Gingerbread Houses and Holiday Cooking Classes for NYC Kids

Family holiday traditions often seem to revolve around food: cooking special meals, baking holiday cookies and creating gingerbread houses. These family moments create those warm memories that children will look back on with nostalgia. But if your inner Martha is on vacation, consider taking your kids to a holiday cooking class instead.

Several kids' cooking clubs are offering holiday-themed classes in November and December, teaching staples like fresh cranberry sauce and gingerbread house construction. Classes for toddlers through tweens could whet your child's appetite for culinary greatness—or just a really good sugar cookie. Instruction doesn't come cheap: the classes range from $40 to $95 per child. Then again, every holiday host knows eager kitchen help is priceless.

Turkey Day Trimmings

Cupcake Kids!, 24 East 12^th Street, Manhattan: Cupcake Kids! is offering three classes for children of all ages, on November 21^st from 10-11:15 a.m. “Thanksgiving Feast: Yum, Yum,” will teach 2-4 year olds (with parent) and 4-8 year olds (drop off) how to whip up sweet potato pie and Thanksgiving cookies. A “Mastering the Sides” class will teach 8- to 13-year olds how to make fresh cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes too. The classes cost $60 and $65, respectively. 646-789-5554 www.cupcakekids.com

Gingerbread Houses and Holiday Cookies
Mini Chef at Art Farm, Manhattan: A holiday cookie class for 2- to 8-year-olds will be held on Monday, Dec. 7 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; On Saturday, Dec. 14 from 9 to 10 a.m., kids will learn how to make Mini Gingerbread Houses. Cost $40 www.minichefnyc.com

Cupcake Kids!, 24 East 12^th Street, Manhattan: Cupcake Kids! will also be offering gingerbread house workshops for the same age groups on Dec. 12^th and 13^th, from 10-11 a.m. Cost $70.

Creative Cooks, Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn: A drop-off Holiday Workshop for ages 5-11 will teach holiday cookie decorating and cooking from 12 to 3 p.m. on Dec. 20^th. In addition to cookie decorating, kids will prepare a holiday meal like turkey rolls with homemade stuffing, a veggie and peppermint bark. Cost $95/child. www.creativecooks.us

Church Street School for Music and Art, 74 Warren St, Manhattan: For the first three weekends in December Church Street School offers family gingerbread workshops for parents and kids of all ages as a fundraiser to help support the school's programs. Each kit is $100 if you sign up before December 5. They also offer two adult workshops at the Bubble Lounge with live music by school faculty. Call to register: 212 571-7290 www.churchstreetschool.org.

Dough Re Me: On Tuesday, December 22^nd Children can celebrate the holiday season by making some cookie favorites from 12-2 pm at Dough Re Me. For ages 4-10. Cost $50. www.doughremekids.com