Experience Baking Canele and Madeleine in Bordeaux

Overview

2 hours

Mobile ticket

Set in a beautifully restored 17th-century space in the heart of Bordeaux, this workshop offers a rare chance to craft the city’s iconic pastry—the canelé—from scratch. While canelés are sold across the city, including at the famed Baillardran and local favorite La Toque Cuivrée, few places invite you to make them yourself using traditional copper molds. Led entirely in English by native speakers—who are also locals able to translate life in France—this class blends hands-on technique with cultural insight into Bordeaux’s rich culinary heritage.

Offering a warm, immersive setting where guests connect with local traditions, ask questions freely, and savor what they’ve made, this experience goes beyond baking. Guests enjoy not only a taste of Bordeaux but an insider’s view into French culture—all in a space designed for comfort, creativity, and connection. Ideal for food enthusiasts and curious travelers alike.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Public transportation options are available nearby

We have tried to make our space as accessible as possible, that being said, the surrounding streets date to the 17th and 18th century and may be difficult to navigate for some. We are on the ground level without stairs but there are slight door frame transitions to negotiate and our primary work area is a standing counter height with tall stools. We do have an accessible toilet and sink. We will do our best to work with you to create a wheelchair accessible workspace, if needed but please alert us in advance of your visit so we may prepare.

Important Note: We only serve alcoholic drinks for travelers 18 years old and above. Minor travelers below 18 years old will be served non-alcoholic drinks.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

The 20% TVA tax is included in the price.

All cooking ingredients are included.

Use of cooking equipment is included.

A glass of local wine is offered with the experience. A non-alcohol option is availabe.

Gratuities

What To Expect

Guests are welcomed with a quick tour of the beautifully restored 17th-century atelier, followed by introductions and an overview of the class. The experience begins with the story of the canelé—its origins and its special place in Bordeaux’s culinary heritage. Next, participants prepare the canelé batter and fill traditional copper molds for baking. As the pastries cook to caramelized perfection in the oven, the chef introduces another classic French favorite: the madeleine—a versatile dough with many variations and applications. A unique flavor or seasonally inspired preparation will be selected for the madeleines, which are then added to the oven. Throughout the session, the chef shares practical tips on mold selection, ideal baking temperatures, and ideas for pairing and serving these small cakes at home. The experience concludes with a tasting of both pastries, enjoyed with a glass of local wine or a warm beverage, making for a delicious and memorable moment.

Options

Experience Baking Canele and Madeleine in Bordeaux

Reviews

5.00

6 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Experience not to be missed!
gwenc313,
Oct 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
If you’re ever in Bordeaux, do yourself a favor and book a class with Chef Dan at The Gastronome Bordeaux. We learned the art of making Bordeaux’s signature pastry, the canelé, and Dan guided us through every step with patience, expertise, and unmatched humor. He explained the delicate science of baking and how to achieve that perfect caramelized crust with a custardy center. It felt less like a class and more like being welcomed into a friend’s home, except that friend happens to be a world-class chef. Even though he’s more of a chef than artist, his wall of the Bordeaux area marked with corks from the local wineries was a masterpiece! This was truly an unforgettable experience, and I cannot recommend The Gastronome Bordeaux highly enough. Five stars is NOT enough! Thank you, Chef Dan, for sharing your knowledge, your warmth, and your champagne with us!
Warm and with fun
53nicei,
Aug 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Here we would be welcomed nicely and the whole seminar was very funny and fun. You learn a lot about the art of baking and can taste everything
In the class, we loved learning the technique behind caneles and madelines!
charlottesB7881IT,
Aug 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had such an incredible time at the Pastry Class! I would highly recommend this class and it was such a fun activity for a mother daughter trip!
Family Friendly Cooking Class
lauravincents,
Jul 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We did a private class for our small family with three young children, Chef Dan and Erica were wonderful hosts and made our family feel welcome from the first moments! We made the most delicious canele and gateaux basque. My kids (7,7, and 4) were entertained by the class and really participated in the experience. We are 100% canele lovers now and really enjoyed this taste of Bordeaux. Would recommend to any families looking for a fun, food-centered experience in a very cool, old building!
canelé
DenverPam767,
Jul 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I had a delightful experience at The Gastronome Bordeaux learning the art of le canelé and madeleine. Dan, the chef speaks perfect French and English (and easily switched between the 2 for those of us non-bilingual cooks). The kitchen was gorgeous and fully stocked, enough room for several aspiring chefs to comfortably participate. But the best part was the fun we had while learning. Dan makes you feel so welcome from the moment he invites you into his kitchen, it was like cooking with friends! My only regret was not being able to take his full immersion class…I’ll definitely come back the next time I am in Bordeaux.
Fun, personal experience, educational and most of all: DELICIOUS!!!
Dionne K,
Jun 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The workshop was real fun! We learned how to make canelé, the story behind it and we got to taste them. The instructor speaks English very well which enhances the learning experience and also makes it more fun. During the bakingtime of the canelé the instructor also learned us how to make other France pasteries which we also got to taste. Overall recommended 11/10!!