Cooking Classes for Kids
Cooking classes are a wonderful way for children to develop practical life skills while having fun in the kitchen. From baking cakes and decorating chocolates to preparing savoury meals, kids can learn to measure ingredients, follow recipes, use kitchen equipment safely and discover new flavours.
Melbourne and regional Victoria have cooking classes catering for everyone from preschoolers preparing their first simple recipes to teenagers who want to become more confident and independent cooks.
Some businesses offer regular after-school classes, while others specialise in school holiday workshops, chocolate-making experiences or cooking birthday parties.
The guide below includes cooking classes in Melbourne, Geelong, the Mornington Peninsula, the Yarra Valley and the Surf Coast.
Class schedules, minimum ages and availability can change, so check the individual Melbourne Playgrounds listings for further information and booking details.
Cooking Classes in Melbourne and Suburbs
Otao Kitchen (Abbotsford)
393 Victoria Street, AbbotsfordOtao Kitchen offers hands-on school holiday cooking workshops for children and teenagers who want to develop their cooking skills under the guidance of professional chefs.
Participants learn practical techniques including food preparation, knife skills, kitchen safety, seasoning, stir-frying, baking and preparing complete meals.
The workshops explore different international cuisines and encourage teamwork, creativity and independence. Children prepare their own dishes using fresh ingredients and enjoy the food they have cooked.
The school holiday program is organised into three-day blocks, although individual days can be booked separately.
Ages: 10-14 years.
Programs: School holiday cooking workshops.
Duration: 2.5 hours per session.
Parent participation: Not required.
Cooking 4 Kids (Beaconsfield)
3/24-26 Woods Street, BeaconsfieldCooking 4 Kids is a dedicated cooking studio for children aged 3-17 years. The classes encourage children to develop confidence in the kitchen while learning about food preparation, nutrition, ingredients and different cuisines.
After-school classes introduce a different recipe each week, alternating between sweet and savoury dishes. Children learn to follow recipes, measure ingredients and use cooking equipment.
School holiday workshops are also offered, along with cooking-themed birthday parties.
Ages: 3-17 years, depending on the class.
Programs: After-school classes, school holiday workshops and birthday parties.
Heavenly Morsel Cooking Classes (Bentleigh East, Berwick North and Online)
Various locations and online classes
Heavenly Morsel offers Indian cooking classes that introduce participants to traditional recipes, spices and cooking techniques.
The classes for teenagers and older children focus on preparing flavourful, nutritious dishes that students can recreate at home.
Participants follow recipes step by step and learn practical cooking skills while exploring Indian cuisine.
Classes may be available in person or online. For online classes, families need to supply the ingredients and equipment, and a parent must be present.
Ages: Recommended for ages 15 years and over.
Programs: Indian cooking classes for teenagers, in-person workshops and online cooking sessions.
Locations: Bentleigh East, Berwick North and online, depending on the class.
Cooking with Lola (Melbourne CBD)
Mercato Centrale, Ground Floor, 546 Collins Street, MelbourneLola and the Mini Chefs introduces children to cooking in a lively, hands-on environment featuring music, chef hats, aprons and plenty of delicious food.
Children prepare their own dishes under the guidance of Lola, with the menu featuring handmade tacos, fresh guacamole and seasonal juice.
Classes are designed to make cooking enjoyable while encouraging children to become more comfortable preparing food.
Ages: 5-15 years.
Programs: Kids cooking classes scheduled for the last Saturday of each month, from 10am-11:30am. Also caters for special occasions and birthday parties.
Gourmet Kids (Multiple Melbourne Locations)
Various locations across MelbourneGourmet Kids offers hands-on cooking experiences for children, with programs designed for different age groups and abilities.
Younger children can participate in cooking activities with a parent or carer, while school-aged children and teenagers are encouraged to work more independently.
Cooking activities can include preparing main meals, snacks, desserts, cakes and other sweet and savoury dishes.
Gourmet Kids also specialises in cooking birthday parties, where children dress in chef hats and aprons, prepare their own food and enjoy party activities.
Ages: Approximately 2-15 years, depending on the program.
Programs: Cooking lessons, kinder sessions, school holiday programs, group workshops and birthday parties.
Locations: Various locations around Melbourne. Confirm the venue when booking.
Cooking Classes in Geelong and the Surf Coast
Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery (Bellbrae)
1200 Great Ocean Road, BellbraeChildren can become junior chocolatiers at this popular chocolate attraction on the Surf Coast.
The Junior Chocolatier Classes give children the opportunity to work with chocolate, create their own treats and learn from experienced chocolatiers.
Participants receive a chef's hat, apron and graduation certificate, and take home their chocolate creations.
The Chocolaterie also offers giant chocolate lollipop-making activities and chocolate experiences for groups. Selected family workshops allow children to participate with an accompanying adult.
Ages: Junior Chocolatier Classes for ages 6-12 years. Other activities have different age requirements.
Programs: Junior Chocolatier Classes, chocolate-making workshops and group experiences on selected dates.
