Italian Baking and Pizza Making

Immerse yourself in the flavours and traditions of Italian baking on this hands-on course with renowned baker, author and tutor Emmanuel Hadjiandreou.

From the rustic breads of the Italian countryside to beautifully crafted pizzas, you’ll discover the techniques and ingredients that have made Italian baking famous around the world.

Throughout the day, you’ll learn how to work with high-hydration doughs, develop flavour through fermentation and master the kneading, proving and shaping methods that create authentic Italian breads. Guided by Emmanuel’s expert tuition, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to recreate these much-loved bakes in your own kitchen.

What You’ll Learn

Through practical baking and expert guidance, you will:

• Understand the key ingredients used in traditional Italian baking
• Learn how hydration, fermentation and dough handling influence texture and flavour
• Develop confidence in kneading, proving and shaping a variety of doughs
• Explore techniques for creating open crumb structures and crisp, golden crusts
• Gain practical skills for producing artisan breads and pizzas at home

What You’ll Bake

During the course, you’ll make a selection of classic Italian favourites, including:

Ciabatta
Learn how to handle and shape this highly hydrated dough to achieve ciabatta’s characteristic light texture, open crumb and crisp crust. You’ll explore the techniques needed to develop strength in wetter doughs while preserving the air bubbles that create its distinctive structure.

Focaccia
Create this iconic Italian flatbread using traditional stretching, dimpling and finishing techniques. You’ll learn how olive oil, fermentation and careful dough handling contribute to focaccia’s soft interior, golden crust and rich flavour.

Sweet and Savoury Pizzas
Master the fundamentals of pizza making, from dough preparation and fermentation to stretching and topping. You’ll create both sweet and savoury versions while learning how to achieve a well-risen base, excellent texture and balanced flavour.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is ideal for home bakers, food enthusiasts and anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of Italian baking. No previous baking experience is required, just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn alongside fellow food lovers.