sweet Kate Bake teach you her tricks for conquering cake mistakes. You’ll learn how to troubleshoot mishaps, like taking a collapsed cakes and turning it (back) into picture-perfect. Katelyn’s warm and encouraging teaching style will leave you with practical solutions and a renewed passion for cake-baking. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, this class will empower you to tackle any cake challenge with confidence!
Katelyn Allen, known online as Sweet Kate Bake, definitely lives up to her name! Her sweet, joyful personality shines through in every piece of content she makes. From baking to decorating, everything she does draws you in for a closer look, because everything she makes is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for your stomach. Katelyn’s Sweet Super Power is turning your cake dreams into a reality.
Katelyn Allen
Katelyn Brewer

Holiday Macarons

Hands-On Class

Marina Voronkov (@everything_marina)

Ready to impress your guests with homemade holiday-themed macarons this year? Well, we have the perfect class for you. Maracon expert Marina Voronkov, the baker behind the popular blog Everything Marina, is here to walk you through the macaron-making process from start to finish. You’ll learn how to make shells using French meringue, how to prepare filling, how to assemble your macarons, how to make royal icing, and of course, how to decorate them. You’ll leave with WAY more macaron expertise AND a step-by-step video guide you can revisit all year round.
Macaron expert Marina Voronkov has been baking macarons for over 10 years. She began her food blog, Everything Marina, during the pandemic and now, she teaches and shares recipes of macarons and other desserts across the web! A multi-passionate creative, Marina is a food photographer, video maker, recipe developer and much more—and that’s Everything Marina.
Marina Voronkov
Marina Voronkov

Transfer Royal Icing Like a PRO!

Hands-On Class

Dea Xhama (@deslicioustreats)

Known as the “Transfer Queen” by her followers, Dea of De’s Licious Treats is going to teach us EVERYTHING we need to know about royal icing transfers! The art of the transfer is an essential skill for our cookie decorators out there to learn – and especially important if you’re trying to build up your cookie business. In Dea’s class, you’ll learn why you should use royal icing transfers, Dea’s foolproof royal icing recipe, how long to let the transfers dry, some tools to help you speed up the process, and how to peel of transfers to ensure you don’t break them. Don’t miss this info-packed class!
Dea Xharma wears ALL the hats – owner, baker, designer, photographer, manager, and social media coordinator – for her Massachusetts-based company, De’s Licious Treats. She’s a mother to two amazing girls by day and a baker by night (Batman style). Dea’s business journey started with custom cookies, and now she teaches her skills in corporate classes, home classes, holiday classes and everything in between. In just four years, Dea has grown her business quickly, booking hundreds of customers and gaining over 30K followers across her social media channels.
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Untitled design - 1

Little Candy Monster Cake (Part 2)

Hands-On Class

Avalon Yarnes (@avaloncakes)

A little spooky, a little sweet, this Little Candy Monster is the perfect Halloween treat! In sugar art expert Avalon Yarnes’ hands-on class, you’ll learn exactly how to make your very own (adorably scary) Little Candy Monster! The process of making this green cutie covers an array of advanced techniques, including character structure, character sculpting, fondant and modeling chocolate modeling, achieving multiple life-like textures, and coloring effects. Halloween is almost here… so grab your apron, prep your ingredients and learn a bunch new skills in this fun hands-on class!
Avalon Yarnes owns Avalon Cakes School of Sugar Art, an online platform for cake and sugar art enthusiasts to learn and explore. She’s also the woman behind The Cake and Cookie Planner, an award-winning line of products for planning and sketching cakes and cookies. She has had the honor of being awarded Best Novelty Cakes Artist and one of the Top 10 Cake Artists of North America. Avalon found her love for art at a young age, but it wasn’t until she began her first job at fifteen that she found her love for baking. Ever since she entered the sweet side of the food industry, she has been challenging herself to go above and beyond. Her passion lies in presenting cake in a form only formally reserved for traditional sculpture, brush, and paper. She found her “happy place” bringing both art forms together. Avalon learned how to create cakes and sugar art through experience and experimentation. Whether it’s realistic busts, defying gravity, delicate flowers, or making colorful watercolor paintings, most of all, she enjoys sharing her findings and teaching others. You can also find her on television shows like Food Network Challenge and Duff Till Dawn. Her work can be found featured in top bakery blogs, magazines and books.
Avalon Yarnes
Avalon Yarnes

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Connect & Chat

Visit our networking area to video, voice, or text chat with fellow attendees, instructors, and sponsors​

Featured sponsors:

Artesão Cookie Molds (Demo + Giveaway), The Ta-Daa Box (Demo)

Featured instructors:

Katelyn Allen, Marina Voronkov, Dea Xhama, Avalon Yarnes

2:30 PM - 3:55 PM

Sugar Work Using 3Doodler Chef, Sponsored by 3Doodler Chef

Hands-On Class

Alex LaRosa (@alexlarosa)

