Pastry Cook

Crème de la Crop; Herndon (VA); Hybrid; USD 23,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Crème de la Crop in Herndon, VA is seeking a reliable Pastry Cook to support weekly production of ice cream, inclusions, baked goods, and pastry components in a small kitchen environment.

This hands-on role emphasizes consistency, organization, and pride in crafting high‑quality products from scratch, with room to grow under an experienced Executive Chef.

Qualifications

• Strong attention to detail, organization, and cleanliness.
• Interest in pastry, food production, or small business operations.
• Ability to follow systems and recipes exactly.
• Comfortable working independently after training.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities without sacrificing quality, consistency, or attention to detail.
• Strong basic math skills for scaling and executing recipes accurately.
• ServSafe Certification is a plus

Responsibilities

• Assist with weekly production of ice cream, inclusions, baked goods, and other pastry components.
• Scale and prepare ingredients according to established recipes.
• Follow detailed recipes and methods with consistency and accuracy.
• Package and label finished products.
• Monitor inventory across ingredients, products, and packaging and use that information to prioritize and plan upcoming prep and production.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen throughout production, including dishwashing and following additional sanitation procedures to minimize the risk of cross-contact.
• Take ownership of assigned production and prep tasks, including creating and maintaining prep lists based on current inventory and upcoming needs.
• Follow food safety and sanitation procedures.
• Communicate openly and directly with the Executive Chef.
• Maintain and update recipe documentation through our shared recipe database.
• Develop an awareness of what products and components are running low and proactively communicate anticipated production and ordering needs to the Executive Chef.
• Occasionally support retail service or special events as needed

Skills

Attention to detail

Organized

Communication

Independent work

Multitasking

Math for scaling

Education

Culinary training (2 yrs)

Job description

We're a small, pastry-driven, allergy-friendly ice cream company looking for a reliable, detail-oriented Pastry Cook to support weekly production.

This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys working in a small kitchen environment and takes pride in consistency, organization, and producing high-quality products from scratch. Our production includes ice cream, baked goods, inclusions, and other pastry components.

What You'll Do:

Assist with weekly production of ice cream, inclusions, baked goods, and other pastry components

Scale and prepare ingredients according to established recipes

Follow detailed recipes and methods with consistency and accuracy

Package and label finished products

Monitor inventory across ingredients, products, and packaging and use that information to prioritize and plan upcoming prep and production

Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen throughout production, including dishwashing and following additional sanitation procedures to minimize the risk of cross-contact

Take ownership of assigned production and prep tasks, including creating and maintaining prep lists based on current inventory and upcoming needs

Follow food safety and sanitation procedures

Communicate openly and directly with the Executive Chef

Maintain and update recipe documentation through our shared recipe database

Develop an awareness of what products and components are running low and proactively communicate anticipated production and ordering needs to the Executive Chef

Occasionally support retail service or special events as needed

What We're Looking For:

Strong attention to detail, organization, and cleanliness

Interest in pastry, food production, or small business operations

Ability to follow systems and recipes exactly

Comfortable working independently after training

Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities without sacrificing quality, consistency, or attention to detail

Strong basic math skills for scaling and executing recipes accurately

ServSafe Certification is a plus

Non-Negotiables:

Punctuality and reliability are essential

Consistent communication is essential. Employees are expected to respond to work-related messages in a timely manner, particularly when messages involve scheduling, shifts, or other time-sensitive operational needs.

Ability to lift up to 50 lbs

Must work efficiently and respectfully in a shared kitchen environment

Comfortable standing for extended periods (up to 8 hours with breaks)

Must have reliable and consistent transportation to Herndon, VA

Minimum of 2 years of formal culinary training OR 2 years of professional experience in a scratch kitchen environment

Pastry experience is preferred, but not required. Curiosity and a willingness to learn are more valuable than anything

Schedule:

2-3 days per week to start (typically 6 hour shifts)

Additional hours may become available based on individual performance and business needs

Compensation:

$17/hour + tips. Recent total hourly compensation has typically averaged around $22/hour, depending on sales volume, staffing, and tip distribution.

Why This Role Is Different:

You'll work directly with a former Michelin-starred pastry chef and be part of a small team where your work has a real impact on the business. This is a hands-on role with the opportunity to take on increasing responsibility and become an important part of our production team.

Our customers trust us for safe, consistent, and high-quality products, so we hold ourselves, and our team, to a high standard in everything we do.