What’s in a cookie? At its most basic, a cookie is the perfect balance of fat, sugar, eggs, and flour. Drop cookies are easy to mix and bake and the formulas are incredibly versatile. In this class, you’ll go from cookie rookie to cookie rockstar. We’ll teach you the rules of baking and how to break them to dial in your perfect crispy, crunchy, soft, chewy, or gooey cookie. Each cookie recipe also includes fun and creative ways to “upgrade” your next batch with unique additions and flavorful enhancements. On your mark. Get set. Let’s bake some cookies!

American Drop Cookies Class

Macarons—those delectably light mini-meringues of French descent—involve a series of sophisticated techniques that can take time and practice to perfect. You often see them only at the finest bakeries—the colorful confections all lined up in a row—because they’re notoriously finicky, even for pastry chefs. But learning to make macarons is remarkably simple when you can see how it’s done, with step-by-step instructions. This class is designed to help you succeed in mastering the macaron. You’ll learn each part of the process with entertaining and informative high-definition videos, succinct step-by-step instructions, and background information on the science of macarons. We also provide recipes for various flavors and colors, so you can apply the skills you’ve acquired to making macarons again and again. ChefSteps founder Grant Crilly, who instructs this class, learned how to make macarons the hard way: he spent hundreds of hours reading cookbooks, trying and failing, his garbage can littered with colorful cookie shells night after night. He finally succeeded after attending a class in Paris with macaron expert Pierre Hermé, mastering the different techniques by taking visual cues from learning in a hands-on, guided workshop. Grant developed this class with his own experience in mind.

French Macarons

Take a look around you. Where are you reading this? What time of day is it? Are you alone in your kitchen, or stuffed on a crowded commuter train, dreaming of what you’ll make for dinner? Point is—you’re going to want to remember this moment. Because this is the moment you began a journey that will fundamentally change the way you cook. This is the moment you discovered sous vide. You’ve no doubt heard of sous vide, a cooking method in which food is cooked at a consistent temperature in a water bath, often first wrapped in plastic and, afterward, quickly seared on the stove or grill. And maybe you associate it with high-end restaurants, high-concept food, and high-priced equipment originally designed for a chemistry lab. But as home cooks around the world have begun to discover, this remarkable technique—which yields perfectly cooked food, predictably, with very little oversight—is no longer the exclusive domain of bold-named chefs and mega-rich mega-geeks. And while cooks who regularly use sous vide often opt to invest in equipment such as immersion circulators and SousVide Supreme baths, in the last few years, a number of affordable models have emerged for home use. But forget the gadgets for a minute. For this class, you’ll need a pot, a stove, a digital thermometer, some plastic bags, and an open mind. Yup, with nothing more than those basic tools, you’ll cook the best steak you’ve ever eaten, fork-tender salmon with a bright pea purée, and a juicy pork chop accompanied by an addictive romesco sauce. Once you’ve worked through the recipes, we believe you’ll be the latest convert to a cooking style that will revolutionize the way we cook food. We’ll also outline the basics on best practices for food safety and offer a list of books to consult as you continue down the road to sous vide mastery. Remember this moment. It’s the moment you took the first step toward becoming the kickass cook you always knew you could be.

Sous Vide: Getting Started

There comes a moment in every meat lover’s life when it’s time to push the barbecue skills to the next level. Maybe you’ve mastered your smoker but you’re looking for a way to save time without sacrificing flavor or texture. Maybe you’ve only just invested in a smoker and need inspiration for how to work with it. Or maybe you’re a total barbecue beginner—a wide-eyed neophyte who has only dreamed of unwrapping a rack of ribs and pondering the possibilities. Wherever you are, you’re about to go further. Because here at ChefSteps, we are unabashedly obsessed with all things barbecue—and stoked to share what we know. Our founders scoured the country to study regional styles, bringing the best tips, techniques, recipes, and religious experiences back to ChefSteps. And don’t think you need a smoker to get going. Our Apartment Ribs—an excellent starter technique—offer an opportunity to cook up a smoky rack in even the tiniest of urban kitchenettes. How do we do it? The same way we do everything—by understanding the science behind the smoke. Get started by exploring the 20+ recipes we’ve assembled here. From meats, to sauces, to sides, to sodas, they’ll take your backyard parties to a whole other level. And for the meat nerds among us, get ready to go deeper: We provide detailed directions for controlling your smoker. We’ll show you how to select the best wood for the job. We’ll debunk common myths and offer clever tricks for barbecue success. (Hint: Ice is involved in one of them.) We’ll advocate combining sous vide cooking with smoking and describe how it can save you hours of time while yielding consistently killer results. (Heretical? Definitely. Try it, however, and we’re convinced you’ll become a convert.) We’ll tell you what to read, where to eat, and how to learn even more—all to add to an ever-growing legion of bonafide barbecue freaks with a serious passion for smoked meat. As always, feel free to ask questions in the discussion section. As you may have noticed, it doesn’t take much to get us talking barbecue.

