Taking Children On A Culinary Adventure
Duke of Edinburgh Cooking Course
Mini Food Explorers offers an online Duke of Edinburgh cooking course for Bronze and Silver Skills section
Designed to Meet D of E Requirements
3 month course for £60
6 month course £120
Complete Your DofE Skills Section with Confidence
Cooking is the second most popular DofE Skills section activity, chosen by nearly 10% of participants. Our structured cooking courses provide everything you need to successfully complete your Bronze or Silver Skills section whilst learning an essential life skill. Study at your own pace from home, with professional video tutorials, weekly feedback, and full assessor support.
Important: Participants must register their activity with their DofE Leader and ensure this course meets their individual DofE requirements before enrolling. Your DofE Leader will need to approve your programme planner before you begin.
3 month course for £60
6 month course £120
How Our Course Meets DofE Skills Section Requirements
Time
Commitment
Bronze: Minimum 3 months (12 weeks)
Silver: Minimum 6 months (24 weeks)
Average 1 hour per week of cooking activity. Longer recipes can count for multiple sessions.
Progression & Development
Structured curriculum showing clear skill development from basic techniques to more complex recipes, demonstrating continuous improvement and increasing expertise.
Professional
Assessor
Jemma Davis (BSc Food & Consumer Studies) serves as your qualified assessor with professional food development experience, completing your Assessor's Report.
Evidence & Documentation
Weekly photo documentation, recipe logs, and progress reports provide comprehensive evidence for your eDofE portfolio.
3 month course for £60
6 month course £120
What makes this programme different
£60
12 step-by-step recipe videos (1 per week)
Mix of savoury & sweet dishes
Vegetarian options included
Kitchen safety & hygiene module
Equipment essentials guide
Store cupboard staples list
Downloadable recipe cards
Shopping lists for each recipe
Easy photo submission via email
Personal feedback after each recipe
Progress tracking & documentation
Completed Assessor's Report
Lifetime access to all materials
£120
12 step-by-step recipe videos (1 per week)
Mix of savoury & sweet dishes
Vegetarian options included
Kitchen safety & hygiene module
Equipment essentials guide
Store cupboard staples list
Downloadable recipe cards
Shopping lists for each recipe
Easy photo submission via email
Weekly shopping lists
Feedback after each recipe
Progress tracking & documentation
Lifetime access to all materials
How the Course Works for Your DofE
Discuss with Your DofE Leader
Before enrolling, speak with your DofE Leader about using cooking for your Skills section. They'll need to approve your programme planner on D of E.
Enrol & Set Your Goals
Choose your course level, register on eDofE, and complete your programme planner outlining what skills you'll develop. Add Jemma Davis as your assessor contact.
Cook Weekly & Submit Evidence
Follow video tutorials, cook approximately 1 hour per week at times that suit you. Take photos of your dishes and email them to us - simple evidence submission with no complicated apps.
Receive Feedback & Improve
Get personalised feedback on your cooking from your professional assessor, showing continuous progression and skill development throughout your course.
Complete Your Section
After completing your required timeframe, receive your comprehensive Assessor's Report to submit on eDofE, completing your Skills section!
3 month course for £60
6 month course £120
Why Choose Mini Food Explorers for Your DofE?
Qualified Assessor
Learn from Jemma Davis, BSc (Hons) Food & Consumer Studies, with professional experience at M&S and Annabel Karmel
Totally Flexible
Study at your own pace around school, exams, and commitments. Cook when it suits you - morning, evening, or weekends - with lifetime access to all videos
Simple Submissions
Easy evidence submission via email - just send photos after each recipe. No complicated apps or platforms required
Recipes You'll Love
Family-friendly recipes you'll want to cook again and again - not just for the course but for life. Develop confidence cooking real meals
Meet your Instructor
Jemma Davis, BSc (Hons) Food & Consumer Studies
Jemma's culinary journey began in her parents' kitchen before evolving into a professional career in recipe development. With experience creating award-winning products for M&S and developing recipes for Annabel Karmel, Jemma brings professional expertise to every lesson.
As a mother of two, she understands the importance of learning to cook nutritious, enjoyable meals. Her passion for food education led her to found Mini Food Explorers, where she's helped hundreds of children and teenagers develop cooking skills and confidence in the kitchen.
3 month course for £60
6 month course £120
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze & silver
Week 1 -12 Itinerary
Week 1
Stir Fry Chicken with Noodles
Week 2
Cookies
Week 3
Macaroni Cheese
Week 4
American Pancakes
Week 5
Chilli Con Carne
Week 6
Chocolate Brownies
Week 7
Loaded Nachos with Salsa & Guacamole
Week 8
Peach Cobbler
Week 9
Thai Green Curry & Rice
Week 10
Vegetable Soup
Week 11
Flatbreads & Hummus
Week 12
Salmon Traybake
Duke of Edinburgh silver
Week 12-24 Itinerary
Week 13
Fajitas
Week 14
Chicken Tikka
Week 15
Cupcakes & Buttercream Icing
Week 16
Tacos
Week 17
Lemon Drizzle Cake
Week 18
Sushi
Week 19
Spaghetti Bolognese
Week 20
Pizza
Week 21
Veggie Cottage Pie
Week 22
Scones
Week 23
Burgers & Wedges
Week 24
Lemon, Blueberry & Yoghurt Muffins
**BONUS MODULES**
Kitchen & Food Safety
Nutrition & Balance for Teenagers
Kitchen Equipment Essentials
Shopping on a Budget
Meal Planner
How to cook Eggs
How to cook Meat & Fish
FREE PREVIEW: Experience Our Teaching Approach
Watch Jemma in action
Watch professional food developer Jemma Davis in action in this complimentary 15-minute masterclass on creating an essential tomato sauce. This preview gives you a perfect taste of our teaching style - clear instructions, professional techniques, and practical tips that make cooking accessible for complete beginners.
See why parents and teenagers alike praise Jemma's ability to make cooking skills attainable for everyone.
What parents say...
"The course is brilliant and would happily recommend or write a review for you if needed. The structure and flexibility of it is perfect and the recipes are delicious! We're making sure they're printed off and kept in a folder so we can cook them again!
Amanda
"Jemma, thank you ever so much for signing George off and supporting him on his cooking skill journey."
Beth
Frequently Asked Questions
Do students need any previous cooking experience?
None whatsoever. We start with absolute basics and progress gradually.
What equipment is needed?
Just basic kitchen tools found in most homes. A detailed checklist will be provided before the course starts.
How much time should we allow each week?
Around 2-3 hours per week, which includes watching videos, practicing, and cooking.
What if we miss a week?
No problem! All materials remain accessible, and students can progress at their own pace.
What is the Duke of Edinburgh Skills section?
The Duke of Edinburgh Skills section is one of four components of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, alongside Physical, Volunteering and Expedition. It requires participants to learn and develop a practical skill over a set period of time — a minimum of 3 months for Bronze and 6 months for Silver. The goal is to show clear progression and improvement, with evidence submitted regularly and signed off by a qualified assessor. Cooking is one of the most popular Skills section activities chosen by DofE participants, as it builds a genuinely useful life skill while meeting all the programme requirements. Mini Food Explorers' online cooking course is designed specifically to meet these requirements, providing structured weekly lessons, photo evidence submission and a completed Assessor's Report from qualified assessor Jemma Davis.
3 month course for £60
6 month course £120
30 day money back guarantee
if you book your place over 30 days in advance, you can cancel your booking and claim a full refund within 30 days of purchase.
If you book your place within 30 days of the course start date, you can claim a full refund within 14 days of your purchase.
3 month course for £60
6 month course £120
