Casa de la Cultura: Dulces a traves del Tiempo

Casa de la Cultura is hosting Dulces a traves del Tiempo, a six-week dessert-making workshop series at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center in downtown Austin. It runs on Saturdays from June 13 through July 25, with each session from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM. The whole series is built around Latinidad and the sweets traditionally served at celebrations, so it's as much about the culture as it is about the baking.

Over the six weeks, you'll work through a range of techniques, styles, and designs. There's buttercream piping, cake structuring and decorating, cookie decorating, and baking traditional treats like polvorones. The instruction is designed to be accessible and beginner-friendly, so you don't need to be a pro to jump in. The sessions also open up conversations about shared cultural experiences, and you're encouraged to make your own versions of these desserts, rooted in tradition but with your own touch.

One of the best parts is that you take home a dessert after every single workshop, so there's something to show for your time each week. The series wraps up with a celebration of the skills you've learned and the connections you've made along the way. You'll also get a communal recipe book to keep those traditions going in your own kitchen long after the classes end.

The workshops are held at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, located at 600 River St in the Rainey Street Historic District. It's a downtown hub dedicated to the preservation, creation, presentation, and promotion of Mexican American and Latino cultural arts. The series runs Saturdays, June 13 through July 25, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.