Three Ways to Become a Confident Cook
Mini Food Explorers offers three ways for children and teenagers to learn to cook, each designed to build real kitchen skills, confidence and a genuine love of food.
Our in-person cooking workshops are hands-on seasonal events perfect for younger children, bringing kids together to cook and bake in a fun, supervised environment.
Our online Junior Chef Challenge is a structured 6-week programme for children aged 9–14, transforming complete beginners into capable cooks through step-by-step video lessons and gamified learning.
Our Duke of Edinburgh cooking course is designed specifically for teenagers completing their Bronze or Silver DofE Skills section, providing a fully structured programme with a qualified assessor, weekly video lessons and a completed Assessor's Report.
All three courses are created and taught by Jemma Davis, a professional recipe developer with a BSc (Hons) in Food & Consumer Studies and experience developing award-winning products for M&S and Annabel Karmel.
Which course is right for my child?
Not sure where to start? Here's a simple guide to help you choose.
| In-Person Workshops | Junior Chef Challenge | DofE Cooking Course | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Younger children, one-off events | Children aged 9–14 building kitchen confidence | Teenagers completing Bronze or Silver DofE |
| Format | Hands-on, in person | Online, self-paced video lessons | Online, self-paced video lessons |
| Duration | Single session or short course | 6 weeks | 3 months (Bronze) or 6 months (Silver) |
| Experience needed | None | None | None |
| Includes assessor | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ Full Assessor's Report included |
| Available UK-wide | Local only | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Price | See upcoming events | £49 | £40 (Bronze) · £80 (Silver) |
| Still unsure? | Drop us a message and we'll help you find the right fit for your child's age, experience and goals. | ||
Our Courses
In-Person Cooking Classes
Our seasonal in-person cooking workshops give children a hands-on experience of real cooking in a fun, safe and supervised environment. From Easter baking sessions and festive Gingerbread House workshops to holiday classes and themed events, there's always something exciting on the menu. Private parties and bespoke group sessions are also available — ideal for birthdays or school groups.
Online Junior Chef Challenge
The Junior Chef Challenge is our flagship online cooking course for children aged 9–14, taking complete beginners from their very first recipe to cooking impressive, flavourful meals in just six weeks. Following along with professional video lessons, young chefs cook 12 real recipes, earn weekly achievement badges and receive personal feedback from our experienced instructors. With lifetime access to all materials and no fixed lesson times, it fits easily around school, activities and family life.
Duke of Edinburgh
Our online Duke of Edinburgh cooking course is designed specifically to meet the requirements of the DofE Skills section for both Bronze and Silver Awards, with cooking being one of the most popular activities chosen by participants. The course runs over 3 months for Bronze or 6 months for Silver, with approximately one hour of cooking activity per week and simple photo-based evidence submission. On completion, participants receive a full Assessor's Report from our qualified assessor Jemma Davis, ready to submit directly on eDofE.
Meet Jemma Davis
BSc (Hons) Food & Consumer Studies, former recipe developer M&S
Mini Food Explorers was founded by Jemma Davis, an experienced recipe developer and mum of two, with a degree in Food & Consumer Studies and a background creating award-winning products for major food brands and M&S.
Passionate about building children’s confidence in the kitchen, Jemma combines professional expertise with real-life family cooking to help young food explorers develop adventurous tastes and lifelong skills.
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