My sister and I came to ZandyLu Bakery for their Drip Ice Cream Cake Decorating Class on a Sunday…read moreafternoon, and this was easily a five-star experience!
When I first walked in, I was a little surprised by how many young children were in the class. So, fair warning: if being around a bunch of little kids isn't your thing, you may want to choose your class time accordingly . My sister and I were actually the only two adults there who came without children. That being said, I never felt like the class was geared only toward the kids.
Zandra, one of the owners along with Lulu, taught the class, and she was fantastic. She mentioned afterward that this was only her second time teaching one of these classes and that she'd been nervous, but honestly, she had absolutely no reason to be!
I've done another cake decorating class recently, and while I enjoyed it, it was much less technical. We basically frosted a cake and added decorations. This class actually taught me things I could take home and use again. Zandra explained why we needed powdered food coloring for the chocolate versus liquid food coloring for the icing, how to properly mix and color the chocolate, why the chocolate needed to cool to a certain temperature, and why the cake needed to be chilled before adding the drip so the chocolate wouldn't run all the way down the sides. Those little educational details made such a difference for me.
She was also incredibly encouraging and attentive. Even with a room full of people, if someone was struggling or needed help, she made her way over and gave them one-on-one attention. I especially appreciated that she didn't focus all of her attention on the children. My sister and I were included just as much as everyone else, and the experience still felt individualized despite the size and age range of the group. Lulu was there supporting throughout the class as well, so shout out to both of them!
And the best part? The cake was actually GOOD! The cake itself was delicious, the buttercream was delicious, and it wasn't one of those experiences where you have fun decorating something and then don't really want to eat it afterward.
I've actually been to ZandyLu before through a Too Good To Go order and had several of their cakes, muffins, and other baked goods, so I already knew they could bake. This time, I also ordered an iced strawberry matcha with ube cold foam during the class, and it was SO good. It wasn't overly sweet or overly earthy. It was really well balanced and paired perfectly with the cake. I love that they still allow you to order from the regular menu while participating in their events.
And while you're there, you absolutely HAVE to see their bathroom! I know that sounds like such a random thing to mention in a bakery review, but it is GORGEOUS. They clearly put thought into the entire space, right down to the bathroom, and it's definitely worth seeing for yourself.
My only suggestion would be to make this particular class about an hour and a half instead of an hour. The pacing itself was good, but there are simply a lot of moving parts with this cake, especially when you're working with small children and waiting for things like chocolate to cool to the proper temperature. We went a little over the scheduled hour, which didn't bother me at all, but I think a 90-minute time slot would give everyone a little more breathing room.
I also have to mention the value. I believe this class was around $45, which is significantly less expensive than some other cake decorating classes I've seen that can easily approach or exceed $100. For $45, I got a cake to take home, a fun experience with my sister, AND actual cake decorating knowledge that I can use again. That's hard to beat.
Zandra said she was nervous because she's still new to teaching these classes, but from someone who has attended other cake decorating classes: keep doing exactly what you're doing. She may still be figuring out the little things that come with teaching more classes, but the actual instruction was excellent. I really appreciated that she didn't just show us how to recreate one specific cake. She explained the why behind what we were doing so I could potentially make the icing, chocolate drip, and cake myself at home.
I also heard they're working toward being able to offer beer and wine for things like paint-and-sip events, which would be such a fun addition to the space.
Overall, I would absolutely come back to ZandyLu Bakery, and I would definitely sign up for another one of their cake decorating classes. Great instruction, delicious cake, delicious matcha, reasonable pricing, and a welcoming environment for adults and kids alike.
Shout out to Zandra and Lulu. Y'all did your thing!