Learn To Bake Holiday Cookies, Other Seasonal Treats Via FCPS ACE

Press Release: FCPS Adult and Community Education

In consideration of the 2025 holiday season, the Fairfax County Public Schools Adult and Community Education program (FCPS ACE) is offering timely lineup of hands-on baking classes, which empowers individuals, organizations, and the community to build brighter futures with accessible and affordable workforce development and training programs, flexible online education, and lifelong learning opportunities.

This season, FCPS ACE is offering a series of festive baking classes that invite community members to explore global holiday traditions—from German Christmas cookies to French Bûche de Noël—while learning from local instructors who bring cultural depth and personal heritage to the kitchen.
Highlights include:

• German Christmas Cookies – Dec 6 Taught by Nicola Hofstetter, this class explores beloved holiday treats like Zimtsterne and Vanillekipferl. Nicola grew up baking with her grandparents in Munich and brings a rich cultural perspective to every session.
• German Classics: Stollen & Fruit Bread – Nov 15 Also led by Nicola Hofstetter, students will learn to prepare two authentic German holiday breads filled with marzipan, almonds, and raisins—perfect for gifting or gathering.
• German Pretzels – Sept 27 A perennial favorite taught by Nicola Hofstetter, this class returns just in time for fall festivities and is ideal for beginners and seasoned bakers alike.
• French Christmas Cake – Dec 23 Taught by Fanny Gaston, this class offers a hands-on experience in crafting Bûche de Noël. Students can choose to take the class in French or English, blending language learning with culinary tradition.

You can browse and register for these classes here.

What makes these classes unique isn’t just the recipes—it’s the storytelling, the cultural exchange, and the intergenerational connections they foster. Nicola’s background in art therapy shapes her approach: she creates a relaxed, welcoming space where students — from millennials to seniors—share their own traditions, learn from one another, and reconnect with heritage through food.

These classes have become seasonal staples in the FCPS ACE catalog, with repeat students returning year after year. They’re accessible, affordable, and deeply rooted in the idea that baking is more than a skill—it’s a way to build community.