Medellin: Learn to make Colombian empanadas from scratch

Good food makes better memories. This 150-minute Medellín cooking experience brings you into a Colombian family home to shape, fill, cook, and eat empanadas with local hosts. I like the small group of up to nine people, which gives you time at the worktable instead of leaving you to watch from the back. I also like the personal setting: two sisters host the class, with one described as the family empanada expert and the other helping guide the session.

The main consideration is that this is a hands-on home cooking class, not a polished restaurant demonstration. That is the point for many people, but anyone expecting a formal culinary school or a large menu of activities may find the format simple. At $56 per person, the value comes from the instruction, food, drinks, and time spent with local hosts rather than from a long list of included attractions.

Key points before you book

• You make the empanadas yourself: You prepare the dough, choose fillings, shape the pastries, and cook them with guidance.
• The class takes place in a Colombian home: The setting offers a personal look at everyday family cooking rather than a standard tourist venue.
• You can choose your filling: Meat, chicken, a monthly special, mushrooms, corn, cheese, or potato with hogao are available.
• Vegetarians and vegans can take part: Vegetarian fillings are listed, and the hosts say the experience works for vegans as well.
• The group is limited to nine: This keeps the lesson more personal and gives you room to practice.
• Drinks are included: You receive a local welcome drink, then another drink to enjoy with the finished empanadas.

Why making empanadas tells you something about Colombia

Empanadas are more than a snack to grab between sightseeing stops. They are practical food: a crisp shell, a filling that can change with the household, and a shape made for sharing. Learning to make them gives you a small but useful window into Colombian home cooking.

The class begins with a local welcome drink, followed by a short explanation of empanadas and their background. This opening matters because it gives the cooking some context before your hands get busy. You are not simply copying a recipe. You learn why the dish matters and how different fillings fit into the Colombian food tradition.

The history portion is brief, so do not expect a long lecture. That is a plus if you would rather get to the worktable. The class keeps the story connected to the food you are about to prepare.

Starting at Casa 201 with a small local team

The meeting point is Casa 201. The experience is led in English, and the hosts also speak some Portuguese. The family team includes the sister known for her empanada skills, working alongside her sister to teach and welcome the group.

That family connection shapes the mood. The hosts cook at home themselves, so the lesson is tied to a real household habit rather than a performance built only for tourists. I like this kind of setting because it can make conversation easier. You are meeting people in the place where they prepare food, not just hearing a prepared speech in a commercial kitchen.

You should arrive ready to take part. The hosts specifically ask you to bring a good attitude, a smile, and an appetite. That sounds lighthearted, but it is useful advice. The class works best when you are willing to try, make uneven shapes, ask questions, and laugh at the first empanada that looks more like a folded envelope.

The preparation: dough, choices, and your own filling

The heart of the class is the preparation. You work with the hosts to make empanadas from scratch, using your own hands and their instruction. The experience does not limit everyone to a single standard recipe. You choose ingredients according to your preference.

The listed options include:

• Meat
• Chicken
• A special filling that changes each month
• Mushrooms
• Corn
• Cheese
• Potato with hogao

The changing monthly filling is a nice touch. It gives the cooking team room to use a different idea from one month to the next, though the exact option cannot be guaranteed in advance. If you have dietary needs, tell the hosts before you begin so they can guide you toward the suitable ingredients.

Vegetarians have clear choices, especially mushrooms, corn, cheese, and potato with hogao. The hosts also state that the experience is suitable for vegans. Since the listed vegetarian options include cheese, you should confirm which fillings and preparation choices fit your diet when you book.

This freedom of choice gives the class more personality. You are not all producing identical empanadas. You can compare fillings around the table and find out how much the final taste changes when the filling changes.

Shaping the empanadas without worrying about perfection

The shaping stage is where the class becomes social. You fill the dough, fold it, and work on the edges under the guidance of the hosts. Their job is not only to explain the steps but also to help you improve as you go.

Several people who took part found the instruction easy to follow, including families and first-time cooks. That makes this a good option if you have little kitchen experience. You do not need to arrive with special skills. The hosts provide the method, and you get time to practice rather than being rushed through one quick attempt.

I would expect the first few empanadas to vary in size and shape. That is normal. The class is about learning the process, not producing display-ready pastries. By the end, you should have a better sense of how much filling to use and how to close the edges.

A family of four has taken the lesson alongside another participant, with everyone fully involved. That detail is helpful if you are considering the class for a family. The format can work for mixed ages and different skill levels, as long as everyone is comfortable participating in a shared kitchen activity.

Cooking time, shared plates, and the best part

Once the empanadas are prepared, you cook them and then sit down to enjoy them with another drink. The reward is immediate: you eat the food you shaped yourself, with the flavors you selected.

The hosts give you time to practice and improve. That matters more than it might seem. A rushed class can leave you with a recipe but no real sense of how to repeat it. Here, the hands-on pace gives you a chance to correct mistakes before the final batch.

Some participants have been able to take extra empanadas home. Treat that as a possible benefit rather than a promise, since the amount you make and what you can keep may depend on the session. Either way, the meal is part of the experience, not an afterthought.

