Expand your family’s cookie footprint at Crate Cooking School
A New Take on Holiday Traditions
The holidays are synonymous with cookies and endless plates of sweets shared between neighbors, family, and friends. Crate Cooking School in Greentree offers a new way to share. You can give the gift of a private workshop or gather your relatives while everyone is in town. Coming together to learn, bake, and share food feels all the more special—especially because Crate does all the prep work for you.
Try it at home: Get inspired by Crate-style holiday recipes like Ganache-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cranberry Shortbread Cookies with White Chocolate Drizzle, Thumbprint Cookies, and Sugar Butter Star Cookie Tree.
Baking Becomes Playtime
In that spirit, Beth and James Hendricks gathered with their daughters, Isabelle and Cora, to kick off their holiday baking in a unique way. A longtime customer, Beth said, “I love how Crate’s classes give our whole family an opportunity to share kitchen experiences together. It has turned cooking and baking into playtime for all of us. My girls have gained confidence and independence in the kitchen. They now see cooking and baking as a creative activity instead of a chore.”
Their confidence showed as they helped owner Jen Clark sandwich chocolate ganache between cookies and sprinkle powdered sugar onto an edible Christmas tree.
Confidence Starts Young
Cora, age eight, proves that you’re never too young to start learning kitchen skills and gain independence. She said, “I like learning about the different tools you could use like that off-set spatula and bench scraper. Getting the best tools makes it a lot easier and more fun to cook at home.” That’s convenient, since Crate offers almost everything you need (and want!) in their retail section. Cora added, “Crate makes me feel like I enjoy cooking a lot more than when my mom makes me do it.”
Expert Tips and Family Memories
As with any baking endeavor, what really counts is the taste. Jen shares her tips on standout jams, when to add a hint of pepper, or how to brighten a recipe with orange zest. Eleven-year-old Isabelle gave her seal of approval: “The food is really good, and it makes you want to make it again at home because it’s better than any restaurant you can visit.”
More Than Just a Sweet Treat
The experience of learning and baking together leaves a lasting impression. Students walk away with more than just a box of goodies—though that’s a sweet perk. James said, “I like that Crate gives me a chance to try something new with my kids and also to learn about new foods and cultures without leaving Pittsburgh. I love that you make the food as a group but then take home the recipes as a souvenir. You get to recreate the experience again and again.”
Create Your Own Tradition
Visit cratecook.com to explore in-person and virtual opportunities. This season, find new ways to come together and make the holidays feel special—and if those ways are delicious, all the better.
Story and Styling by Quelcy Kogel
Photography by Laura Petrilla
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