The Little Mixing Bowl (Hamlyn Heights)
Vines Road Community Centre, 37-61 Vines Road, Hamlyn HeightsThe Little Mixing Bowl provides hands-on cooking classes designed to encourage children's creativity and independence in the kitchen.
Children learn to prepare recipes from scratch, measure ingredients, follow instructions and develop kitchen skills in a supportive small-group environment.
The classes are suitable for beginners and children who already enjoy helping with cooking at home.
Ages: 5 years and over.
Programs: After-school cooking classes during school terms, with occasional school holiday activities.
The Kidz Kitchen (Herne Hill)
79 Heytesbury Street, Herne Hill
The Kidz Kitchen offers cooking classes that teach children practical food preparation skills in a fun group environment.
Children learn how to measure, mix, chop, knead and cook while developing an understanding of ingredients, flavours, nutrition and kitchen safety.
The eight-week term programs introduce children to a variety of sweet and savoury dishes. Supervised school holiday workshops offer opportunities to try different recipes and cooking techniques.
The Kidz Kitchen also offers cooking birthday parties, school programs and community cooking activities.
Ages: Varies by workshop and program.
Programs: Eight-week term classes, school holiday workshops, birthday parties and school cooking experiences.
The Little Mixing Bowl (Lara)
Lara Community Centre, 9-11 Waverley Road, LaraThe Lara classes run by The Little Mixing Bowl introduce children to cooking through practical, hands-on activities.
Children prepare recipes under the guidance of an instructor while learning essential skills such as measuring, mixing, following instructions and handling ingredients.
Small class sizes provide opportunities for individual attention and encourage children to develop independence and confidence.
Ages: 5 years and over.
Programs: After-school cooking classes during school terms and occasional school holiday workshops.
Cooking Classes on the Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery (Flinders)
45 Cook Street, FlindersYoung chocolate lovers can learn the art of chocolate making at the Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery.
Junior Chocolatier Classes are held in a dedicated parent-free area, where children create their own chocolates under the guidance of professional chocolatiers.
Each participant receives a chef's hat, apron, personalised badge and graduation certificate, along with three chocolate creations to take home.
Additional activities may include Junior Chocolatier Masterclasses, Junior Pastry Chef workshops and family chocolate-making experiences.
Ages: Junior Chocolatier Classes for ages 6-12 years.
Programs: Chocolate-making classes and selected school holiday workshops. Bookings are essential.
Stef's Mini Chefs (Mornington Peninsula)
Various locations across the Mornington PeninsulaStef's Mini Chefs offers cooking workshops for young children accompanied by a parent or carer.
The workshops focus on making nutritious snacks and simple recipes using fresh ingredients, with an emphasis on gluten-free and refined sugar-free cooking.
Children are encouraged to explore new ingredients, discover flavours and textures, measure and mix ingredients, and develop confidence through hands-on food preparation.
A distinctive feature of Stef's Mini Chefs is that workshops are held at different venues around the Mornington Peninsula, including farms and local food businesses.
Previous host locations include Benton Rise Farm, Hawkes Farm, Pure Peninsula Honey and Merricks Store.
Ages: 2-10 years.
Programs: Parent-and-child cooking workshops, school holiday activities and special events.
Locations: Various Mornington Peninsula venues, depending on the workshop.
Cooking Classes in the Yarra Valley
Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery (Yarra Glen)
35 Old Healesville Road, Yarra GlenThe Yarra Valley Chocolaterie offers chocolate-making experiences for children in a beautiful setting overlooking the Yarra Valley.
Junior Chocolatier Classes give children the opportunity to create their own chocolates under the guidance of experienced chocolatiers, with tastings and treats to take home.
Other activities include chocolate lollipop making, chocolate tasting experiences and selected workshops for older children and families.
Group Junior Chocolatier Classes can be arranged for children aged 6-12 years, with minimum group sizes applying. Public workshops are also offered on selected dates.
Ages: Junior Chocolatier Classes for ages 6-12 years. Other activities are available for different age groups.
Programs: Junior Chocolatier Classes, chocolate workshops, tastings, group activities and family experiences.
Tips for Choosing a Kids Cooking Class
Before booking a cooking class, consider the following:
- Age requirements: Some classes are suitable for preschoolers, while others are designed for older children or teenagers.
- Parent participation: Younger children's workshops may require a parent or carer to stay and participate. Other classes are supervised drop-off sessions.
- Class schedule: Some cooking schools operate weekly during school terms, while others only offer workshops on selected dates.
- Food allergies: Check whether the operator can accommodate allergies, intolerances and other dietary requirements before booking.
- What is included: Confirm whether ingredients, cooking equipment, aprons and take-home recipes are supplied.
- Class size: Smaller groups can be particularly beneficial for beginners who need additional assistance.
- Bookings: Popular workshops may fill quickly, especially during school holidays.
Cooking classes can be a great activity for a single afternoon or an ongoing hobby. They are also an opportunity for children to become more adventurous with food and develop skills they can use at home for years to come.
