The latest update for The Best Cooking Classes for NJ Kids is written by Lindsay Podolak.
If your young chef loves to assist with meal prep, consider signing them up for a children’s cooking class at one of these amazing New Jersey locations. Cooking classes for kids do more than teach the basics about mixing, baking and measuring; they also offer valuable lessons about teamwork, creative thinking, patience and the importance of healthy eating.
We’ve rounded up the best cooking classes around the state, so read on to find the perfect one for the child in your life!
Quick Click Guide: Select an NJ Region below to find a cooking class for kids near you.
| North Jersey | Central Jersey | Jersey Shore | South Jersey |
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North Jersey
Chef It Up
Address: Budd Lake, Nutley, and Toms River locations
Details: Founder Lisa Tirone wanted a place where kids with food allergies could feel safe as they cooked, so she created Chef It Up. All facilities in this multi-state franchise are 100% peanut and tree nut free, and owners are properly trained in food allergy awareness. Classes for kids include Mommy & Me cupcake decorating, Junior Chef sushi-making (no fish) and walk-in Snow Globe Cupcake workshops for $5 a person.
Why I like it: Want to bring the cooking class home? Chef It Up has travel teams in Bergen, Essex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic and Somerset counties.
More info: Visit the website.
Montclair Culinary Academy
Address: 550 Valley Road, Montclair
Details: Under the instruction of Chef Karan Fischer, Montclair Culinary Academy offers hands-on classes for both adults and children; in fact, students learn new cooking skills and a greater appreciation for global, farm-to-table cuisine. Kids attending the Junior Chef classes begin with knife skill safety before moving on to their culinary creations. There are also mini-camps with themes like Chopped, Jr.; where students get a basket full of ingredients, then come up with recipes and prepare their ideas.
Why I like it: This school is peanut-free and uses organic, sustainable, and local ingredients whenever possible.
More info: Visit the website or you can give them a call.
Ridgewood Culinary Studio
Address: 223 Chestnut Street, Ridgewood
Details: This year-round, 600-square-foot cooking studio is owned and operated by longtime friends; Nanci Gregory and Jo Marie Quinn. Ridgewood Culinary Studio offers many summer and fall cooking classes for kids, as well as walk-in sessions. According to Gregory, all classes are very hands-on. Children learn cooking or baking, from soup to nuts, and are even given special children’s knives to work with. Kids also learn about the importance of food safety. This includes lessons such as how to wash food, pantry basics, the operation of a professional kitchen, and more.
Why I like it: The studio also offers children’s birthday parties. Of course, each guest gets to decorate pre-made cakes or cupcakes. In addition, the party cost includes a host, custom invites, place settings, balloons, food, and drinks.
More info: Visit the website or you can give them a call.
Central Jersey
Classic Thyme Cooking School
Address: 710 South Avenue West, Westfield
Details: Chef David Martone and his staff love teaching children how to make everything from breads to pastas and chocolates. Class offerings include Cookie Workshops and Cake Decorating. Sign up online for one-day classes or extended series, as well as more intensive sessions (mostly for teens). Additionally, teen volunteers and college students help guide the children. “I had one mom ‘yell’ at me and say, ‘because of you, my kid asked me to buy kale!’” laughs Chef David. “I just love hearing stories like that.”’
Why I like it: For little ones, Classic Thyme offers “Mommy and Me” style classes. Kids ages 2 and older take part with their caregiver to concoct a yummy creation.
More info: Visit the website or you can give them a call.
Healthy Hands Cooking
Address: Various locations
Details: Healthy Hands Cooking is a nationwide movement. They combat childhood obesity by training adults to teach kids ages 2-13 about topics such as nutrition and healthy cooking through fun classes, camps and birthday parties. In fact, New Jersey mother Liliana Bussin of LillySprouts is a certified Healthy Hands Cooking Instructor; her children’s severe food allergies inspires her to educate and teach other children about healthy eating. It’s very common for Bussin to teach cooking for two hours, then lead a yoga session with the kids.
Why I like it: Kids gain confidence in the kitchen learning which foods fuel them while making food taste delicious!
More info: Visit the website or you can give them a call.
