{"product_id":"baking-mini-chocolate-cakes-class","title":"Baking Mini Chocolate Cakes Class","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e July 11th, 2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTime:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2:00-4:30 PM\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLocation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Laconiko Event Room, Manassas, VA\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLimited spots available.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMini Chocolate Cakes with Chocolate Ganache \u0026amp; Blood Orange Garnish\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJoin award-winning Pastry Chef Dawn Alston of Ravy Cakes, featured on Food Network's \u003cem\u003eWedding Cake Championship\u003c\/em\u003e, for a fun and delicious hands-on baking experience!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this interactive class, you'll learn how to bake, assemble, and decorate beautiful mini chocolate cakes from scratch using premium Laconiko olive oil. Whether you're a beginner or love baking at home, Chef Dawn will guide you step-by-step through professional techniques that you can recreate in your own kitchen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClass Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSkill Level:\u003c\/strong\u003e All experience levels welcome\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hands-on, instructor-led\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDuration: \u003c\/strong\u003eApproximately 3 hours\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAges: \u003c\/strong\u003eAdults and children 10+ (children must attend with a parent or guardian, and each participant requires a ticket)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat to Bring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Just yourself and a love for sweets!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat You'll Learn\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBake a rich and moist chocolate cake from scratch. \u003cbr\u003eStudents will prepare a decadent chocolate cake completely from scratch, learning proper mixing methods, batter consistency, and baking techniques that guarantee a tender, flavorful crumb every time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAssemble and frost mini layered cakes like a pastry chef. \u003cbr\u003eWith all components prepared, you will be guided through the professional process of assembling your mini layered cakes — from leveling and filling to stacking and crumb-coating with precision and care. You will learn how to build a structurally sound, beautiful, even mini cake that looks just as impressive on the inside as it does on the outside.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMake smooth chocolate buttercream and learn basic piping techniques. \u003cbr\u003eWe will cover the proper technique for creaming butter to the ideal consistency, incorporating rich cocoa, \u0026amp; Laconiko's exclusive products to achieve a complex flavor, and a perfectly smooth, pipeable texture. You will use this luscious buttercream to fill and frost your mini cakes, learning how to apply it evenly and professionally for a polished, bakery-worthy result.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreate a silky chocolate ganache for the perfect finishing touch. \u003cbr\u003eStudents will learn the correct ratios of cream to chocolate, temperature control, and how to achieve the perfect pourable consistency for a flawless, elegant drip finish.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDecorate your cakes with a beautiful chocolate drip and elegant garnishes. \u003cbr\u003eYou will learn professional decorating techniques, applying the ganache drip with confidence and artfully garnishing each cake blood orange slices, candied zest curls, and elegant finishing touches that transform your creation into a true showpiece.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat's Included\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eStudents will work in groups and receive:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ All ingredients and professional-grade equipment.\u003cbr\u003e✔ Hands-on instruction from Chef Dawn\u003cbr\u003e✔ Printed recipe cards to take home\u003cbr\u003e✔ Your own decorated mini chocolate cakes in a box to enjoy yourself and the skills to make them again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the end of the class, you'll leave with new baking skills, professional decorating tips, and a beautiful box of handcrafted mini cakes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Chef Dawn\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCelebrity Pastry Chef Dawn Marie Alston of Ravy Cakes, LLC is an award-winning Pastry Chef who enjoys serving her community, instructing baking \u0026amp; pastry, and cake decorating classes for both children and adults. Chef Dawn enjoys instructing the youth and adults by teaching culinary arts enrichment programs. Dawn Alston of Ravy Cakes, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native, grew up in Northern Virginia. She developed her passion for baking at the age of six, thanks to her Uncle David.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUncle David was well known for his Southern cuisine and cakes made from scratch. Every opportunity she had with him  she tagged along in the kitchen, especially during cake baking time! Her last and most fond memory of time spent with her Uncle David was very sweet: He baked the family a mouthwatering lemon pound cake that they eagerly lined up in the kitchen to taste. It’s amazing how a freshly baked cake can bring joy, happiness, and togetherness to family, this is what will forever motivate Chef Dawn to create the most delicious cakes imaginable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePastry Chef Dawn holds and Associate of Science degree in Culinary Arts with a concentration in Baking \u0026amp; Pastry from The Arts Institute of Washington, and a vast number of certifications and awards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompeting in cake competitions is something that Chef Dawn loves to do. Competing on “Food Networks” The Wedding Cake Championship was a grand highlight in her career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChef Dawn takes great pride in coaching and mentoring her students, some who have competed on The Food Network and various competitions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChef Dawn serves the entire DMV and Beyond!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"0 0 []\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ravycakes.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ewww.ravycakes.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFB: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Ravy-Cakes\/100054580203935\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ravycakes\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIG: @\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/myravycakes\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003emyravycakes\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTickets \u0026amp; Registration\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e$70 per person\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAll materials, tastings, beverages, and take-home goodies are included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpace is intentionally limited to ensure a high-quality, personal experience.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReserve your seat - maximum of 25 seats.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"LACONIKO ","offers":[{"title":"July 11th 2:00-4:30 PM","offer_id":47001014304924,"sku":null,"price":70.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0395\/9799\/8236\/files\/BloodOrangeChocolateCake.png?v=1780398864","url":"https:\/\/laconiko.com\/products\/baking-mini-chocolate-cakes-class","provider":"LACONIKO ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}