Emma Mykytyn A new children’s cookery school in Edinburgh is opening in Morningside, offering hands-on cooking and baking classes for youngsters aged from two to 17.
Cook Stars Edinburgh West launches at McLarens on the Corner on Sunday 31 August 2026, with a programme of weekly classes, seasonal workshops and special events planned throughout the year.
Kids can get hands-on in the kitchen
Cook Stars classes are designed to help children learn practical cooking skills in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.
Each session gives youngsters the chance to prepare their own dish from scratch before taking their creation home to share – or perhaps keep all to themselves.
The first Edinburgh Cook Stars workshop takes place from 11:30am until 1:30pm on Sunday 31 August at McLarens on the Corner.
Young bakers will be making their own chocolate and vanilla swirl marble cake, with everything they need supplied as part of the class.
Alongside the cooking, each child receives a craft activity and snack, while their finished dish is packaged up to take home along with a printed recipe card so they can recreate it again.
Cookery classes for children in Edinburgh
The Cook Stars programme aims to introduce children to home cooking using straightforward ingredients while still leaving room for the occasional treat.
Classes will encourage children to experiment with new flavours, ingredients and cuisines while developing confidence in the kitchen.
Skills covered will include:
* Weighing and measuring ingredients
* Mixing and preparing dishes
* Cutting and shaping
* Rolling
* Decorating
* Learning about ingredients and new foods
Cook Stars Edinburgh will keep class sizes small so instructors can provide plenty of individual support.
Dawn Robertson, who is leading Cook Stars in Edinburgh, said:
“Our new classes will give children across Edinburgh the chance to develop confidence in the kitchen, learn practical life skills and discover that cooking can be fun. We’ll also learn about different ingredients and try new foods.
We believe the secret to pleasurable learning is through play, so our classes are friendly, relaxed and fun.”
Dawn also hopes the classes will encourage children to become more involved with cooking at home.
When youngsters help make their own meals, they can often become more interested in tasting unfamiliar foods and ingredients.
Seasonal Cook Stars workshops in Edinburgh
Cook Stars is already planning a range of themed children’s cooking workshops throughout the year.
Upcoming themes are expected to include:
* Halloween
* Christmas
* Valentine’s Day
* Mother’s Day
* Easter
The one-off seasonal workshops will cater for groups of up to 12 children.
Children under five must be accompanied by an adult.
Seasonal workshops cost £25 per child, including ingredients, equipment, apron use, packaging, a craft activity, snack and recipe card.
Weekly toddler cooking classes
Cook Stars will also run weekly classes aimed at children and toddlers aged two to five.
The sessions will accommodate groups of up to 14 youngsters, with children attending alongside an adult.
Weekly classes run from 1 September until 8 December 2026 and cost £15 per child.
There will be no classes during the October half-term holidays between 13 and 20 October.
More Cook Stars locations in Edinburgh
As well as McLarens on the Corner, Cook Stars plans to hold sessions at Christ Church in Morningside and St Ninian’s Church in Corstorphine.
Further classes are expected to launch across west Edinburgh over the coming year.
Plans also include workshops aimed specifically at older children aged 11 to 17, helping teenagers develop more advanced kitchen skills and greater confidence cooking independently.
Family-friendly cooking classes in Morningside
Cook Stars’ main Morningside venue will be McLarens on the Corner, the family-friendly bar and restaurant at the junction of Bruntsfield and Morningside.
Hannah McConnachie from McLarens on the Corner said:
“We’re really excited to be working with Cook Stars to provide the perfect venue for kids across Edinburgh to cook up a storm, make new friends and have lots of fun.”
McLarens has been part of the Morningside neighbourhood since 2020 and is operated by Edinburgh-based hospitality company Signature Group.
How to book Cook Stars Edinburgh
Where: McLarens on the Corner, 8 Morningside Road, Edinburgh
Launch date: Sunday 31 August 2026
Launch workshop: 11:30am – 1:30pm
First workshop: Chocolate and vanilla swirl marble cake
Seasonal workshops:£25 per child
Weekly toddler classes:£15 per child
Weekly classes: 1 September – 8 December 2026
Places can be booked through the Cook Stars Edinburgh West website
More information about McLarens on the Corner can be found at mclarensonthecorner.co.uk.
