Program Overview

About the Program

Do you dream of becoming a professional baking or pastry chef? The Specialty Desserts & Breads associate degree and certificate at Seattle Central College’s Seattle Culinary Academy features comprehensive step-by-step training from nationally recognized chef instructors to prepare you for a rewarding career in restaurants, bakeries and beyond.

Career Opportunities

If you want to own your own bustling bakery or stylish café, create and style spectacular cakes or prepare desserts for an elegant catered affair, a career in breads and pastries is for you. As a pastry chef, you’ll make the chocolates, confections, pastries and plated desserts that delight customers. As an artisanal baker, your skills will be in high demand at the best restaurants and bistros. The Specialty Desserts & Breads program can help prepare you for a career as a:

• Baker
• Pastry Chef
• Personal Chef
• Food Consultant
• Cheesemonger
• Caterer
• Restaurateur
• Culinary Instructor
• Food Stylist
• Event/Wedding Planner
• And many more!

Intensive Education

Roll up your sleeves and get ready to learn how to create rustic artisan breads and doughs, plated desserts, decorative cakes and mouthwatering pastries. Explore European specialties such as tarts, mousses, truffles and petit fours. Discover the fine art of wedding cakes and cake decorating. Craft fine chocolates with demonstrations on pulled and blown sugar, intricate decoration and showpieces. You'll get classroom instruction on baking theory combined with hands-on training that will teach you the art of preparing breads and desserts for two on-campus restaurants and a pastry case.

Gainful Employment

Learn more about this program’s Gainful Employment information (pdf).