Learning to bake in Bali might not be the first thing you think about while visiting the island, but why not try something different, learn a new skill or finally do what you have always wanted to try while on holiday or travelling.

This post will be all about a baking studio in Kuta, Bali called Cita-Cita Baking Studio. I will be sharing my experience there including learning to bake in Bali, learning how to decorate the cake and how to get to Cita-Cita Baking Studio.

This post is all about learning to bake in Bali.

This post is not sponsored!

As you may have seen from my other posts, when I travel, I love to learn a new skill. I find it a great way to learn new things, try new experiences and meet new people. In Bali, there are so many things you can learn, and I have definitely tried a few of them! Jewellery making, learning to surf, fruit carving, and batik painting just to name a few.

[Related Post: Cultural experiences in Ubud]

The baking class was very interesting, as it was more of a western approach compared to some of the more traditional workshops and classes I have attended in Bali, but the teacher also taught me Asian baking methods such as those used in Korea. It was a glimpse into how the East and the West bakes differently.

Cita-Cita Baking Studio offers a range of classes. For the most up-to-date information, make sure you follow them on social media (Facebook and Instagram) as that is how I found and booked the classes.

They offer workshops ranging from Mille Crepe to sweet tarts, Ferrero chocolate cakes to mirror glazing. Personally, I chose two recipes: The Korean birthday cake and a Korean fruit cake.

How to get there:

Cita-Cita Baking Studio is found on Jl. Sunset Garden No.8a in Kuta. It is very easy to get to via Grab/ Gojek if you do not have your own transport. I went from my accommodation in Seminyak and it took me around 20 minutes (with traffic).

One thing to note – It is probably better to get a Grab/ Gojek or taxi there, as on the way back, you will probably need a car to be able to transport the cakes safely without squashing them. Cita-Cita will wrap the cakes up for you in a plastic box (very elegantly) but if you want them to survive the journey, a car ride is a much safer option!

The Baking Class:

I had such a fantastic experience at Cita-Cita doing their private baking class. When I arrived, I was taken upstairs, and I put my belongings into a locker. I met my teacher Venyany who goes by the name Vloven and my personal cameraman for the class! Everyone was very friendly and welcoming and it didn’t matter that I wasn’t a pro baker (but more of a beginner).

Vloven is a very experienced baker who studied at Le Cordon Bleu & Bellouet Conseil Paris. She has also worked for Pierre Herme and Raffles Paris. Vloven has now opened Cita-Cita Baking studio in Bali and has also created some online courses too perusing her dream of creating a platform for bakers all over Indonesia so that they can start their baking career.

Making The Cake:

Vloven showed me around the kitchen, and told me how the workshop would run. She gave me the recipe books which we were going to use, but I was also able to take these home with me. We then got straight into making the first cake; The Korean Fruit Cake!

Vloven guided me step by step, by creating her own version of the cake. This was fantastic, as it allowed me to make mine all by myself, but also being able to see exactly what I had to do. Vloven is extremely talented and taught me so many different tricks to be able to make the best, moist cake! These tips have been extremely useful at home when I have been trying to bake again, and have really levelled up my baking skills!

The cake had 3 layers to it, and each layer was separated with fresh cream and fruit. Once we had made the cake mixture and put the cake tins in the oven, it was time to turn our attention to the 2nd cake: The Korean Birthday cake!

The Korean Birthday cake had a similar start to it. We had to create the cake mixture but this time we were creating a chocolate flavoured cake (which we would then add bananas and crispy chocolate crunch in the centre). After making the cake mixture and also putting the cakes in the oven, we would focus our attention on learning how to decorate each of the cakes – the FUN part!!

Decorating the cakes:

The Korean fruit cake:

This cake looked very impressive when it was finished! The cake was topped with cream and fresh fruit. It had fruit all around the outside and decorated on top with a little edible gold leaf! It looked so elegant!

Vloven taught me how to arrange the fruit to look aesthetically pleasing, as well as how to decorate the fruit (with syrup) to make the fruit look fresh and not dry. Some parts were easier said than done!

The Korean Birthday Cake:

While the cakes were cooling, Vloven taught me some different piping techniques for the cream so that I could choose how I would like to decorate my Korean Birthday cake. I loved learning these techniques (even if some of them were very difficult) as I feel it is something that I can now apply to other cakes that I bake in the future. We learnt how to create hearts, write letters and words, do different piping styles and how to change the texture of the side of the cake. Vloven taught me how to do this using a stand.

After the practice, it was the moment of truth! Trying to put those new acquired skills to use on my actual cake! I was very happy with my first attempt, and think that with time and more practice it will get better and better.

Vloven was extremely patient and helpful and I learnt so much from her.

The End:

When we had finished both cakes, it was time to photograph them. Cita-Cita have a beautiful, modern studio and the photos they took of the cakes are beautiful! Vloven also presented me with a certificate of attendance and that was the end of the workshop. They helped me pack up the cakes into 2 separate plastic protectors ready to go home!

As a solo traveller, let’s just say the guest house staff loved having me at the guest house as there was no way that I was going to be able to eat 2 whole cakes before they went off, so the staff and I had some delicious cake parties making sure that none of the cakes went to waste!

Overall:

Cita-Cita is an amazing, high quality baking studio in Kuta, Bali which offers high quality baking classes with very experienced teachers.

I had an amazing time, learnt so much and am now constantly looking at their Instagram for another workshop when I am next in Bali!

If you are interested in learning to bake in Bali, I recommend heading over to their Instagram page. They often promote workshops on there, and as I said before, this is how I found and booked with them.

Remember whatever you do in Bali, learn something new, meet new people and eat delicious food!

love,

This post was all about learning to bake in Bali.