Teen Cupcake Decorating Workshop with Chef Ansarys at Berkeley Kitchen

At Berkeley Kitchen — 1509 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley, California — a three-hour pastry workshop led by Pastry Chef Ansarys Andino turns sugar into a skill-building afternoon for teens. The Teen Workshop: Elegant Cupcake Decorating with Chef Ansarys is designed for students age twelve and up who want hands-on instruction in buttercream piping, frosting, and decorative finishes. In a working culinary studio, participants bake a vanilla cupcake from scratch, prepare a stable buttercream frosting, and practice piping techniques that create rosettes, stars, ruffles, and other professional-looking tops. Chef Ansarys brings a decade of pastry experience and practical teaching methods to the class, focusing on reproducible technique rather than gimmicks. Each session begins with a concise lecture on recipes, tool selection, and safety, followed by breakout stations where small groups measure, mix, and pipe under direct guidance. A light snack opens the class, and students share the dishes they made at the end. Note: zoning rules limit what cooked foods can be taken offsite; read class policies or contact [email protected] with allergy questions. What makes this workshop stand out in Berkeley’s active culinary scene is its emphasis on skill transfer. Students leave with more than decorated cupcakes: they gain command of piping bags, consistent buttercream texture, icing stabilizers, and layout planning for batch decorating. Equipment and aprons are provided, but instructors require close-toed shoes and tied-back hair for safety. Students are welcome to bring a favorite apron or personal tools to practice with. For visitors, this class is a practical and engaging alternative to typical sightseeing. It’s particularly well suited to families, local teens, or visiting students wanting a creative afternoon that builds a repeatable home skill. The location on Shattuck Avenue places the kitchen within easy reach of public transit and local shops, making it convenient to combine with a walk through downtown Berkeley or a visit to the university campus. Practical details: the workshop lasts three hours, has a minimum age of twelve, and keeps class sizes intentionally small to maximize hands-on time. The menu focuses on vanilla cupcakes and buttercream frosting with guided practice on piping tips. Whether you’re booking a birthday experience, a school holiday activity, or simply a weekend skill-builder while visiting the Bay Area, this Teen Workshop offers focused instruction, tangible results, and a confident step into pastry basics. Chef Ansarys’ background — from internships at Town and years working in New York kitchens to founding Sip n Ice — informs approachable recipes that use seasonal produce when available and prioritize technique over decoration trends; the class hence appeals to budding bakers who want repeatable results and to parents looking for constructive teen activities during visits to Berkeley. Reserve early: spots fill quickly. Book now.