Chef Central (Paramus) 

At Chef Central, you have your two basic holiday offerings--Gingerbread House-Making and Edible Hannukah treats, running periodically through the first two weeks of December. Gingerbread makers are ages 3 to 10 and $25 per registrant, Hannukah kids are ages 3 to 5 and $10 each. Call (201) 576-0100 for registration and more information.
 

Young Chefs Academy (Morganville) 

YCA has a great reputation and a great selection of classes, everything from Sweets for the Sweet to a Holiday Breakfast Workshop to a Holiday Cookies class. I want to go just to learn how to make something called “Hot chocolate on a stick”. What could that possibly be? Call 732-536-7777 for more information and registration.
 

Kitchen Kapers (Moorestown) 

Kitchen Kapers is a retail store with a culinary academy at Eastgate Square Mall, and they have delicious-sounding offerings such as Holiday Candy Making, British Holiday Brunch, Holiday Gifts for the Dog (I want to do this one!), and A Dickens Christmas, all taught by various local chefs and all costing around $65 per person. Call 856-778-7705 for more information and registration.
 

Viking Cooking School (Fairfield) 

Viking Cooking School has your standard Gingerbread House Making class, a Holiday Sweets class (White Hot Chocolate with Dark Chocolate-Covered Homemade Marshmallows, anyone?) and my personal favorite, a Teens Cookie Swap where you can get your surly teenager off the streets and let him bake cookies. Love that. One word of warning: The Viking Cooking School website is a bit challenging to navigate, but it’s worth the trouble. Call 973.244.1580 for more information and to register.

For more holiday fun, check out our Holiday Guide.