Baking and pastry schools offer programs designed similar to traditional culinary schools; the coursework is commonly segmented into two- to three-week classes that focus on one aspect of the field before progressing to more technically-advanced subject matter. For instance, a formal program often begins with an introduction to yeast-based bread -- followed by plating and presentation work -- and finishes with restaurant-style pastry production methods. Several schools offer two- and four-year programs in baking and pastry, with specialized instruction that focuses on regional foods, such as Lebanese baklava and French croquembouche.
Comprehensive baking and pastry programs have an extensive curriculum designed to take an entry-level baker through fundamental techniques, such as how to knead dough, to advanced applications, such as composing decorative crusts. Introductory baking and pastry subject matter includes instruction in the properties and uses of yeast, how to properly proof and bake bread, basic cake building and how to scale ingredients. Intermediate training commonly includes study in constructing multi-layer bread products, such as croissants and puff pastry, and an introduction to decorative work, such as icing techniques. Advanced instruction focuses on delicate pastries, such as tarts and soufflés, complex sauces, such as macerations and gastriques, and finishing techniques, such as lattice work and brulee.
Specialty programs usually concentrate on a specific technique, such as sugar pulling, or a specific region, such as southern Italian breads. Many baking and pastry schools also make their courses available for audit to non-enrolled students.
As of January 2011, the cost of baking and pastry school ranged from $20,000 to $65,000, depending on the school, the program length and its comprehensiveness. The cost of auditing specific classes ranged from $500 to $1,500, depending on the school and the class. Formal programs last from two years to four years, and individual classes last from one to three weeks.