Pastry Chef
On this page
- What's it like to be a Pastry Chef?
- How to become a Pastry Chef
- Latest Pastry Chef jobs
- Top skills and experience for Pastry Chefs
What's it like to be a Pastry Chef?
Pastry Chefs work at bakeries, restaurants and hotels. They follow and create recipes for desserts and baked goods. Pastry Chefs can also be in charge of managing a pastry team in a kitchen. A Pastry Chef is skilled in decorating and designing appealing treats. Pastry Chefs typically focus on desserts, and can also create non-baked treats such as chocolate, candy and custard.
Tasks and duties
- Creating dessert recipes and menus.
- Conducting research and development for new desserts and pastry designs.
- Leading the pastry station in a commercial kitchen.
- Executing cooking tasks and coordinating with the Head Chef and Sous Chef.
- Decorating, plating and presenting pastries for customers.
How to become a Pastry Chef
A common pathway into this career is a degree in culinary arts, but some employers will hire Pastry Chefs with an equivalent amount of experience. Apart from technical skills, Pastry Chefs must also have the artistry to design unique and appealing desserts.
Complete a bachelor degree in culinary arts.
Consider taking short courses in specialised pastry skills, such as laminated pastries, chocolate and vegan baking.
Gain experience. You could pursue an apprenticeship under a Pastry Chef, take part in pastry competitions or make pastry dishes for friends and family at home.
After becoming an experienced Pastry Chef, you could consider opening your own pastry business.