Barbecue

Microgreens have recently emerged as some of the best-loved garnishes in fine dining—and it’s easy to see why. Tiny as they are, these young plants pack remarkably intense flavors, vibrant colors, and interesting textures. Bursting with nutrients, they also get high marks from the health food community. Only problem is that microgreens are hella pricey; you’re lucky if you can find them for $30 a pound. Our solution: grow your own! Cultivating these wee plants requires some care and maintenance, sure, but it’s also super fun. Once your bed is buzzing along, you’ll have a ready source of good-for-you greens that you can use to make elegant salads and hors d’oeuvres toppers; brightly beautiful purées, soups, and smoothies; and so much more. Plus, there’s something distinctly satisfying about growing gorgeous food that will turn an ordinary plate into something pro-worthy. In this project, we walk you through the steps of successful microgreen growing and offer recipes (savory ice cream, anyone?) that make the most of these lovely little plants. No garden? Not an issue—it’s easy to cultivate them indoors, and you can do so year round. Because really, what could perk up the cold winter months better than a pretty crop of cute little plantlets? Nothing, that’s what. So let’s stop talking and start planting. It’s time to grow microgreens.

Microgreens

Make the classic Canadian snack at home. We’ll show you how to prepare perfectly crispy fries, squeaky cheese curds, and delicious gravy, all from scratch. Serve classic Old-School Poutine, or try our modernist “new-school” version—printable recipes included.

Poutine

It’s that time of year again: The shop windows are filled with sweaters and corduroys. The checkout line is stocked with Scotch tape. “Back to School” posters herald the beginning of a new season. So what’s an adult to do when the kids spend all day Sunday gluing pipe cleaners to a Little House on the Prairie diorama due Monday? Don’t worry—we’ve got a big-kid project for you. This is Salmon 104 °F, the dish that launched ChefSteps in 2012, developed by cofounders Chris, Grant, and Ryan to teach culinary students and faculty a series of techniques that would take their cooking skills to the next level. (ChefSteps trivia: Chris and Grant once instructed the faculty at Rhode Island–based culinary school Johnson & Wales; they launched ChefSteps.com as part of a plan to develop free-to-learn curricula for non-culinary students who wanted to tackle new skills.) Salmon 104 °F remains one of our favorite projects for teaching new skills and honing culinary expertise. By making the four simple recipes herein, you’ll cover a culinary curriculum that spans everything from pickling to vacuum compression, brining to sous vide, and blanching to thickening with hydrocolloids. We’ve assembled four component recipes into a ChefSteps Project—a weekend enterprise that will help you learn new things while preparing a beautiful, restaurant-quality dish for family and friends. Each component can be made days in advance and refrigerated so that you have a simple, yet impressive, plate that’s easy to put together at a moment’s notice. And for those of you who skipped art class, never fear: we’ve got tons of artsy plating ideas to get those creative juices flowing. So sharpen your knives, don a cute new apron, and get a killer playlist in order—it’s time to go back to school. No pipe cleaners required.

