Every family has that one Christmas photo. Flour on a small nose. A gingerbread man with one arm and a very proud expression. A parent in the background, pretending not to mind the state of the counter.

Those are the moments that tend to outlast the gifts. Not the perfect bake, but the afternoon someone stood on a stool, got their hands properly messy and announced that this was the best cookie ever made.

If you'd like more of those, and a little less of the cleaning up afterwards, here's how Christmas baking with kids works at Palate Sensations.

Why bake at Christmas with your child?

Because baking is one of the easiest ways to turn "we should do something festive" into something you actually do. There's measuring, mixing, rolling and decorating, so there's always a job for small hands. And there's a delicious result at the end that you can point to and say, "we made that."

There's a quieter benefit too. Children who help in the kitchen tend to feel proud of what lands on the table, and a festive bake gives them a very good reason to be proud. It's not just about learning a recipe. It's about being trusted with the whisk.

A class also takes care of the things that make baking at home feel like a lot — planning, ingredients and a chef instructor to guide you — so you can concentrate on the fun part.

What Christmas baking classes can parents and children join?

Palate Sensations has two Christmas classes made for a parent and child to take together, each around two hours long, held at our studio in Biopolis.

• Parent And Child Class: Christmas Cookies — "get baking and let the holiday fun begin!" A morning of festive cookie-making to share.
• Parent And Child Class: Christmas Gingerbread Men — "whip up some delicious gingerbread men!" A fun, hands-on bake for the sort of child who loves giving each creation its own personality.

Both are listed on our class page with their latest dates, and both are a lovely way to start Christmas as a family.

Browse upcoming Christmas classes →

Christmas Cookies or Gingerbread Men: which to choose?

You can't really go wrong. Both are festive, both are hands-on, and both end with something you'll want to photograph before anyone eats it. A few thoughts to help you decide:

• Choose Christmas Cookies if your child loves the whole experience of mixing, shaping and decorating, and you'd like a bake that feels like the classic start to the holiday season.
• Choose Christmas Gingerbread Men if your child likes characters, stories and a little cheeky personality in their food. It's a good fit for the child who names everything they make.
• Can't choose? Book both. There's no rule against two mornings of festive baking.

What are the Christmas Cookie Gift Bags classes?

These are festive baking classes with a lovely idea at their heart: bake treats, then give them away. Described as a way to "spread some holiday cheer with the scent of freshly baked treats", they run for around three hours and include a Ginger Series edition.

They're a thoughtful option if you'd like to hand out homemade presents to teachers, neighbours or grandparents this year. Because the listing doesn't specify who these classes are aimed at, please check with us before booking if you're hoping to bring a child along.

What happens in a parent-and-child class?

You and your child work as a pair, baking and decorating together with a chef instructor leading the session. The two-hour length keeps things lively without wearing out little ones, and a morning slot leaves the rest of the day free.

The studio is at Chromos #01-03, 10 Biopolis Road, Singapore 138670, within walking distance of Buona Vista MRT. If you'd like to see everything we run for children, from classes to the holiday bootcamps, have a look at our kids cooking classes, or the wider range of parent-and-child classes.

If your child has allergies or dietary needs, please tell us when you enquire so we can talk you through what's possible for that class.

How do you book a Christmas class for you and your child?

You book online through the class listing. Choose the class and date, then reserve your spot. Worth knowing before you do:

• Hands-on classes need a minimum of four participants.
• Bookings close 48 hours before the class date.
• If a class doesn't reach its minimum, it may be cancelled — you'll be told by email 48 hours ahead, and you can choose a refund or a replacement class.

Planning a Christmas menu of your own as well? Our companion post on Christmas cooking classes for adults covers the festive dinner classes. And if the school holidays have you looking for more to do, our school holiday cooking bootcamp is worth a look.

Explore kids cooking classes →

Frequently asked questions

What Christmas classes are there for parents and children?

Palate Sensations offers Parent And Child Class: Christmas Cookies and Parent And Child Class: Christmas Gingerbread Men. Each runs for around two hours at the Biopolis studio.

How long are the parent-and-child Christmas classes?

Each parent-and-child class runs for around two hours.

Do parents take part in the class?

Yes. These are parent-and-child classes, so a parent and child bake together as a pair.

What are the Christmas Cookie Gift Bags classes?

They're festive baking classes of around three hours where you bake treats to give as gifts. If you plan to bring a child, please check with us before booking.

How many people do you need to book a class?

Hands-on classes require a minimum of four participants. If a class doesn't reach its minimum, you can choose a refund or a replacement class.

When do bookings close?

Bookings close 48 hours before the class date.

Where are the classes held?

At our studio at Chromos #01-03, 10 Biopolis Road, Singapore 138670, within walking distance of Buona Vista MRT.