eat dessert first
This Chocolate Fudge Cake with Strawberry Salsa and Candied Flowers is a rich and chocolatey treat! The strawberry salsa is optional, but is a gorgeous and fun topping. It’s been two decades since I worked in a professional kitchen as a pastry chef. After all these years, I still miss […]
The title of Maida Heatter’s new book sums up why I love my job, Happiness is Baking. When I am sad, I bake! When I am celebrating, I bake! No matter where my mood starts out, I’m always carried to a place of joy as I make my way through […]
The inspiration of a Cherry Semifreddo goes like this: I recently spent time in New York City and had the great fortune of meeting some of the wonderful people I otherwise only knew on social media. It still seems incredible to me that I can befriend people online, while working […]
This little Disco Party of a Chocolate Mug Cake is perfect for a late-night snack, a super-fast and easy dessert for surprise dinner guests, and/or an afterschool treat. No matter the reason you want a little cake, this is a delicious option and requires nothing more than a bowl and […]
This Strawberry Rhubarb Fool Cheesecake was a happy mistake. You know how they say you learn from your failures? Well, I was going for a tourteau fromage and it went wrong in a big way.
Oh, you know me, I love a flourish. Sometimes it’s a rose crown on a bundt cake or a ruffle of gossamer apples topping a tart or maybe, just maybe a crazy swirl of toasted meringue on anything! But, sometimes simple is best. A summer snack at the lake, a […]
These chocolate macarons are bit of a contradiction. They are both light, as a macaron should be and fudge-y, like a brownie. The chocolate macaron shells are made with cocoa powder and then they’re filled with a chocolate ganache, so they’re super deep chocolate fantastic flavor.
Last week my youngest son turned 18. It hit me that he’s a man and about to head out into the world to make his mark. I am so excited for him and looking forward to watching him and his brother become their own men, but it’s a touch bittersweet […]
This apple tart features thin, spiraled apples for a luxurious looking dessert. It’s made with just a few simple ingredients, and is a simple recipe for a special occasion. This apple butter rose tart was inspired by Rory MacDonald’s new cookbook, bake. His book is full sweets, from flaky morning […]
There is nothing more quintessentially breakfast than blueberry muffins. This recipe is easy to make and creates perfect, moist muffins packed with blueberries. For me a blueberry muffin has to be chock full of contrasts. It should have enough sweetness to feel decadent, but balanced by the tartness of the […]
At the core this almond cake is a pound cake that has a perfectly dense crumb and is rich with almond paste, but it is also a tribute to spring. The buttercream roses are a fun way to add beauty for a celebration! The decoration came to me after I […]
The perfect popover is crisp on the outside, tender and airy on the inside and at its very best when served right from the oven. This is a super easy and yet very impressive recipe, that even a first time baker can master and feel like they’ve made magic.
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. More...
