NY Cake Academy
They say baking is a science, what with all those precisely measured and weighed ingredients, but it is also a craft that comes from the heart. To bake is to care — for family, for friends, for the community. Just a few steps from Madison Square Park, NY Cake Academy is the ideal place for bakers — both novice and skilled — to hone their craft. A baking supply store and cooking school, NY Cake Academy recently hosted an Italian Macaron class — which the NOMAD team (hungrily) attended.
Founder Joan Mansour, who was well-known for designing noteworthy birthday cakes for her seven children, started the business in the kitchen of her Brooklyn home in the early 70s. Soon her evening cake-decorating classes were so popular, she moved — on her husband’s suggestion — to running her classes out of the back of his Manhattan drugstore. Eventually, she outgrew that space, and a few others, before finding her way to W. 22nd Street.
The perfect mid-week break, the Wednesday morning class was a great introduction to what the NY Cake Academy team has to offer. Their jam-packed calendar features an array of classes and events, including cake decorating 101, how-to tiramisu, kid-friendly options, and even keto and gluten-free treats.
After aprons were secured and stations assigned, the class watched a demo from Mansour’s daughter Lisa. She walked us through the importance of choosing the right flour (all of which are offered in store) and the difference between Italian and French macarons. Soon enough it was our turn, we mixed, whipped, and folded our way to the perfect cookie — learning what to (and not to) do. After we very carefully poured in the hot sugar syrup and folded in the shape of the letter J, our cookies were piped onto a baking sheet and popped into the oven for about 12 minutes. We created a myriad of flavors for the fillings, including buttercream, vanilla, and raspberry, which were sandwiched between two layers of cookies.
The two-hour class sent each of us home with a handful of macarons and a new-found confidence in the kitchen. If you’re looking to take a baking class or pick up supplies for your next baking project, NY Cake Academy has just what you are looking for. A full calendar of events is on their website, nycakeacademy.com.