eat dessert first
This is a cake I recently created from several recipes in Zoë Bakes Cakes, but I rearranged them into this sassy layer cake with a toasted meringue top. It’s a beauty for fall and Thanksgiving! How to Make Pumpkin Cake The pumpkin bundt cake from the book can be baked […]
This bittersweet chocolate tart includes optional (but highly recommended!) Irish Cream. It’s a simple and delicious recipe that is perfect for a holiday gathering. By now I am sure you’re aware of my dear friend Sarah Kieffer of The Vanilla Bean Blog. If you’ve watched Zoë Bakes on Magnolia Network, […]
This homemade applesauce recipe is easy and delicious. Plus, I leave the skins on to make this a fun pink version. Feel free to skin your apples for a classic color instead! What could be better than picking your own apples and then using your bounty to make pies, cakes, […]
I live in the Midwest, which is perhaps the flattest place in the country, so I am by no means the reigning expert on high-altitude baking, but I have baked in the mountains of Colorado, and this is what I learned.
You can watch me make these squash scones with my son, Charlie, on my show Zoë Bakes on Max! In this episode my eldest son, Henri, and I head to a pumpkin patch to pick out squash and pumpkins to bake with. We make the scones below, plus a delicious […]
This hot chocolate cake from Zoë Bakes Cakes is unbelievably delicious! Combining layers of moist Devil’s Food cake and creamy, luscious chocolate frosting, the entire cake is topped with homemade toasted marshmallows. This recipe is the perfect dessert for any occasion! With hot chocolate as its inspiration, it has layers of […]
This chocolate peanut butter pie recipe is oh-so delicious. With a graham cracker crust, a smooth peanut butter filling, layer of chocolate ganache, and a whipped cream and candied peanut topping, this dessert is deluxe and irresistible. I typically like to mix up the flavors and styles of the desserts […]
Sometimes a baking fail is just the inspiration I need to try something new. I originally baked my Devil’s Food Cake from Zoë Bakes Cakes in cupcake liners that promised to be sturdy enough not to need a muffin pan to support them. Well, I put them to the test […]
From Memorial Day to the Fourth of July to Labor Day, summer is all about weekend gatherings with friends and family. A good meal should always accompany a get-together, which means you’ll need some tasty desserts for a crowd. I put together a list of some of my favorite cookies, […]
I made the delicious Mango Pudding and Passion Fruit Caramel recipes from Hetty McKinnon’s newest book, To Asia, With Love! I layered them together and wanted a little something light and airy on top, like meringue or whipped cream, but her recipes are vegan, so I needed it to be […]
A sheet cake may be the simplest of cakes, but done right, it can be perfectly elegant. This strawberry sheet cake with passion fruit features a simple white cake. The strawberries come in as a topping with the passion fruit mixed into the buttercream. A special occasion doesn’t always require […]
I'm Zoë François and I love to bake. This is where I play with sugar and take the mystery out of baking everything from cookies to wedding cakes. I studied pastry at the CIA (the culinary school, not the spy agency), worked in restaurants, have written 10 cookbooks and you can find more of my creations in my Substack Newsletter and YouTube videos. More...
