Children's courses

In our chocolate classes for kids in Adliswil near Zurich, children cast their own St Nicholas or Easter bunny, fill chocolates or design their own chocolate bars. Professional confectioners demonstrate every step and help whenever something does not work first time. At the end, every child goes home with something they made themselves, and usually with the urge to carry on.

Which children's courses do we offer?

• Chocolate St Nicholas casting during Advent and Easter bunny casting before Easter: the children choose a mould, polish it and paint it with coloured couverture, starting with fine details such as eyes and beard and working inwards layer by layer. The mould is then filled with Swiss couverture, emptied, chilled and sealed with a base. While the figure sets, the children fill and decorate small hollow spheres or Easter eggs.
• Praline atelier (formerly "Just for fun"): filling chocolate shells with ready-made fillings and ganache, sealing them with couverture and decorating them however they like with chocolate transfers, sugar decorations or petals. Recipes and instructions go home with them. All our offers are listed under praline courses.
• Chocolate bar course: casting and decorating your own chocolate bars.

Dates, prices and the minimum age are shown in the course list above. Public courses take place in our kitchen in Adliswil, about 20 minutes from Zurich main station.

Can my child take part on their own?

Yes, children may take part on their own and are in good hands with us: the course leader keeps an eye on everyone, explains things simply and answers the many questions that come up when working with chocolate. Accompanying adults are not possible: only people with a booked place are allowed in the course room, whether child or adult. The minimum age is shown for each course in the course list. And a course place is a gift that lasts longer than a toy.

Tips for working with chocolate at home

After the course, many children want to carry on straight away. To stop the kitchen turning into a battlefield:

• Get everything ready: moulds, brushes, couverture and packaging should be to hand before the children start.
• Polish the moulds in advance: do the polishing with cotton wool yourself beforehand, so the children can focus on painting and casting.
• Make room in the fridge: figures and chocolates need to be chilled again and again.
• Cover the work surface: lay down baking paper or a disposable tablecloth. At the end, just lift it off.
• Two short sessions are better: plan around your child's attention span. Two relaxed afternoons are more fun than one long one.

You will find step-by-step instructions in our recipes making a chocolate St Nicholas and making your own chocolate Easter bunnies.

Frequently asked questions

From what age can my child take part?

It depends on the course. Younger children manage figure casting well, while the praline atelier needs a little more patience and dexterity. The minimum age is shown for each course in the course list.

What does my child take home?

Everything they made during the course, nicely packed (depending on the course, a chocolate figure, filled chocolates or chocolate bars), plus all the recipes. The details are in each course description, in the section on what you take home.

Does my child need any experience with chocolate?

No. The course leader demonstrates every step, and the courses are designed so that children without any experience also get a lovely result.