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Pastry Chef Job Description

Learn what a pastry chef job is all about.

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What Is a Pastry Chef Job Like?


young female baker

Early birds don't always get worms. Sometimes they get piping hot breads and pastries—a far better reward for industrious morning activity. To a night owl, typical bakers' hours may seem daunting, but to bakers and pastry chefs, the quiet, productive hours spent baking before business opens are a satisfying way to start each day.

The results of a morning's work are tangible. What starts as a pile of ingredients quickly takes the shape of a delicate pastry or a beautiful loaf of bread. And the appreciation for this labor of love is as obvious as the smiles on customers' faces.

Whether focused on producing baked goods for a grocery store, restaurant or a neighborhood bakery, or concentrated on creating delicious desserts for a high-end restaurant, a pastry chef job is rewarding—and certainly sweet.

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Pastry Chef Tasks

As a pastry chef, your job may include the following kinds of tasks:

  • Overseeing kitchen staff
  • Ordering supplies
  • Producing baked goods
  • Decorating and plating various pastries and desserts
  • Keeping the kitchen organized

Skills Needed for a Pastry Chef Job

Baking School Spotlight

French Culinary Institute

With top facilities and learning tools, and a faculty including many world-renowned chef-instructors, The French Culinary Institute has become known as the premier cooking school for aspiring chefs. Study the culinary arts at The French Culinary Institute's New York City campus.

Culinary Ability and Creativity – It pretty much goes without saying, pastry chefs need to be able to bake, which involves attention to detail, knowledge of ingredients and a fair amount of patience. They also need to have artistic ability and creativity to produce pastries and desserts that look as good as they taste.

Attention to Detail – Small changes in a recipe can make a big difference. So pastry chefs need to pay attention to what they're doing, even while performing routine tasks.

Customer Service – Some pastry chefs may supply other businesses with baked goods, while others may serve their confections at their own neighborhood shops. No matter who their customers are, pastry chefs need people skills in order to establish thriving businesses.

Stamina – While working with your hands can be very satisfying, it can also be exhausting. More physically demanding than many people realize, a pastry chef job often requires long hours on your feet. Many pastry chef jobs require early morning hours—starting around 3 or 4 a.m. There may also be some lifting involved. You'll need to be physically able to handle the stress to your body and mentally prepared to persevere through repetitive tasks.

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Is a Pastry Chef Job for You?

Producing baked goods you're proud of on a daily basis can be satisfying. If you have creativity and a strong work ethic, you can have a successful pastry chef career. Take the first step toward a pastry chef career by finding a baking school near you.


Baking and Pastry Chef Home | Find Baking Schools