Salmon 104 F

Remember your first truly sharp knife? That bad boy cut clean and clear through tomatoes and onions and salmon and steak, shaming its dull drawermates. With a good knife, once-mundane tasks become suddenly pleasurable and satisfying. You can chop and slice for hours, comfortable and cramp-free like the kitchen ninja you were born to be. But if you want that knife to continue working at peak performance, you have to show it some love. That means cleaning it properly, storing it properly, honing it regularly, and sharpening it to maintain the blade. In this class, you’ll find all the information you need to learn to hone and sharpen like a pro. Which pro? How about blade sage Daniel O’Malley, owner of the epic knife emporium the Epicurean Edge in Kirkland, Washington, and a foremost expert on selecting and maintaining the world’s best chopping-and-slicing tools. Through video demos and clever tips and tricks, O’Malley walks us through the theory and technique of sharpening knives using Japanese waterstones—the badass little blocks that master bladesmiths have used for hundreds of years. Yes, you can always outsource your sharpening, but where’s the fun in that? We wager that once you’ve tried blade shaping on your own, you’ll fall in love with this ancient, relaxing ritual, as well the sense of satisfaction that comes with caring for your own steel. Knives are, without a doubt, our most important tools in the kitchen. If you want them to last a lifetime, you need to treat them right. We’re here to show you how.

Knife Sharpening

Everyone has a favorite burger, and this juicy, cheesy masterpiece is ours. To our minds, a burger should be something you can wrap your mouth around, with distinct components and clean, unmuddled flavors. This made-from-scratch, French-inspired American sandwich fits the bill. Inspired by the French dip, the Au Jus Burger is about as elaborate as a ChefSteps burger gets. But it’s also awesome, and it’s totally replicable at home—provided you’ve got time. We start five days ahead, preparing, then resting, our Brioche Burger Buns for optimal texture. Then we subject some swiss cheese to our Melty Cheese Slices technique—giving it all the creaminess of a Kraft Single while maintaining the flavor of the European fromage. On game day, we sear the patties, then drop them in a sous vide bath, leaving us free to prep the other ingredients while the burgers cook. Then, when the time is just right and our guests are gathered round the picnic table with napkins tied dutifully around their necks (this burger is messy, after all), we finish the job with caramelized onions and a horseradish-spiked version of our mayo, drizzle Beef Demi-Glace all over the burger, and serve it piping hot. “All that work for a burger?” you might ask. We enjoy every minute of it. You can always simplify matters by using store-bought brioche buns and cheese (or making our buns just two days in advance—they’ll still be spectacular). But at the end of the day, what excites us about this project is that it’s a beautiful, restaurant-style dish you can re-create at home, with magically delicious results. Plus—what can we say?—we’re willing to bend over backward for a kickass burger. Are you?

Au Jus Burger

You know that legendary George Mallory quote about why he climbed Mount Everest? “Because it’s there,” he said. Well, here at ChefSteps, that’s how we feel about candy-making. When we’re standing in the grocery store checkout line, staring at a brightly packaged bundle of Starburst or gummy bears, it’s in our nature to want to reproduce these textural wonders at home. Manipulating textures, after all, is what chefs do. You may think these classic sweets are impossible to create at home, but trust us: they’re not. Yes, you’ve got to be patient. You’ve got to be precise. And if it’s Starburst-style chews you’re after, you’ve got to be pretty ripped as well. (Ever seen someone “pull” saltwater taffy? Yeah, we’re going to be doing a lot of that.) The more delicately limbed among you may opt to start with our juicy Pâte de Fruit or the classic Haribo gummy bear recipe, reproduced here. Black licorice lovers—don’t be shy, we dig it too—wait until you try our toothsome version, laced with anise essential oil. Not into the anise-flavored stuff? We’ve got the formula for other flavors too. Backing it all up: a primer on the basic science of confections, so you can bone up on the ingredients that determine each candy’s unique texture. Sure it takes a little focus, but hey—it’s not rocket science. It’s not extreme mountaineering either. It’s candy-making. And it’s one of the more satisfying things you’re likely to achieve without risking frostbite. NOTE: The recipes in this class require a digital thermometer.

