Culinary Demonstration Class
Photo by Katie Knapp
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, 10 a.m.-noon
$85 member/$105 non-member, includes Arboretum admission plus all supplies and ingredients.
Registration coming soon.
Program location: Farm at the Arb - Kitchen Classroom (Myers Education Center)
Adult 18+
Class Overview:
What makes the ultimate Minnesota holiday cookie? It’s simple, but impressive!
Chef Beth Fisher welcomes Lee Svitak Dean and Rick Nelson, co-authors of The Ultimate Minnesota Cookie Book — a collection featuring decades of award-winning holiday recipes, insider baking secrets and cherished regional traditions from the beloved Star Tribune holiday cookie contest. In the festive class, unwrap the secrets to creating simple, but impressive cookies that will dazzle your family, friends and taste buds this holiday season!
You will watch them demonstrate their practical techniques, sample five contest-winning cookies and take home their tricks for making the baking process efficient and more fun. If you think holiday cookie recipes are too complicated, this class is for you!
In this class you will learn:
- Cookie Fundamentals: Understand the key differences between cut-out, refrigerator and drop cookies.
- Perfect Your Dough: Get expert techniques for flawless texture, even baking and streamlined prep.
- Elevate Your Gifting: Discover creative ideas for packaging and presenting cookies as holiday gifts.
- Taste: Enjoy five simple-yet-impressive recipes from the book.
- Meet the Authors: Chat with Lee and Rick, get your books signed or purchase copies on-site.
Menu:
- Cornmeal Cranberry Shortbread Cookies
- Almond Palmiers
- Cardamom Cherry Buttons
- Cranberry Pecan swirls
- Diablo Snowballs
Book Recommendations: Lee Svitak Dean and Rick Nelson’s The Ultimate Minnesota Cookie Book & The Great Minnesota Cookie Book
Instructors:
Lee Svitak Dean was the longtime food editor at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, where she guided the Taste section to multiple James Beard Awards. She is co-author, with Rick Nelson, of The Ultimate Minnesota Cookie Book and co-author of Kitchens of Hope: Immigrants Share Stories of Resilience and Recipes from Home.
Rick Nelson wrote about restaurants and food at the Minnesota Star Tribune for 24 years. He is a James Beard Award winner and his work has been featured in four editions of the annual Best Food Writing anthology, which highlights the best in American food journalism.
Chef Beth Fisher is thrilled to bring her experience to her role as Culinary Manager at The University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Known for her years of teaching at various cooking schools and creative culinary work at several popular Twin Cities restaurants, Beth is now focused on enhancing the Arboretum's fast growing culinary offerings and kitchen classroom educational experiences. Join Beth and discover the joy of learning and cooking in the kitchen!
We recommend that you enter the Arboretum via the back gate on 82nd St, not the main entrance on Hwy 5. This is the most direct route to access the Farm at the Arb, and avoids potential delays when driving through the Arboretum.
Directions: 3210 W 82nd St, Chanhassen, MN 55317
If you do wish to enter through the main Arboretum gate on Hwy 5, you can take 3-Mile Drive through the Arboretum and turn right on Peter Moe Drive to get to the Myers Education Center (this route may take an additional 15-20 minutes, so please plan accordingly).
Main Entry instructions:
You will receive a bar-code ticket for entry to the Arboretum in your email purchase confirmation. Your ticket is valid for entry on the day of your class. Present your ticket to the gate attendant as you enter the Arboretum. You may stay at the Arboretum after class as long as you want during our operating hours.