Ann Arbor, Michigan’s Zingerman’s Bakehouse is taking its expertise to the virtual world. BAKE!, Zingerman’s hands-on teaching bakery, has announced its baking classes are now available online, after 15 years of in-person teaching.

Transitioning from in-person to virtual class offerings due to the coronavirus pandemic allows for home bakers of all skill levels to get personalized instruction in the comfort of their own kitchens with their own equipment, no matter where they are in the world.

“An international community of bakers is forming. We’ve had students from across the globe in our first virtual classes – home bakers are tuning in everywhere from Israel and India to Germany and New Zealand,” says Sara Molinaro, principal and lead instructor of BAKE! “As much we’ll always love our in-person classes, it’s been so fun to instruct and encourage our students virtually.”

Zingerman’s is limiting its BAKE! virtual classes to 12 or fewer households per class to preserve the intimate environment BAKE! is known for. Before each class, students receive a class guide with the recipes, a grocery list and a Zoom invitation to use when it’s time to log into the virtual classroom.

“Zingerman’s Bakehouse is as passionate about starting new baking traditions as we are about preserving established baking traditions,” says Amy Emberling, co-managing partner of Zingerman’s Bakehouse. “Every day, we’re committed to community, learning and full-flavored foods. Our new virtual class offerings help us share these core values with a larger audience, just in time for the holidays.”

Later this year, BAKE!’s “Fancy Schmancy Holiday Cookie” class (its most popular class) and its pie-making class will be available online. This year’s “Fancy Schmancy Holiday Cookie Class” class will feature Mint Spritz, Pfefferneuse, Baci di Gama and Linzer cookies. Students of the virtual cookie class will have the option to order a class ingredient kit. In its pie class, BAKE! will demystify the art of making pie crust, covering both pumpkin pie and apple pie.

A full schedule of BAKE!’s virtual classes can found at Zingerman's Bakehouse’s website.