Chewy Candy

Oh, hey there, cooking enthusiasts. Now that you’ve learned the basics of sous vide cooking—and served your friends and family fork-tender salmon and the most delicious steak, like, ever—you’re ready to move on to the next level. In this class, we show you everything you need to harness the predictive power of sous vide, preparing seafood dishes that rival the stuff at fancy restaurants, transforming cheap cuts of meat into savory showstoppers, and whipping up fancy, foolproof desserts for a crowd. Those of you who love food science, fear not: we’re sharing plenty of illuminating theory along the way—plus simple tips and tricks you’ll use every time you enter the kitchen. So tie on an apron and get ready to crush it at your next dinner party, or just next Wednesday. It’s time to go beyond the basics. So, what do you get? You get 28 original recipes. Subscribe to this class, and you’ll also get free updates featuring recipes and techniques developed exclusively for this class by the ChefSteps kitchen development team. From highly addictive Kung Pao Ribs to life-changing Crème Brûlée, you’ll never run out of ways to impress your friends and family. Everything you need to turn cheap, tough meat cuts into tender steaks with flavor that far exceeds pricey stuff like prime rib. Six original fishes dishes—from a low-key weeknight curry to the best fish sticks you’ve ever tasted—plus the science behind brining and curing seafood for leveled-up texture and appearance. A primer on cooking in canning jars: Make no-fuss, silky crème brûlée, flan, yogurt, and chicken liver pâté. Whether you’re serving two or twenty, this essential technique is totally foolproof. Quick tips on how to prep and plate sous vide–cooked foods like a pro. A complete guide to sous vide equipment and packaging. A map of sous vide cooking featuring time-and-temperature settings for any food you feel like cooking. Plus, learn to manipulate time and temp to customize your cook and get the perfect doneness and texture! Techniques for preparing vegetables to keep them bright and snappy—you know, just the way you like ’em.

Sous Vide: Beyond the Basics

Spherification is kitchen alchemy, a technique that enables you to imbue a flavorful liquid with the appearance of being solid, an illusion that’s broken when the spheres burst with flavor as they’re eaten. ChefSteps’s course on spherification will help you prepare dishes that surprise and delight your family and friends by making the impossible possible in your kitchen. Enroll with ChefSteps for helpful step-by-step demonstrations of the relevant techniques, use our reliable recipes as a starting point, and get the support of a friendly community of experienced cooks and world-class chefs who will answer your questions.

Spherification

Welcome to the ChefSteps air frying class! In-depth guides about the mechanics and science behind air frying; delicious and innovative recipes that demonstrate the versatility of the technique; a primer on designing meals made entirely in an air fryer, with accompanying proof-of-concept recipes; a tip sheet on the different kinds of air fryers on the market; we’ve got it all, and a whole lot more. Air frying has a devoted and fast-growing following, for good reason: The air fryer is a powerful, efficient cooking tool that utilizes time-tested technology to deliver delicious results. In this class we’ll explain the science behind that power and provide you with everything you need to know how to get the most out of your air fryer. Let’s get cooking.

Air Frying

How do you take your coffee? We bet you have a tried-and-true answer—maybe you prefer it with a spoonful of sugar, a spot of half-and-half, hazelnut syrup and whipped cream, black, or just-give-me-the-damn-coffee-before-I-cut-you. The thing is: It doesn’t matter how you take it. If you take it every day, it should be perfect. Shouldn’t it? This class is about just that: Dialing in your daily brew—choosing your favorite roasted beans, picking the perfect brew techniques, and refining your recipe—until that morning ritual isn’t just about caffeine intake, it’s a full-on culinary experience. To create this one-of-a-kind class on all things home brew, we teamed up with two coffee experts—James Hoffmann, founder of the renowned London roastery Square Mile Coffee and author of The World Atlas of Coffee; and lauded coffee consultant Ben Kaminsky, cofounder of Boston’s Barismo and a three-time World Tasting Champion. Whether you’re new to home brewing or come bearing serious coffee skills, this class will offer you one-of-a-kind insights, exclusive game-changing techniques (sludge-free French press! amazing dairy-free latte!), and practical advice from coffee’s cutting-edge experts. And to round out this crash course in everyone’s favorite caffeinated beverage, we offer four killer ChefSteps recipes, including a novel technique for coffee “chocolate,” a bitters recipe to instantly up your cocktail game, a coffee-infused butter to spread all over your steak, and a flavor-packed rub that perks up any protein in a flash. And when it’s all over, we’ll ask you again: How do you take your coffee? Your answer: My way.