P.E.P. Club
Address: 42 Liberty Corner Road, Warren
Details: Kids learn to make easy, tasty dishes during P.E.P. Club’s one-hour classes, held Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Chefs and staffers review kitchen safety and cleanliness while introducing math skills through measuring. Each child has total participation in creating the day’s recipes. Kids are also given aprons to wear and learn about kitchen safety and the importance of clean up. Instructors keep it fun; for instance, they jazz up lessons by comparing sugar to snow-covered mountains and craft Halloween skeletons from veggies.
Why I like it: A twelve-week program of Kid Cuisine classes is just $225; during this time, kids make everything from cinnamon French toast to lasagna, to mini pumpkin pies.
More info: Visit the website or you can give them a call.
Jersey Shore
Kitchen 19
Address: 19 South 2nd Street, Hammonton
Details: Kitchen 19 inspires passion in new chefs while helping them create meals that are both delicious and healthy. Younger kids ages 5-7 can enjoy classes like baking pumpkin muffins for Thanksgiving; meanwhile, those ages 8-13 can learn more intricate recipes. Want to cook as a family? They regularly offer parent and child cooking classes, so check the schedule!
Why I like it: Every Wednesday, Kitchen 19 offers dinners to go. Order on the website and pick up at dinner time!
More info: Visit the website or you can give them a call.
Taste & Technique Cooking Studio
Address: 597 River Road, Fair Haven
Details: Chef Carolyn Rue operates Taste & Technique, offering many hands-on cooking classes for kids. Some popular ones include holiday-themed sessions such as the Gingerbread House-making workshop. At the conclusion of each class, children taste their dishes and are then sent home with a recipe packet. Older children (10 & up) love the Supper Club workshops where they’re split into groups and asked to whip up something tasty using the items given to them in a “mystery basket.”
Why I like it: I love Friday night activities for kids that don’t involve video games or TV. Instead, they create and share a meal together with friends.
More info: Visit the website or you can give them a call.
Young Chefs Academy
Address: 712 Ginesi Drive, Morganville
Details: Young Chefs Academy (YCA) offers cooking classes to children in a safe space encouraging discovery as well as creativity. Recipes are specially created by professional YCA chefs for kids of all ages. Besides food prep skills, classes also explore kitchen safety, etiquette, and table settings. Through hands-on classes, children use food and cooking techniques to build practical life skills and boost their culinary confidence. Choose from Kindercooks (4-6 years old), Junior Chefs (7 & up) or Senior Chefs (based on skill level). Your child can also try a one-day, drop-in cooking class.
Why I like it: Kids who are serious about cooking can enroll in the MasterChef Program. They’ll earn badges on their way to becoming a Young Chefs Academy certified MasterChef.
More info: Visit the website or you can give them a call.
South Jersey
ShopRite’s Culinary Workshop
Address: Various locations
Details: ShopRite notably offers cooking workshops for kids at about 44 store locations. With a focus on health and wellness, their chefs work with dietitians to host in-store classes and demos. Children learn about new foods and nutrition concepts as well as cooking techniques. They’ll also receive info they can use to make more meals at home with their families. Visit your local ShopRite’s courtesy counter to view available workshops and register.
Why I like it: You get to shop kid-free at ShopRite after dropping your child off at the workshop. How convenient!
More info: Visit the website.
Sugarplum Studio
Address: 211 Haddonfield-Berlin Road, Cherry Hill
Details: Known as “South Jersey’s place for edible art,” Sugarplum Studio is the brainchild of owner Sharon Spatucci. An experienced baker, Sharon shares her love of creating cakes and cupcakes while giving kids a fun lesson. Sign up for either private lessons or a workshop, you’ll come empty-handed but leave with a beautifully-crafted dessert. Check out the Sunday morning alphabet-themed sessions, too. Kids will learn about the letter of the day and leave with two animal-themed cupcakes.
Why I like it: At $9.95 for a 45-minute workshop, this cooking class is affordable and fun.
More info: Visit the website or click here to call.
Sur La Table
Address: The Promenade at Sagemore, 500 Route 73 South, Suite B-5, Marlton
Details: Most of the cooking classes at Sur La Table are adults-only; but occasionally there are offerings that the kids can partake in. A handful are available for ages 14 and older, but under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Creating a Winter Wonderland cake, baking artisan pizza, and holiday cookie decorating are a few options for budding teen chefs.
Why I like it: After you’re done you get to peruse the aisles of one of the best kitchen stores around.
More info: Visit the website or you can give them a call.
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Ridgewood Culinary Studio
Classic Thyme Cooking School
Young Chefs Academy
ShopRite
