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The Best Baking School at King Arthur

nissa socca from the best baking school
nissa socca

If you love to bake as much as I do or are interested in learning how to bake a trip to the King Arthur Flour Baking School in Norwich, Vermont should be on your bucket list. Last week, my Caitlin and I spent a few days exploring the Green Mountain state and learning how to bake everything from flatbreads to European tarts and pastries compliments of the sponsors of the National Festival of Breads.

The class schedule offers a great variety of hands-on baking experiences for the home baker as well as the professional chef. There are classes for everyone and they do fill up quickly. Some of the classes are taught by celebrity chefs like the famous Gale Gand. I did get a glimpse of her teaching a class on cinnamon rolls as the kitchens are easily observed through large glass windows. This state of the art facility also includes a large retail bakery, a café and a most beautiful store. The store is a baker’s paradise.

King Arthur Flour store display

and

King Arthur Flour brands
Flour Matters–use the best

Back to baking, I especially loved the class on flat breads because I learned a few new scientific things. First, I never baked with a mix of yeast and baking powder before. This extra leavening creates so much carbon dioxide that it actually causes the bread to deflate and bake to the perfect flatness. Brushed with egg white and sprinkled with a little nigella and sesame seed this bread is perfect for scooping up hummus.

naan
naan

In this class we also baked a spelt pita (check out goodgriefcook on Instagram to watch it puff) and a bread I had never heard of before, nissa socca. Nissa socca is a morning snack sold by vendors in the south of France. This recipe, made from gluten-free chickpea flour reminded me more of a polenta than a bread. Warm from the oven and cut into small squares or wedges it will make a terrific holiday party appetizer.

nissa socca hot from these amazing ovens
nissa socca hot from these amazing ovens

Vermont in October is lovely. The air is crisp and the leaves are just beginning to turn. Fresh apples are plentiful and make the perfect seasonal filling for a buttery rustic tart. In fact, most of our fresh baking ingredients like the apples, butter, cream and eggs are sourced from local farms. In addition, we are instructed to drop our egg shells and apple peels in a green compost bucket. The philosophy is clear: flour matters, the farmer matters and the environment matters. It all adds up to naturally delicious baked goods.

rustic apple tart
European tart class

In between our classes we visit some of our old stomping grounds including the old Sugar Bush Farm which inspired my winning National Festival of Breads recipe. The old farm hasn’t changed a bit in 30 years and is still handing out samples of its delicious smoked cheeses and sweet maple syrup. Caitlin and I stocked up and I am thankful to have re-lived some old memories while creating some new ones with my daughter.

one of many old barns at Sugar Bush Farms
one of many old barns at Sugar Bush Farms

By the way, everything we baked we could take home. My innkeeper was very happy and especially loved the chocolate hazelnut ganache tart. A few of the other guests indulged in these from our Mille Feuille (homemade puff pastry) class.

Napoleons really do have 1000 layers of pastry
Napoleons really do have 1000 layers of pastry

One day I hope to return to the baking school for more classes. The perfect plan would be to grab a couple of girlfriends and make a long weekend of it. Put it on your Christmas list. If you can’t get there any time soon than shopping their on-line store is the next best thing. Here is a recipe from the far flung flatbread class. I hope it inspires you to enter the National Festival of Breads come 2017.

nissa socca recipe card

Thank you Kansas Wheat and King Arthur Flour for a great weekend and making me feel like a queen.

me at King Arthur Baking school

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tracy

    October 11, 2015 at 8:14 am

    Drinking my coffee and reading this entry makes me want to bake all day today. What a wonderful trip. Cole loves naan. Would love to try and make that!

    Reply
    • Lisa

      October 11, 2015 at 1:50 pm

      I will post more recipes next week. We should do an auntie weekend some time up there.

      Reply
  2. Kim

    October 11, 2015 at 8:29 am

    Thank you for sharing Lisa! Loved starting my day with your beautiful and delicious adventure!

    Reply
    • Lisa

      October 11, 2015 at 1:51 pm

      Thanks Kim and thank you for sharing the blog with your sister in-law. Love having new followers.

      Reply
  3. James Matino

    October 11, 2015 at 9:37 am

    Lisa,  That was a very entertaining and well-written blog.  It sounds like you had a lot of interesting fun.  How can you be around all that great food and stay skinny?Brother JJ

    Reply
    • Lisa

      October 11, 2015 at 1:54 pm

      Well, my old high school English teacher, Ms Clemmons, would love to know that she taught me well. She was one of my favorite teachers. As far as being thin it is all about portion control and taking brisk walks.

      Reply
  4. Min

    October 11, 2015 at 10:06 am

    Wow, Lisa! What a fabulous experience, and to share it with your daughter to boot! So happy for you!

    Reply
    • Lisa

      October 11, 2015 at 1:54 pm

      Yes, Min. These kinds of experiences are always better when shared with those one loves.

      Reply
  5. savourytable

    October 11, 2015 at 11:27 am

    Loved this post Lisa! I can’t wait to make this recipe, but hope you will post the flat bread recipe soon. I’ve never baked with a combination of yeast and baking powder either. I would like to try that as well. So glad you had such a great time.

    Reply
    • Lisa

      October 11, 2015 at 1:55 pm

      I will post more recipes next week. The naan was one of our favorites.

      Reply
  6. HelenF

    October 11, 2015 at 12:47 pm

    Glad you and Caitlin got to experience this, and shared your adventure with us. Great pictures.

    Reply
    • Lisa

      October 11, 2015 at 1:56 pm

      Thanks Helen for joining me here. I very much appreciate your kind words.

      Reply
  7. Krista

    October 11, 2015 at 8:03 pm

    As I sat down and started to read, I laughed out loud. I just got out of the car after driving home from Vermont. Besides a college tour, our day trip included Church Street in Burlington, a swing through Stowe, and yes, even a drive through Quechee Gorge. (I wish we had time to hike it)
    Aidan learned to make bread through King Arthur’s Bake for Good program the spring before he died. I’ve never been to the store and school. I will add it to my bucket list.

    Reply
    • Lisa

      October 11, 2015 at 8:09 pm

      We are like two ships passing in the night. You will love the King Arthur experience as much as Aidan.

      Reply

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