Have you ever seen those beatiful cake and cupcake toppers made entirely of sugar? You can makes these toppers, too, and Alex LaRosa is here to teach you, with the help of a great new tool: 3Doodler Chef! In this beginner friendly class, Alex will show you how to enhance your cupcake decorations using 3Doodler Chef, an award-winning 3D sugar pen for bakers. You’ll learn how to use the pen to build 3D (edible) isomalt shapes. The best part? You can apply these techniques to any bakes, from cupcakes to cookies and so much more.
Cupcake expert Alex LaRosa, a Brooklyn native, began baking in 2020 after the pandemic eliminated her job as a lingerie fashion designer. Searching for an outlet for her creativity and imagination, Alex transitioned her skills into buttercream design, sugar work and cake design. She is passionate about cake and cupcake design and feels lucky to have found her true calling.
Alex LaRosa
Alex LaRosa

Spooky Cute Halloween Cookie Pops

Hands-On Class

Carly Preston (@adventures_in_yum)

Got a Halloween party coming up? Let’s make some fun, no-bake, and fa-boo-lous cookie pops with Carly Preston! Carly’s creep-tastic Halloween cookie pops will make your family, friends, and customers scream with delight. In her class, you’ll not only learn the basics of making cookie pops—but also how to dress them up for spooky season in a variety of cute & boo-tiful ways. So don your aprons, prep your ingredients, and get ready for a hauntingly good time at this hands-on class!
Carly Preston is a content creator who loves to experiment in the kitchen. Carly has grown a large following on her blog and YouTube channel, where her 50K subscriber community enjoys videos on tie-dye mini cakes, savory creations, drinks, food, holiday desserts, holiday decorating ideas, and more. Carly loves creating content for the holidays, but she gets particularly excited for Halloween!
Carly Preston
Carly Preston

Time-Saving Strategies for Baking Businesses

Emily Retamozo (@emily_retamozo)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and the busiest. If you own or want to start a baking business, Emily Retamozo is here to help you save precious time both in and out of busy seasons! You’ll talk about how to set (and stick to) healthy boundaries and organize your business operations, from workflows, to customer communications to admin. Emily will leave you feeling empowered and confident in your ability to prevent burnout. It is possible to balance a full-time job, daily life, personal passions, AND your baking business. Come find out how at Emily’s inspiring session.
Emily Retamozo is the Founder of Sift (@simplysift), an app that empowers home bakers to regain control of their business operations and alleviate administrative overhead. Back in 2019, Emily started her custom cookie journey as a side hustle while working full-time as a high school physics teacher in Philadelphia. As her cookie hobby transformed into a luxury cookie business, it became difficult to balance cookies and teaching. She recognized the need for systems and processes to keep her business organized. This led her to develop Sift, and in 2022, Emily left her classroom job to pursue her cookie business (and Sift) full-time. She now teaches classes and creates resources to help fellow home bakers streamline their workflows, elevate their skills, and make a profit!
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4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Connect & Chat

Visit our networking area to video, voice, or text chat with fellow attendees, instructors, and sponsors​

Featured sponsors:

Artesão Cookie Molds (Cookie Mold Recipe Tips + Giveaway), The Ta-Daa Box (Demo)

Featured instructors:

Alex LaRosa, Carly Preston, Emily Retamozo

4:30 PM - 6:25 PM

Knead to Know Podcast LIVE!

Knead to Know Podcast (@kneadtoknowpod)

For the first time EVER, an episode of The Knead to Know podcast will be recorded LIVE at The Bake Fest! The podcast, hosted by Gemma Stafford and Ami Shukla, Gemma’s culinary director, offers insights into the baking world and baking entrepreneurship. This episode will feature special guests: Amanda Haas, a cookbook author and culinary instructor, and Natalia Lima, who runs a successful vegan bakery. They’ll share their experiences and advice on overcoming challenges in the baking industry. The episode will conclude with all guests returning to answer audience questions during the Bold Baking Hotline.

The Knead to Know podcast is hosted by Gemma Stafford and Ami Shukla, Gemma’s culinary director. Gemma, Ami and their guests discuss all things baking, including trending topics related to owning bakeries and baking businesses. Guests present at the LIVE Bake Fest episode include:

 

– Amanda Haas (@amandahaascooks): Cookbook author and former test kitchen manager for Williams Sonoma, with experience teaching for major culinary brands.

 

– Natalia Lima (@curiouscatbakery): Owner of Curious Cat Bakery, a thriving vegan bakery in Florida that sells locally and ships nationwide, offering valuable insights into building a direct-to-consumer baking business.

