Cooking, Cake Decorating & Culinary Courses

Guilford Technical Community College is pleased to offer a variety of cooking and culinary courses.  Whether you are interested in enhancing your skills or turning your skills into an entrepreneurial opportunity, GTCC has a course that is perfect for you.

Current Courses

FREE NUTRITION CLASS
Cooking Matters® with Second Harvest Food Bank 

Cooking Matters has developed custom resources that make eating healthier, fast, and affordable for families everywhere. This six-week series will cover:

  • Week 1: Let’s Get Cooking
  • Week 2: Choosing Fruits, Vegetables, and Whole Grains
  • Week 3: Healthy Starts at Home
  • Week 4: The Power of Planning
  • Week 5: Shopping Smart
  • Week 6: Recipe for Success

You must be able to attend five of the six classes. Space is limited. 

For more information, contact Personal and Professional Enrichment at 336-334-4822, ext. 55021, or communityeducation@gtcc.edu.

No classes scheduled at this time.

 

Basics of Nutrition and Food Safety

This course will provide students with the basic facts and principles of human nutrition. Students will learn the physiological and psychological factors of food intake and use. Topics will include nutrition education, food safety guidelines, and macronutrient education. Special emphasis is placed on the science of nutrition, the study of nutrients and their ingestion, digestion, absorption, food groups, dietary guidelines, Recommended Dietary Allowances, and food and kitchen safety.

Tuition Cost: $85

No classes scheduled at this time.

 

Cookie Decorating

In this course, you will learn the basics of using royal icing to pipe, flood, and decorate rolled cookies. You will also learn two methods to stencil your cookies. You will receive recipes used in the class, and since this is a hands-on class, you will decorate and take home your creations to enjoy. There will be an extra cost for supplies, please contact our office for a supply list at communityeducation@gtcc.edu. 

Supplies and  materials (Greensboro Campus)

  • Cookies (pre-baked, usually sugar cookies or shortbread)
  • Royal icing or buttercream
  • Piping bags (disposable or reusable)
  • Couplers (for switching out piping tips on the same piping bag)
  • Gel food coloring
  • Toothpicks or scribe tool (for smoothing icing and fine details)
  • Scissors
  • Paper towels
  • Container for mixing icing
  • Container for storing decorated cookies

Supplies and materials (High Point Campus):

  • Small container for water
  • Royal icing needle tools
  • Meringue powder
  • Metal cookie cutters (discussed on the first day of class)
  • 16-inch piping bags
  • Gel food coloring
  • Paper towels

Other materials may be needed per request.

Tuition Cost: $70

Course Name Dates Days Hours Campus Room Register
CSP-4000-CK1 Cookie Decorating 2/18/25-3/4/25 Tu 6-8:30 p.m. Greensboro W2 117 Register Now
CSP-4000-CK2 Cookie Decorating 4/3/25-4/17/25 Th 6:30-9 p.m. High Point H-1 132 Register Now

For more information, contact Personal and Professional Enrichment at 336-334-4822, ext. 55021, or communityeducation@gtcc.edu.

 

Cupcake Decorating

Learn the basics of frosting cupcakes like a pro. In this hands-on class, you will learn how to use various tip styles to top your cupcakes. After each class, you can take home your decorated cupcakes. Other materials may be needed later in the class.

Supplies and materials: (Greensboro Campus)

  • Food coloring for baking 26 – vibrant cake coloring liquid set for dessert decorating, food-grade dye for icing, and fondant (Amazon)
  • Piping bags
  • 19-by-13-inch cake boards
  • Piping tips (will be discussed on the first day of class)
  • Cupcake holder
  • Parchment paper
  • Paper towels
  • Container for icing
  • Fondant and small can of shortening
  • Silicone mat

Supplies and materials (High Point Campus):

  • Cokuma 5 pieces large piping tips (Amazon)
  • Cupcake liners
  • Paper towels
  • 16-inch piping bags
  • Container for icing
  • 12-cup cupcake pan

Other materials may be needed per request.

Tuition Cost: $75

Course Name Dates Days Hours Campus Room Register
CSP-4000-CCD16 Cupcake Decorating 1/21/25-2/4/25 Tu 6-8:30 p.m. Greensboro W2 117 Register Now
CSP-4000-CCD17 Cupcake Decorating 3/19/25-4/2/25 W 6:30-9 p.m. High Point H-1 132 Register Now

For more information, contact Personal and Professional Enrichment at 336-334-4822, ext. 55021, or communityeducation@gtcc.edu.

