Last Updated on 25th February 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
The best selling cookie in France is that of the macaron, a crisp and delicious sweet with a history dating back several centuries. So if you’re looking for a foodie experience while visiting the French capital city, then you may well consider booking a macaron class in Paris. Here’s your guide to the best bakery and patisserie classes in the French capital (based on length of time, reviews, and the quality of teaching).
First things first: you should know that there are three methods for making macarons; the Swiss Method, the Italian Method, and the French Method.
While the Swiss Method is rarely used, the Italian Method is the hardest, and so it is almost always the French Method that will be used when you’re a beginner at baking macarons.
Though attending a French macaron making class is a unique experience you’ll love in Paris, if you want to try some of the best sweets to be found anywhere in France, then be sure to check out out guide on where to find the best macarons in Paris.
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Paris: Macaron Class at Galeries Lafayette
Course time: 1.5 hours
Price: from €55
If you’ve ever been shopping in Paris, then no doubt you’ll have heard of the famous department store, Galeries Lafayette. Home to a fantastic rooftop terrace, the department store also offers experience, with one of these being a macaron class in the very same building as the illustrious cupola dome of the flaghship store.
I attended a class a few weeks ago and we soon learnt some of the top tips for making our very own macarons at home, including methods for whisking, piping the filling, and the technique for baking the perfect macaron shell complete with ‘foot’.
At the end of the pastry class in Paris, you’ll have four macarons to take home with you (mine didn’t quite make it home and I instead consumed them in a nearby park).
Paris: Macarons Class, Teatime and To-Go Box
Course time: 2 hours
Price: from €119
One of the very best rated macaron classes in Paris out there is that held by Le Foodist in the 5th arrondissement of the city (i.e. the Latin Quarter). Unlike the previous listed macaron class in Paris, where you learn by the French method, Le Foodist course tackles the slightly more difficult Italian method.
At the end of the course, you’ll have your very own box of delightful sweets to take home with you, as well as a copy of the recipe so you can (attempt!) to recreate what you learnt in class from the comfort of your very own home.
Paris: Advanced Macarons Class and Take-Away Box
Course time: 3 hours
Price: from €119
If you are already a little familiar with the technique of baking sweets and making macarons, then you may well consider booking a more advanced class, where you’ll be shown how to make both the Italian and French methods for creating macarons.
The three hour class will include not only methods on how to create delicious and delectable macarons, but also stories about the best selling cookie in France. At the end of the class, you’ll have you very own box of macarons to take home with you and enjoy.
Paris 2.5-Hour Unique Macaron Cooking Class
Course time: 2.5 hours
Price: from €115
For an authentic Parisian cooking class whereby you can learn to make macarons with a qualified French pastry chef, you need to look no further than a baking class in Paris which takes place in a private, intimate atelier with Chef Noémie.
In the class, which is run by a Chef who attended the prestigious Lenôtre Culinary Institute, students will create two different flavours of macarons and learn about some of the best techniques to ensure the best possible cookie every time.
Upon completion of the macaron making class, you’ll leave with some delicious creations to take home, as well as English-language recipes so you can try baking more macarons for yourself!
All prices and times are correct as of time of publication, February 2023