Coffee

Welcome to the ChefSteps seitan class! Seitan is one of the most miraculous foods in the world. You can imbue it with almost any flavor, mold it into almost any shape, and manipulate it to produce almost any texture! It’s a blank canvas, and the only limit on its potential is your imagination. Seitan is so versatile because it’s made of pure gluten, the protein in wheat flour that makes the vast world of bread possible. This class is designed to give you the competence and confidence to master making seitan dishes of all kinds. With in-depth guides explaining the science behind why gluten and starch molecules behave the way they do, a suite of interrelated recipes that demonstrate how to produce all kinds of wheat meat wonders and unlock the culinary potential of starch, step-by-step videos to guide you through our seitanic rituals, and so much more, this class is meant to show that seitan is for everyone. Whether you’re looking for an alternative source for plant-based protein, you want to explore the intricacies of a centuries-old technique, or you just have a thing for culinary alchemy, this class will give you the ability to transform a bag of flour into all kinds of uniquely delicious things. Nuggets, hot dogs, and hams are just the beginning. Welcome to the wide world of wheat meat.

Seitan

Whether you’re a beach bum or a homebody, we’ve got a clambake for you. Here you’ll find recipes and instructions for throwing a full-blown beach clambake, complete with raging fire and cooler of beer, and for a home clambake hack, served inside a dutch oven with fresh seaweed and beach rocks. We’ve got techniques for breaking down whole crabs, cleaning geoduck, and making spicy, salty garnishes—so whether you’re staying home this weekend or hitting the beach, you’ve got dinner plans on lock.

Clambake

It’s a solid. No, wait, it’s a liquid. Great god of super-cool science, it’s both. In this class, you’ll learn the basics of fluid gels—substances that act like a solid when left alone but become liquid when stirred or blended. You’ll use fluid gels to form liquid layers in a verdant vegetarian parfait. You’ll create a deconstructed Orange Creamsicle dessert that presents Fresh Orange Fluid Gel in two ways—in gel and foam form. You’ll learn how fluid gels make great salad dressings that coat vegetables completely, and you’ll create a Beet Fluid Gel that lends a pop of color and flavor to delicate blini hors d’oeuvres. Enroll with ChefSteps for helpful step-by-step demonstrations of the relevant techniques (including detailed plating tips), showstopping recipes that have been thoroughly tested in our kitchen, and access to our community of chefs and home cooks. Break out the blender and start drafting that guest list—by the time you’ve completed this class, you’ll have all the makings of a magical modernist dinner party.

Fluid Gels

We’re just going to say this: We think you should have a whipping siphon (also known as a cream whipper or whipping canister or whip cream thingy), and a high-end one at that. Yup, that glimmering canister that your barista uses to top that hazelnut latte belongs in your home kitchen, too. Why? Because the best whip cream thingies do a heck of a lot more than whip cream. And we can teach you to do all sorts of amazing stuff with one—from fizzy, fresh-juice sodas to no-fail hollandaise, from creamy, homemade burrata—whut?—to spongy feather-light cake. Yeah, you can make a cake in a whipping siphon. Crazy, right?

Whipping Siphons

Welcome to the new and improved ChefSteps espresso class! With everything you need to know to master this uniquely delicious method for brewing coffee, all in one place, this class is designed to put the skills of a professional barista within reach, no matter your skill level. In-depth explainers for the fundamental techniques and principles behind espresso? Check! How-to videos from leading espresso experts for dialing in your machine, learning the nuances of latte art, and mastering an array of café-quality drinks? Of course! Recipes, tips and tricks, and killer creative coffee ideas from our team of chefs? You know it! Guides, graphics, and glossaries to get you fluent in the lingo for a lungo? Certo! With a whole lot of help from coffee-industry veteran Sarah Dooley, Breville’s U.S. manager for Beanz.com, and a few key assists from L.A.-based barista and coffee shop owner Charles Babinski, we’ve created an espresso resource unlike anything available elsewhere. Let’s get brewing.

Espresso

Ice cream may seem like the simplest of lazy-day treats, but delving into the science can mean the difference between a coarse-and-crispy frozen fail and the smooth, creamy stuff they serve at your local parlor. Plus, it’s a whole lot of fun. Just in time for summer, we’ve assembled a class that will make a master out of anyone willing to cool things down in the kitchen. Go hi-tech with Aerated Green Apple Sorbet or a Root Beer Float Cryosicle, or keep things folksy with our classic mint chocolate chip. Planning a dairy-free party? We’ve got a pistachio gelato that’s going to blow your milkfat-free mind. Along with 14 recipes for frozen desserts that will surprise and delight your guests throughout the year, we’ve got plenty of ideas for toppings, plus tips and techniques to make the most of your ice-cream-making equipment—whether you’re churning in a stand mixture with dry ice or a state-of-the-art Carpigiani contraption. So stock up on cones and fire up the backyard speakers—you’re about to show the neighborhood a whole new take on the ice cream social.

