Learn the art of French patisserie on this half-day course, which reveals the techniques behind the making of the perfect macaron. These sweet, meringue-based treats have been a French delicacy for centuries and were supposedly introduced by Catherine de' Medici, who brought them from Italy when she married Henry II in 1533.
It was in Paris, however, where enlightened chefs fused two macarons with ganache in the early 20th century, creating a much-loved classic now known the world over.
On this course you learn how to make melt-in-the-mouth meringues with techniques you can easily transport back to your own kitchen.
Your class takes place in the well-equipped kitchen of a professionally trained chef, who’ll be your tutor for the half-day course.
You begin by enjoying some refreshments and meeting the other participants of the class. Then it's time to put on your aprons and learn a little about the history of the macaron and the differences between the French and Italian traditions used to create them.
You'll learn the classic French technique of macaron making in this class, and your chef-tutor will explain how precise measurements and baking techniques are essential in creating a good macaron.
Guided by the chef’s steady hands and detailed instructions, you’ll mix, beat, pipe and fill your way through the process of crafting your own delicate treats. You also learn about traditional garnishes and fillings, and classic techniques used when assembling and displaying the quintessential Parisian pastries.
Once you have finished assembling your batch of treats, you can enjoy a few of your macarons with the rest of the group. Your tutor will offer tips on improving your technique, if necessary, ensuring you can recreate your recipe in style once you get back home. After the class has ended, you’re able to take some macarons away with you.
As you'll be standing for the duration of your class, we recommend wearing comfortable shoes. If you'd like to take the course and have any allergies, please inform your specialist.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our France specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Aligre market tour with wine and cheese tasting
Explore a Paris food market like a local, chatting to the stallholders, learning about Parisian shopping habits and food provenance, and choosing fine cheeses for a paired wine-and-cheese tasting at the end of your tour.
Best of the Right Bank: Arc de Triomphe to the Marais
For an overview of the Paris landscape and its main sights, this fast-paced tour offers an introduction to the city's history and geography taking in the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Élysées as well as Notre-Dame, the Sacré-Coeur and the fashionable Marais.
Champagne discovery tour: vineyards, cellars & tastings
Learn about the secrets, traditions and strict rules behind the production of Champagne on a guided tour that offers the opportunity to meet local producers, visit vineyards and historic chalk pits, and sample some of these renowned sparkling wines.
Château de Versailles private tour
Explore the vast and extravagant palace of Louis XIV, the ‘Sun King’, on the outskirts of Paris. This lavish chateau is surrounded by seemingly endless formal gardens, while inside, no expense was spared in decorating its opulent rooms.
Claude Monet's house and gardens at Giverny
Monet's house and beloved gardens at Giverny, just north of Paris, offer a delightful insight into the Impressionist painter and his works. See his studio and home and wander through the gardens that so inspired his opus.
Paris’s islands on the Seine tour: Notre-Dame Cathedral & Sainte-Chapelle
Explore the very heart of medieval Paris on this guided tour, which takes you to the Gothic glories of Notre-Dame Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle, and to a quiet residential island in the River Seine.
The Louvre and Musée d'Orsay
Learn about the history of the former royal palace of the Louvre before enjoying a guided tour of the museum's vast collection of art. Then cross the river to the Musée d'Orsay to browse Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterworks by Renoir, Gauguin and Van Gogh.
