8 Things I Learned While Teaching A Cupcake Class

“So can I use this cupcake recipe for a regular cake?”

“Are we going to actually make the cupcakes?”

“How do you crack an egg?”

These are just some of the questions that I have encountered in my time as a baking instructor at a small bakery in the East Village called Butter Lane Cupcakes.

One thing that this small gem of a bakery offers is the chance for people to come behind the table, put on an apron, and actually learn how to make their own batch of cupcakes. This class attracts a true variety of people who range from couples on a date night, a parent and child out for a bonding activity, all the way to corporate schmoozers and drunk bachelorettes.

However, these classes have taught me a thing or two about people, how we view food in today's world, and how we react towards strangers when we have to do a group task.

1. Some people really do not care about being on time.

Okay, so granted I am not always going to get everyone to show up at the exact time we start, and actually the classes where everyone does show up before the beginning end up being the most boring ones we have. However, if you show up thirty minutes late and the class is pretty much done with making their cupcakes, why even bother coming in?

Not only do these people end up disturbing the class, but they walk in expecting to be able to make choices, like what table they get to be at. No honey, you are not Julie Andrews and you forfeited that right when you decided to stop for ice cream before you took a class on making a desert.

2. When people have to work with strangers, they clam up.

Because the space is small, a lot of the time people have to share a station and a group of four have to make the cupcakes together. On more than one occasion, I have seen tables go through a two hour class with not a word passing amongst the different people. I know talking to strangers can be terrifying, but still I'm sure there is something you can talk about. For example...

3. While some clam up, some people shine

In these social gatherings, you actually only need one or two people to make the entire class lively and fun for everyone involved. These people are the extroverted ones who you want to be friends with - most of the time. Because well, they are the party.

These individuals pave the way for others in the class to speak up, crack a joke, or laugh at themselves for adding a cup of salt instead of sugar to the recipe.

4. Alcohol helps - sometimes.

For some people, alcohol is their social lubricant. Get one or two drinks in them and boom, they’re the life of the party.

One time, a girl brought a full case of prosecco to her private party which only had 12 guests. She was afraid of running out. There’s nothing quite like watching grown women drink like sailors and then stare at their confectionary creations ravenously as though they haven’t eaten in days. Suddenly that no carb, low-sugar diet doesn’t seem so important anymore.

5. The food network has brainwashed us.

If I had a dollar every time someone mentioned “omg just like cupcake wars”, I would have enough to not have to work this job. It also makes people ask questions such as “so, can I use this batter for cakes, or is this like, exclusively for cupcakes?”. Yes Judy, you can use this recipe for a bigger cake.

There is also an expectation that all of this can be done in half an hour. Meanwhile, it takes half an hour for the damn cake to bake sooooooooo…..

Oh, and lest we not forget the notion that there is no cleanup or mess ever made on the food network it seems.

6. People are terrified of making a mistake, so they decide not to do anything at all.

The majority of students who take this class know little to nothing about baking and really don't do it at home. So naturally they are going to be out of their comfort zone, which is why one thing that I always say in the beginning of class is to be fearless in the kitchen and have confidence.

Despite my ever inspiring pep talk, there are still some people who are afraid to complete the tasks and they freeze. I like to think that in their mind my reaction will be similar to that of Gordon Ramsey...

However, that’s part of the fun - making the mistakes and learning from them. And as an added bonus, you learn how to fix your mistakes so you know what to do when you do this at home.

The kitchen is one area where you can't be scared or afraid. If a mistake happens, fix it, or make it into something different. If you really screwed up, just keep more eggs and butter on hand and give it another go like the fearless culinary warrior that you are.

7. People can be the absolute worse...

From questions that are just ridiculously stupid, to being plainly rude and acting like baking is below you, people really can suck.

A cupcake making class should be fun, educational, and tasty. I mean, who doesn’t love a cupcake, am I right? But if participants are not engaged or worse yet, actively create a hostile learning environment, you’re not just wasting your own time, you’re ruining the experience for others around you.

Lucky though, by and large not everyone is like this, ‘cause while people can be the worst…

8. … people can also be the best.

One thing that I hold to be true is the fact that food is the one thing that truly connects us all. Everyone on this earth needs to eat food in order to survive and we as humans are designed to enjoy food in a very specific way that gives us immense pleasure. For me it might be pasta, for others it's tacos; the foods might be different but the experience is the same.

Time and time again, I encourage perfectly good strangers to work together in making their little cupcakes. And time and time again, I hear the conversations between them and see the walls come tumbling down. Any differences between skin colors, religion, age, or nationality melt away and the interaction turns more into a team effort to create a bomb ass cupcake.

Food connects us; it turns strangers into friends, makes relationships even stronger, and provides us all with a great inner joy. And what better way to forge this connection than with a cupcake… especially one made amongst (new) friends.

For More information about Joining a class, visit www.butterlane.com

Note: If you would like to join a class, visit https://www.butterlane.com for more details.