ZoëBakes

Chocolate Soufflé Cupcakes

These chocolate soufflé cupcakes is a great little hit of chocolate and coffee for when you need a fix. They are my two favorite vices. Well, the two that come to mind right now. My day ALWAYS starts with a cup of coffee in the morning. About midday I open […]

A Bowl of Marzipan Cherries!

These marzipan cherries topped a carrot cake from Carole Bloom’s newest book I made for a friend’s birthday party this weekend. Cherries were the theme of her party, because her name is Carolyn Cherry! Her birthday happens to fall at a time of year when there is not a fresh […]

Dark Chocolate Madeleines

Over the course of the next month I am going to be preparing recipes from Carole Bloom’s latest baking tome The Essential Baker, which came out last year. Kim Ode from the Star Tribune hosts a wonderful cookbook review at the Barnes and Noble in Edina called Edesia (it means […]

Vanilla Pastry Cream

Pastry cream is one of the most versatile recipes in a professional pastry kitchen (and your home). It is used for the filling of eclairs, napoleons, fruit tarts, banana cream pie, trifle, and just scooped out of the bowl with a spoon. It is essentially “kick-ass” vanilla pudding, to quote […]

A glass filled with creme anglaise and a spoon

Crème Anglaise (Vanilla Sauce)

This post is from 2008, the early years of my blogging. I left the old how-to photos as a reminder of where I started in this game. 😉 I have a more recent video in the recipe to show the process of making the sauce. Enjoy! Crème Anglaise is one […]

Butter Shortbread Cookies

Order my New York Times Best Selling cookbook, Zoë Bakes Cookies, now! Last week was my aunt Kristin’s birthday, and she had only one request of me: butter shortbread cookies. She is a woman of very discerning tastes and gave me explicit directions on just how she wanted them baked. […]

Key Lime Cheesecake with Homemade Graham Cracker Crust

This key lime cheesecake is bright, citrusy and rich enough to satisfy even in the cold of February! I was in the mood for cheesecake, something smooth and velvety but not too sweet. Key Limes are readily available right now and have the magical ability to transport us to a […]

Fresh Ricotta with Red Wine Poached Cherries!

Homemade Ricotta Cheese with Red Wine Poached Cherries

This week I discovered something that has changed my kitchen forever. I made my own ricotta cheese. It was a suggestion from one of the people at eGullet. We were discussing the recipe for calzone from the book and we were lamenting the state of ricotta cheese that is available […]

Candied Ginger Truffles

Inspiration comes from the strangest places! This candied ginger truffles recipe was inspired by a 6 year old girl scout, a professor at the CIA and a “hot mama” with a blog called the Steamy Kitchen.

Poached Pears in Red Wine

Poached pears are one of the easiest and sexiest desserts there are. They sit on the plate like a jewel, filled with the essence of wine and in this case pomegranate. The house becomes scented with spices and vanilla. Once these regal beauties are tender and succulent they can be […]

Chocolate Rum Cake for Children’s Heartlink

Children’s Heartlink asked several pastry chefs from all of the top restaurants in the Twin Cities (I’m talking the BEST our city has to offer!) to come up with the most decadent dessert for Valentine’s Day that they could think of. This team of pastry goddesses and one very talented […]

Host Zoe Francois' crepes , filled with lemon curd, jam and chocolate hazelnut spread, as seen on Zoe Bakes, season 2.

Crepes My Family Love (And Yours will Too!)

Crepes are a favorite in my household. The thin pancakes are a simple and delicious treat that’s perfect for a special breakfast. Below is my classic recipe that can be customized with your favorite toppings or fillings, plus a fun bananas foster variation! May Chen asked me what I fed […]