Tiramisu, mousse, lemon cheese cake, cookies ? these popular Western desserts are great favorites in the summer. But have you ever thought about making them yourself? There are baking houses which will teach you how to make these popular Western treats.

Momoxiong DIY Baking House

Momoxiong DIY Baking House is in a residential building near Zhongshan Park with only a simple sign hanging outside the door. However, its warm colors and cartoon illustrations will give you a different feeling soon after entering.

Children love Momoxiong. Around the room are dolls and photos of customers taking lessons.

There are two floors inside with two long tables with utensils and ingredients. Experts in pastry making are here to help customers prepare baking items.

All you have to do is follow their instructions. Choose a mold you like and let the professionals help you control the time of baking.

There's an added benefit you don't need to clean up afterward.

Tips: All cakes are 6 inches (15 centimeters). An extra fee of 60 yuan/US$8.78 (club member 40 yuan) is charged if you'd like to customize a bigger one. The most popular course costs 320 yuan lasting two months.

Address: Rm 606, Bldg 2, Hongqiao International Mansion, 1551 Changning Rd, Changning District

Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 9:30am-5:30pm

Meishimeifu Cakes and Desserts DIY Baking House

Colorful baking containers, light background music, sweet smell of baking ... you will feel the strong impulse to make a dessert soon after entering Meishimeifu.

You can make almost all kinds of desserts here of whatever size and shape: delicate gingerbread houses, gift-box-shaped milk cakes, banana-leaf-type bread and so on. All are easy to learn.

Tips: You need to book and tell them in advance what you want to make. For 198 yuan you can learn how to make one type of dessert. Various kinds of utensils and materials are available for sale.

Address: Rm 1401, Bldg 2, Zhongyoujiayuan, 1458 Gumei Rd, Xuhui District

Opening hours: 10am-10pm

Aike DIY Baking House

Located in an office building, Aike DIY Baking House provides courses in desserts, cakes and pizzas.

The most popular course here is the one to make strawberry casta and maccha two-color biscuits. You can engrave different patterns on the biscuits or just make some lovely shapes using your creativity.

Tips: A reservation is needed two days before coming to the store. Experts will help you prepare all the ingredients and materials. Just enjoy the fun of making flour into fresh desserts and the fragrant smell of baking.

Address: Rm 215, Shengda Mansion, 179 Guangji Rd, Hongkou District

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-9pm

DIY 21 Sweet Baking House

This shop is small but has various types of desserts: cakes, tiramisu, cookies, pizzas, etc. You can add colorful seasonings like cocoa powder, almond powder or green tea powder to cookies.

Different tastes of mousse cakes are also available. It's not hard to make biscuits with the help of all kinds of molds.

The most popular is a full set of English letters. As you are making your treats, the experts tell you some stories or anecdotes.

Tips: The shop is busy during weekends and a reservation is a must. Making cookies costs 120 yuan.

Address: 21 Shengping Street, near Maoming Rd N., Jing'an District

Opening hours:10am-10pm

Bakery Lovers DIY

The shop is on the fifth floor of a residential house near Yigu Restaurant.

Instead of using cake powder or tiramisu powder, all their lessons begin from basic materials such as butter, sugar, eggs, flour, etc.

Tips: A 300-yuan package is recommended including two-color biscuits, cream puff and cakes.

Address: Rm 501, Bldg 16, Juxiange, 1030 Yan'an Rd W., Changning District

Opening hours:10:30am-8pm

(Shanghai Daily August 21, 2009)