Ice Cream

We’re guessing you’ve made a burger before. In fact, we’ll bet you’ve made a damn good burger and have a solid argument about why yours is hard to beat. We’ll bet you have a favorite burger joint, a favorite ground beef, and a better-than-average topping combo. But let’s get one thing straight: this class isn’t about how to make burgers. It’s about leveling up and designing your very own chef-quality sandwich, with professional-style condiments, fresh burger buns, and homemade fries to match. Whether you’re making a snappy mushroom patty augmented by caramelized onions or a beefy burger topped with ChefSteps’s Homemade Ketchup and Kewpie-Style Mayo, this class will walk you through each step of mastering a restaurant-level burger. You’ll bone up on the science of making Melty Cheese Slices and learn how we ran trials to come up with our perfect patty. You’ll re-create classic commercial condiments in your own kitchen. And in the end, you’ll wind up with a whole new appreciation for this most American sandwich. Best of all, we designed the techniques here with predictability in mind—meaning you can plan your next party knowing your guests will get a memorably great sandwich. No, the ChefSteps Burger Class is not about making ordinary burgers. It’s about developing the culinary know-how to create a true gastronomical experience of your very own. Who knows? You may discover something so groundbreaking that you’ll quit your accounting job to open a burger joint. And if you do, please invite us. We kinda love burgers.

Burgers

Welcome to the ChefSteps countertop oven class: 13 articles of scientific insights and practical tips; a section on baking that everyone can access; 6 new recipes, plus bonus content for Studio Pass members only. The large ovens installed in home kitchens were invented and moved into homes after World War One. At the time, a large oven was an unbelievable innovation for home cooks. But what felt brand-new in 1918 is pretty outdated now. What is today’s upgrade on the large oven that can level up your cooking immediately? The countertop oven. In this class, we show you the science of how a countertop oven works—whether you are roasting, broiling, or dehydrating—and why you should choose a particular cooking cycle for that meal you want to make. We also have some incredible new recipes, with extensive video tutorials and scientific explanations of what is happening while you cook. Of course, we also have tips and tricks for you, including hacks and other tools you can use to make your countertop oven as useful as any other oven. We have made the baking section of the class— including recipes for amazing chocolate chip cookies, plus savory and sweet soufflés—available to everyone. As well, we share some classic ChefSteps recipes we have re-tested in countertop ovens and found success. For Studio Pass members, we have an incredibly detailed guide—with videos for every step—to making croissants. We have vegetable jerky, red cabbage with creamy koji sauce, gluten-free chocolate soufflé, and what Grant believes might be your new favorite lasagna. Now, let’s get cooking.

The Countertop Oven Class

For any cook who’s ever burned a steak, destroyed a perfectly good piece of fish, or rubberized a chicken breast, this is the class for you. With just one simple and versatile technique, you can achieve mouthwatering, flavorful results every time, in your own kitchen. All you need is an oven, a pan, and a thermometer—we’ll show you the rest. We’ll empower you to choose, purchase, and cook tender cuts at home with confidence. The class includes lessons on how chefs shop for meat and seafood, information about which cuts work for which preparations, and clear, simple steps for cooking tender cuts of meat. If you have questions, please ask. Our culinary support team is standing by.

Tender Cuts

Ambitious cooks are a restless bunch—the better we get, the more challenges we seek. When you’ve reached the point at which you can masterfully replicate great recipes at home—anticipating timing issues, controlling temperatures, making confident corrections when problems arise—it’s time to start designing your own dishes. Here, we share the steps that we use to create dazzling and delicious composed plates. We offer up the recipe for one of our own successes—a flavor-packed, texture-driven soup/salad hybrid we served at a recent dinner. Re-creating the recipe at home will provide essential practice; as you prepare it, you’ll think about how each component came to be part of the unified whole and how the steps we outline might apply to your own original creation. Once you’ve worked through the project, you’ll be all set to break out on your own, developing a dish to amaze and delight your nearest and dearest. Be sure to share photos in the discussion—we can’t wait to see what you come up with.