6

A person who makes desserts is called a pastry chef, but is there a name for the action itself of making desserts? "Cooking" is too general, and "baking" implies bread, cakes, etc. which is not quite what I mean. Any ideas?

Improve this question
10
  • Am I correct to assume that by "an interest" you mean the vocation or the action of making pastries?
    – Chris Sunami
    Apr 4, 2014 at 16:23
  • yes that's right - as in "I enjoy dessert-making". I just wanted a more formal term for this
    – Paige
    Apr 4, 2014 at 16:24
  • But it's the dessert-making you would like an alternate term for, not the enjoyment of dessert-making? If so, you might want to edit your question a little, because it currently sounds like you're asking about the affection for dessert making rather than the act itself.
    – Chris Sunami
    Apr 4, 2014 at 16:32
  • 3
    I would coin: dessertation or dessertion :)
    – JeffSahol
    Apr 4, 2014 at 17:22
  • 2
    Hungarian has a word for the occupation: cukrász, which comes from cukor "sugar" + -ász "one who works with or is an expert in". (Noun and verb forms follow naturally: cukrászság, cukrászkodás.) A parallel English construction would be something like "sugarer". If that doesn't work for you, you can always just move to Hungary. :)
    – Marthaª
    Apr 4, 2014 at 17:53

7 Answers 7

Reset to default
2

The cooking school, Le Cordon-Bleu USA, refers to the field as the pâtisserie and baking arts. It also uses the term pastry arts.

The Culinary Institute of America uses the same phrases.

Improve this answer
1
  • I like addition of arts! - the meaning of the term is still clear but it sounds a bit better than "pastry making"
    – Paige
    Apr 4, 2014 at 16:56
1

French here. The word you're looking for is pâtisserie making.

Actually, as long as all desserts are not pastries, the term "entremet making" would fit better than "pâtisserie making" here.

Improve this answer
3
  • I was trying to find an alternative to "x making", ideally a single word
    – Paige
    Apr 4, 2014 at 17:47
  • 3
    @Paige I can't seem to think of a single word to refer to patisserie making. I'll mull over that question and will let you know if I get an answer. :-)
    – Elian
    Apr 4, 2014 at 17:56
  • I know someone who agrees that fruit does not count as a dessert!
    – GEdgar
    Jul 22, 2016 at 14:50
1

This question is looking for a verb. The verb is confection:

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/confection#Related_terms

In noun form, a confection is an edible thing made with sugar. In order to create a confection, you would first need to confect it, similar to the way that "perfection" is possessed by that which has been "perfected."

Example: "Have you confected those lemon bars yet?" or: "Confection is easy. You just put your hand around the icing tube... and squeeeeeze." or: "Don't make so much noise when I'm confecting!

Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    This is incorrect. While a confection is an edible thing made with sugar, the verb form does not have the meaning of making such a thing. It has a broader meaning of mixing/compounding materials, not necessarily for desserts.
    – Muhd
    Apr 4, 2014 at 21:43
  • I suppose you're right. Frankly, I'm disappointed that such a word doesn't exist.
    – Glatisant Soldier
    Apr 5, 2014 at 0:27
0

Since each dessert might involve different processes to create, the all-inclusive "preparing dessert" seems like it will fit the bill.

Improve this answer
0

Cofectioning: verb, archaic The act of making confections (separate from the medical term).

Out of use in English by 16th century, but now is as good a time as any to bring it back.

[Dictionary.com]

Improve this answer
0

I think "confectionist" has a nice sound to it! Hopefully, this isn't a word already and just dessert makers have their right to use it! Great question, I was thinking the same thing! Good luck on future questions and endeavors, Another Confectionist.

Improve this answer
-3

This would be called an interest in dessert making.

If you want to coin a term: Dessertophilia or Pastrophilia.

Granted these could merely be a love of desserts or pastries, but I still would call them applicable.

Improve this answer
4
  • A -philia would be a more pronounced sexual interest in desserts in that context, iirc. Crustology might be more applicable, as it combines the Latin 'crustulum' [pastry] with the Latin suffix 'logia' [branch of learning]. I also note 'Bellaria' is the Latin for dessert. So someone interested in pastry making would be a Crustologist and someone specifically interested in desserts would be a Bellariologist? I think I'm done coining terms for one day...
    – NinjaDuckie
    Apr 4, 2014 at 16:34
  • so "bellariology" or "crustology" might work, then
    – Paige
    Apr 4, 2014 at 16:40
  • 5
    @NinjaDuckie So, Anglophiles are sexually interested in the British? Audiophiles are sexually interested in audio? Shall I keep going?
    – David M
    Apr 4, 2014 at 17:53
  • 1
    @David Touché. I shall research further before making assumptive points in future.
    – NinjaDuckie
    Apr 4, 2014 at 20:36

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.