The food is also where the class earns much of its appeal. You are not tasting a chef’s finished plate while standing aside. You are eating a result you helped make. That small difference makes the meal feel more memorable.

The family-home setting and cultural connection

The strongest reason to book this experience is the chance to spend time with local people in their home. You get to see how a familiar Colombian food is prepared in a family setting, and you have space to talk while working.

The hosts are described as warm, kind, encouraging, and easy to understand. Translation and explanations have worked well for English-speaking participants. Their cooking partnership also adds a personal touch: one sister brings the empanada expertise, while the other helps keep the group moving and comfortable.

This is not a city tour. You will not cover Medellín’s major sights or receive a broad survey of Antioquia. The cultural value is narrower and more personal. You learn through food, conversation, and the rhythm of preparing something together.

That focus is a strength if you want time with locals. It may be less suitable if you prefer an activity with constant movement or a packed schedule. For me, the slower pace is part of the appeal. You have room to ask questions and notice how the hosts work as a family team.

Is $56 a fair price?

The cost is $56 per person. That is not the price of a quick street snack, so it is worth asking what you are buying.

You receive a 150-minute activity, a welcome drink, instruction, ingredients for the empanadas, cooking time, the finished food, and another drink. You also receive access to a small-group setting and a local home experience. If you value personal contact and active participation, the price is reasonable.

The value is weaker if you judge the experience only by the amount of food. You could buy empanadas in Medellín for much less. But this is a lesson and cultural visit as much as a meal. You are paying to learn the method, choose your filling, meet the hosts, and spend two and a half hours doing something rather than simply eating.

A group of nine or fewer is another point in its favor. Small groups usually give you more chances to ask for help and more space to work. The price will feel most worthwhile for people who want an experience they can remember and perhaps repeat at home.

Who will enjoy this Medellín cooking class?

I would recommend this class to:

• First-time visitors who want a simple introduction to Colombian food
• Families looking for an activity where everyone can take part
• Couples and solo visitors who enjoy conversation with local hosts
• Vegetarians and vegans who want filling choices beyond meat
• Home cooks who like learning a dish they can try again
• People who prefer small, personal activities to large group tours

The class is especially well suited to families. A family of four has completed it with another individual participant, and everyone was involved. The hosts’ encouragement also helps if one person in your group is less confident in the kitchen.

It may not suit you if you dislike cooking, have very strict dietary requirements that need advance planning, or want a high-end chef-led lesson with technical instruction. The session is friendly and practical, not formal or demanding.

Timing, language, and booking details

The experience lasts 150 minutes, or two and a half hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for the date you want.

The instructor language is English. The hosts also speak some Portuguese, which may help Portuguese-speaking visitors, but English is the stated language for the activity.

The group is limited to nine participants. That is small enough for personal help but large enough to create a social table. Solo visitors should not feel out of place, since the format has included individual participants alongside families.

You can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Medellín schedule is still changing. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. These policies are useful, but I would still choose your date carefully because the experience depends on a family team and a limited number of places.

What to know about the food choices

The filling list is generous for a short class. Meat and chicken cover the familiar options, while the monthly special adds variety. Vegetarians can choose from mushrooms, corn, cheese, or potato with hogao.

Hogao is a cooked Colombian sauce often used with tomato and onion, and here it gives the potato filling extra flavor. The exact preparation details are taught during the class, so you should not expect every recipe measurement to be provided in advance.

If you are vegan, contact the hosts or clarify your requirements before cooking. The experience is advertised as suitable for vegans, but the ingredient list also includes cheese. A quick check will help avoid confusion at the table.

My verdict: should you book it?

Book this class if you want a warm, hands-on introduction to Colombian food and prefer meeting local people over watching a formal show. The family-home setting, small group, filling choices, and generous time for practice make it more than a meal.

At $56, it is best viewed as a cooking lesson with drinks and a cultural visit included. You can find cheaper empanadas elsewhere, but you cannot get the same personal connection by ordering from a counter.

I would skip it only if you want a larger sightseeing program, a professional culinary course, or a quick food stop. For families, solo visitors, couples, and curious eaters, this is a friendly way to spend an afternoon or evening in Medellín. Bring an appetite, accept that your first empanada may look crooked, and enjoy the fact that the final plate is yours.

FAQ

Where does the empanada-making experience take place?

The meeting point is Casa 201 in Medellín, in Antioquia, Colombia.

How long does the experience last?

The class lasts 150 minutes, or two and a half hours.

What is included in the price?

The $56 price includes a local welcome drink, a brief history of empanadas, preparation and cooking instruction, the empanadas you make, and another drink to enjoy with the food.

What fillings can I choose?

Options include meat, chicken, a special filling that changes each month, mushrooms, corn, cheese, and potato with hogao.

Can vegetarians or vegans take part?

Yes. Vegetarian options include mushrooms, corn, cheese, and potato with hogao. The hosts also state that the experience is suitable for vegans.

Is the class taught in English?

Yes. English is the instructor language. The hosts also speak some Portuguese.

How many people are in each group?

The group is limited to nine participants.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Do I have to pay when I book?

No. You can reserve your place and pay later, keeping your travel plans flexible.