Building on the success of this summer’s children’s baking camp, Bridgeport Parks and Recreation is implementing a series of baking classes – for both children and adults – all taught by Brenda Smith.

 

A Sept. 10 class on made-from-scratch yeast dough cinnamon rolls yielded a full class of adults, all who left with their own pan of sticky caramel cinnamon rolls.

 

The baking series continues into October and November. On Oct. 15 and Nov. 12, Smith will provide instruction on how to make her award-winning homemade apple pie. Included will be her secret on making a perfect flaky pie dough and pretty pecan lattice top. Again, students will leave with their own apple pie creation.

 

“We decided to do the apple pie in October and November because the apples will be fresh and we can get West Virginia apples by then,” Smith said.

 

It was the Martinsburg Apple Harvest Festival where Smith won first-place for the apple pie that will be made during the classes. Having had a lifetime passion for baking, she said she’s happy to have the opportunity to pass the art along. It’s an art, she said, which is becoming a lost one.

 

“I started baking when I was really young. I was probably 10 or 12 years old when I was baking cookies by myself in my mom’s kitchen,” she said. “Since I loved to bake when I was that age, I just figured other kids would too.”

 

Having the summertime class under her belt, Smith said she learned that preparation is key.

 

“Preparation was a lifesaver,” she said. “We had everything prepped on each station for each child and that was their station to work. It helped everything to go smoothly.”

 

The Oct. 15 and Nov. 12 adult class featuring homemade apple pie will run 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the cost for those classes is $35.

 

Dec. 10 will feature the children’s class during which kids – ages 9 and up – will be baking gingerbread cookies. The hands-on class will include measuring, blending, rolling, cutting and baking. That class will be taught 10 a.m. to noon. Children ages 9 and up are invited to register for the cost of $25 each. Each baker will decorate and take home his or her own cookies.

 

To register for those and other fall/winter Parks and Recreation classes and activities, stop at the Benedum Civic Center office or call 304-842-8240.