Bolder Baking Network

Cheerful Christmas Cake, Sponsored by Icing Images

Hands-On Class

Susan Trianos (@learntocake_susantrianos)

The holidays will be here before we know it, and in Susan Trianos’s super-informative decorating class, you’ll learn how to decorate the MOST cheerful Christmas cake—though you can apply your learnings to any holiday! A lifelong cake decorator, Susan will demonstrate how her Big Blue direct-to-food printer operates by printing her cake board, fondant panelling and the top of her cake. She will then take things to the next level, teaching you how to make delicious ornaments and incredibly realistic candy canes. Students will learn so many decorating techniques to use for almost any holiday treat. If you love decorating, this class is for YOU!

Susan has been a baker and decorator for more than 35 years. In 1987, Susan worked for a bakery manufacturer that made handmade, hand-decorated cookies and cakes for large chain restaurants, department stores and amusement parks. From there, she was hooked. She went on to own a renowned Toronto custom cake shop, worked for Wilton Industries-Pillsbury, and taught at a confectionary arts college. Susan now focuses her efforts on teaching and judging competitions, and selling products she believes in.
Susan Trianos
Screenshot

3-D Harvest Napkin Ring Cookies (Part 2)

Hands-On Class

Julia M. Usher (@juliamusher)

Looking for a true show-stopper to bring to the table this holiday season? Don’t miss this exciting two-part, hands-on class with world-renowned sugar artist and 3-D cookie maker, Julia Usher! Julia will show you step-by-step how to elevate your fall and winter holiday tables with an unexpected cookie that doubles as a festive napkin ring.

 

Broken up into two parts with one class on each day of The Bake Fest, Julia’s lesson will teach you exactly how to make one or more napkin ring cookies. Along the way, you’ll gain experience with a host of innovative cookie decorating techniques that work beautifully on just about any cookie project. Those techniques include contoured and embossed cookies, contoured and airbrushed royal icing transfers (for the leaves), sculpted royal icing putty (for the berries), piped dimensional royal icing (for the pine cones), stamped fondant appliqués, sponging, spackling, piped beadwork, gilded modeling chocolate bows, and 3-D assembly.

 

While Julia will demonstrate the harvest-themed napkin ring shown in her class photo, she will also suggest other seasonal styling variations along the way. NOTE: On class day one, cookies will be shaped and baked, and long lead-time items that require icing drying time will be made. If you intend to follow along with Julia in class, you shouldn’t miss this first part. On class day two, the elements made on day one will be further embellished and then assembled into these spectacular, tasty, and functional treats!

Julia M. Usher is a world-renowned sugar artist most recognized for her pioneering work in 3-D cookies. She’s authored over 15 books and ebooks, manages the prominent Cookie Connection™ online community, sells her own line of cookie products, and travels the world teaching cookie decorating. Julia’s many awards and accolades include Cake Masters Cookie Artist of the Year (2013), EAGAA International Sugar Artist of the Year (2016), TASTE Breakout Foodie of the Year (2019), Best Online Cookie Decorating Classes by The Spruce Eats (2020), Australian Cake Artists and Decorators Association (ACADA) Global Sugar Hero (2024), and American Cake Awards (ACA) Industry Icon (2024). Recently, she introduced licensed 3-D cookie courses with the Japan Salonaise Association. Julia’s favorite mantra is “live sweetly,” which she urges everyone to do every day!
Julia M. Usher
Julia M Usher

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Keynote Address: Crafting a Culinary Career

Rose Beranbaum (@realbakingwithrose)

In her inspiring keynote address, acclaimed baker, cookbook author and blogger Rose Beranbaum, the pioneer of the reverse creaming technique of cake making, will share the story of how she found her way to baking, her greatest inspirations and her career as a journalist, writer, and of course, as a baker. Along the way, you’ll learn how to find your path, trust your journey and follow your dream.

Accomplished baker, cookbook author, and blogger Rose Beranbaum is known as the pioneer of the reverse creaming technique of cake-making—and her career has inspired millions of hobby and home bakers to pursue and perfect their craft. Rose has published fourteen books and a laminated pie booklet; Romantic & Classic Cakes (1981) was the cornerstone for her subsequent book, The Cake Bible (1988), which was inducted into the International Association of Culinary Professionals Culinary Classics and is now in its 60th printing. The Cake Bible 35th Anniversary Edition (fully revised and updated) will be published soon, on October 22nd, 2024. Rose is a three-time James Beard Award winner for her first book, The Cake Bible in both Baking and Desserts, and Book of the Year, 1989, and for Rose’s Christmas Cookies, Baking and Desserts, 1991.
Rose Beranbaum

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM

After Party

Have fun hanging out with your new baking besties by going to the networking area

Featured sponsors:

Artesão Cookie Molds (Cookie Chat + Giveaway), Icing Images (Demo), The Ta-Daa Box (Demo)

Featured instructors:

Rose Beranbaum

Meet Our Sponsors

Stover-and-Company

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