Baking & pastry students cap college years in 'Grand' style

Students in the Grand Pastry Display course placed a capstone on their baking & pastry arts studies Friday with a display that showed off the skills they’ve learned throughout their Penn College career, including the new skills of planning and preparing a pastry buffet. Each student’s contribution included sweet and savory samples for guests, as well as showpieces that demonstrated their sugar and chocolate artistry. The clients for the display were high school students, who visited from throughout Pennsylvania to learn about the college’s baking, pastry and culinary arts majors. Also contributing to the visitors’ experience were final projects from the Cakes & Decorations course. Students in Grand Pastry Display: Hannah L. Fleischer, of Lititz; Emily P. Jones, of Ephrata; McKenna J. Morgan, of Mar Lin; Moira A. Smith, of Aaronsburg; and Caleb J. Stemler, of Jersey Shore.

– Photos by Jennifer A. Cline, writer/magazine editor

 

 

A Pokémon fan’s dream cake

Sticky bun cookies – filled with cinnamon and topped with brûlée bananas and praline sauce – and cream puffs are among the offerings from Caleb J. Stemler, of Jersey Shore.

Students in the Grand Pastry Display class celebrate their culminating project with their chef instructors (from left): Chef Charles R. Niedermyer, instructor of baking and pastry arts/culinary arts; Caleb J. Stemler, of Jersey Shore; McKenna J. Morgan, of Mar Lin; Emily P. Jones, of Ephrata; Moira A. Smith, of Aaronsburg; Hannah L. Fleischer, of Lititz; and Chef Todd M. Keeley, assistant professor of baking and pastry arts/culinary arts.

Moira A. Smith’s contributions to the winter-themed display include a yule log and carrot white chocolate pie, plus showpieces titled “A Winter’s Night” – a pastillage moon with cast sugar stars – and “Chocolate Cabin” – a dark chocolate cabin enwreathed with modeling-chocolate holly leaves.

A blown-sugar penguin in an edible winter wonderland, crafted by Hannah L. Fleischer.

A fanciful woodland entry from the Cakes & Decorations class

McKenna J. Morgan talks visitors through her selections, which included an apple tart; mini eggnog cheesecakes; almond, cranberry and orange biscotti; everything bagels with garlic Parmesan spread; and coffee bonbons.