A method of manufacturing a composite fan blade with an outer part and a core includes laying up a plurality of continuous plies to achieve a stack, placing the core on a central portion of the stack of continuous plies to achieve an unfolded preform; folding the contin-uous plies about the core, such that the central portion of the stack folds about the core and the first portion is superimposed to the second portion, to achieve a folded preform; apply-ing pressure to the folded preform to achieve a consolidated curved folded preform; curing the consolidated curved folded preform to achieve the composite fan blade.