 

Cake Decorating – Beginners

Learn how to ice a cake evenly; how to make decorative borders; how to create icing flowers, roses, and pansies; and how to do simple writing techniques. At the end of the class, your cake will look professionally finished. Other materials may be needed later in the class.

Supplies and Materials: (Greensboro Campus)

  • Food Coloring for baking – 26 vibrant cake coloring liquid set for dessert decorating, food-grade dye for icing and fondant (Amazon)
  • Cake Decorating Kit (Amazon)
  • Star Mar Set of 18 Cake Board Rounds, circle cardboard base, 6 inches, 8 inches, and 10 inches  (Amazon)
  • Jumbo straw dowels
  • Cake holder
  • Parchment paper
  • Paper towels
  • Container for icing
  • Fondant and small can of shortening
  • 3-tier cake dummy (4, 6, 8 or 6, 8, 10)
  • Large rolling pin (to roll fondant)
  • Silicone mat

Supplies and materials: (High Point Campus):

  • Kootek cake supply kit (71 pieces – Amazon)
  • Paper towels
  • Bowl
  • Gel food coloring
  • 8-inch cake pan (baking at home)
  • Container for icing
  • 10-inch cake boards

Other materials may be needed per request.

Tuition Cost: $80

Course Name Dates Days Hours Campus Room Register
CSP-4000-CD13 Cake Pt.1 Decorating 1/23/25-3/13/25 Th 6-8:30 p.m. Greensboro W2 117 Register Now
CSP-4000-CD14 Cake Pt.1 Decorating 1/21/25-3/11/25 Tu 6:30-9 p.m. High Point H-1 132 Register Now

For more information, contact Personal and Professional Enrichment at 336-334-4822, ext. 55021, or communityeducation@gtcc.edu.

 

Cake Decorating – Intermediate

In this class, you will learn intermediate techniques for working with buttercream and fondant. This class also will focus on the proper stacking of a multi-tiered cake. At the end of the class, you will have learned how to create a professional-looking multi-tiered custom cake. 

Prerequisite: Beginner to mid-level cake decorating skills. There will be an extra cost for supplies, please contact our office for a supply list at communityeducation@gtcc.edu. 

Supplies and materials (Greensboro Campus)

  • 2-3 6-inch pre-baked cakes
  • Cake boards (6-inch and 8-inch)
  • Cake turntable
  • Cake box or cake carrier
  • Offset spatula (small and medium)
  • Bench scraper or icing smoother
  • Piping bags (12-16 inches, disposable or reusable)
  • Couplers for piping bags
  • Assorted piping tips (e.g. round, star, petal, leaf)
  • Rubber spatulas
  • Serrated knife for leveling cakes
  • Small scissors (for cutting parchment or piping bags)
  • Flower nail (optional for practicing piped flowers)
  • Gel food coloring (assorted colors)
  • Pre-made buttercream icing
  • Parchment paper or wax paper for practice
  • Cake dowels
  • Fondant (white)
  • Kitchen rags or paper towels (for cleanup and smoothing)
  • Apron (optional)
  • Edible decorations (e.g. sprinkles, chocolate shavings, edible glitter)
  • Textured icing combs for unique patterns
  • Turntable mat or non-slip pad (used to keep your cake steady)

Supplies and materials (High Point Campus):

  • All supplies from beginner classes
  • Small container of fondant
  • Small container of shortening
  • Small rolling pin
  • 6-inch pan (baking at home)
  • 6-inch cake board
  • 8-inch cake board

Other materials may be needed per request.

Tuition Cost: $85

Course Name Dates Days Hours Campus Room Register
CSP-4000-CD15 Cake Pt. 2 Decorating 3/27/25-5/15/25 Th 6-8:30 p.m. Greensboro W2 117 Register Now

CSP-4000-CD16

Cake Pt. 2 Decorating 3/25/25-5/13/25 Tu 6:30-9 p.m. High Point H-1 132 Register Now

For more information, contact Personal and Professional Enrichment at 336-334-4822, ext. 55021, or communityeducation@gtcc.edu.

Ways to Register

REGISTRATION is REQUIRED before attending class.

Students can register in one of three ways:

  • Online: Register
    • Use the Search function to search for Course Title or Course Code.
  • In Person:
    • Greensboro Campus: 3505 E. Wendover Ave., Continuing Education Center, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday
    • High Point Campus: 901 S. Main St., H1, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday
  • Mail: Download the Con Ed Registration Form from the website, and mail it to GTCC, P.O. Box 309, Jamestown, NC 27282.