Christmas Cookery Courses in Devon and Cornwall

I had to look recently at cookery courses on offer in Devon and Cornwall. Not surprisingly there are some inspirational Christmas courses still available so if you’re looking for ways to put the sparkle into your Christmas fare, read on.

The long-established Ashburton Cookery School has half- and full-day courses available in December covering just about everything, from baking and bread-making to making chocolate advent calendars, macarons, chocolates and canapés. The advent calendar course is on 25th November – learn how to temper chocolate at home and impress everyone with your very own festive calendar with filled chocolates and dipped chocolate truffles.

River Cottage offers a wide range of courses including baking, curing and smoking, game cooking and a ‘stir-up weekend’ making puddings, mincemeat and truffles. If you’re cooking for vegans then the ‘gluten-free Christmas’ on 7th December may be just what you’re looking for. You’ll learn how to make gluten-free panforte (a traditional Italian pudding with fruit and nuts, similar to florentines but more solid), mince pies and Christmas pud.

Exeter Cookery School on Exeter’s Quay is running a series of half-day Christmas foodie gift-making workshops this month and December. You’ll learn how to make delicious treats such as florentines, marshmallows, chocolate-dipped honeycomb and chocolate truffles complete with packaging; perfect for gifts.

Darts Farm is offering an evening Christmas butchery masterclass on 21st November. Learn how to cook the perfect turkey and watch the butchers prepare some showstoppers which are bound to impress your guests.

And finally, Mark Dodson runs masterclasses at The Masons Arms at Knowstone, the Michelin-starred inn and restaurant on the edge of Exmoor. Mark hosts bespoke masterclasses for small groups, maximum eight, so if you can’t find quite what you’re looking for then create your own theme.