ZoëBakes | eat dessert first | eat dessert first

Raspberry Cheesecake Streusel Bars

August 4, 2020August 4, 2020 zoe Leave a comment

When my best friend delivered the most perfect raspberries, she just hand picked, along with homemade raspberry preserves to my front porch and the mail woman brought me Edd Kimber’s newest book, One Tin Bakes, that’s kismet. I opened the book to the page with the Raspberry Cheesecake Streusel Bars and that evening my family was devouring them. That’s the hidden secret of bars, they’re rustic in their beauty, but magnificent in flavor. and super simple to make. After eating way too many of them, my family declared they are just a little TOO GOOD! Seriously folks, this will become a favorite recipe. One you’ll bring to every school function, picnic, family gathering and the treat you snuggle on the couch with while binge watching the GBBO. There are so many simple and delicious looking recipes in Edd’s book, I’ll be baking from it a lot.

I shared some of the bars with Jen (the raspberry picker) and her family. They confirmed that these bars a bit dangerous to have around. I like living on the edge, so I’ll be making them again and again and again! Read More

Peach Rye Cake

July 20, 2020July 22, 2020 zoe Leave a comment

“Morning, sunshine!” That’s what this Peach Rye Cake says to me and what a joyous way to start the day. Sure, it’s cake and can be served with ice cream as a dessert too, but the rye and honey evoke more of a morning muffin vibe, so I am suggesting this with a dollop of yogurt to start your day. When King Arthur Baking Company invited me to celebrate their official name change from King Arthur Flour with a recipe, I immediately thought of Vermont (King Arthur Baking Company’s home) and my childhood memories there. I grew up on communes in Plainfield and Glover, Vermont. Food on a commune is a constant dance, since there are so many mouths to feed. The smell of honey, baking bread and granola are some of my very first food memories. Sunshine streaming in the windows and the smell of sweetness in the kitchen are the things I recall and what I wanted to recreate with this cake. A sun burst of peaches in a honey-sweet rye cake batter, that’s a perfect celebration. The fact that King Arthur Baking Company has changed their name to highlight all that they do for and with the baking community, beyond producing some of the very best flour, just seems natural and right. They represent the best of the baking community and are a constant go to for tested recipes, trusted resources, and the highest quality baking products. I am honored to have worked with them throughout my baking career and overjoyed to be a part of this special moment.

And…scroll to the bottom to see the Zoë cookie King Arthur Baking Company created for me. It is hilarious and delicious. Recipes below!

S’more Ice Box Cake

July 17, 2020July 18, 2020 zoe 1 Comment

When it is hot and muggy, but you want a dessert to impress this S’more Ice Box Cake is the exact answer. All the things one loves about the classic summer camping dessert without the fire (okay, just a bit of blowtorching, but that’s too fun to resist). Graham crackers layered with caramel cream, covered in chocolate ganache, with a sprinkle of peanuts (needed the crunch and salty bits) and then topped off with toasted meringue. No baking! Read More

4th of July Baked Alaska

July 2, 2020July 2, 2020 zoe 1 Comment

It’s 90°F in the shade and I just can’t bring myself to fire up the oven today. So, the only reasonable thing to do is make a 4th of July Baked Alaska with homemade ice cream and top it with flaming meringue. If you don’t want to make your own ice cream, then just get your favorite store bought brand and layer them up in a loaf pan. I used strawberry, coconut and blueberry ice creams to create the red, white and blue stripes. Okay, they’re pink, cream and purple, but the intention was right and I say close enough.

You can go as crazy or quiet with your meringue, but lighting it on fire with kirschwasser (cherry flavored booze) shouldn’t really be optional. If you don’t want the booze, just use your blow torch and you’ll have the same effect without the alcohol.

Happy 4th of July! Read More

ZoeBakes Cake Decorating Class – Rose Cake

June 15, 2020June 22, 2020 zoe 7 Comments

Baker’s Against Racism Cake Decorating Class with Zoë

Racism is an issue that I’ve thought a lot about. I am part of a mixed-race family and the things I’ve seen and heard directed at the people I love most just shouldn’t happen to anyone, ever! Systematic racism is real and no matter the socioeconomics of a person, POC are treated differently. We should all have the same rights, the same freedoms, the same ability to walk down the street without fear or anxiety. The same access to protection from police, access to education, health care, healthy food, clean air and safe drinking water. Those things are not afforded to all people in equal measure and that is not right or just and needs to change. I have decided to donate the money we raise together to the NAACP, which works to advance all of these issues for POC. For my children and all children of color, we need these changes and we need them NOW! So, thank you for donating and I am looking forward to creating this cake and a whole bunch of change with you.

This event came together with the generous support of Patricia and Craig Neal from The Center For Purposeful Leadership, who are hosting the Zoom class for me. They also happen to be my stepmother and dad! They have been facilitating zoom meetings for years, long before I’d ever heard of it. For more information about hosting meaningful and effective zoom meetings, contact them here!

If you would like to decorate the cake along with me, this is what you will need to have ready during the cake decorating class. Read More

Lemon, Ricotta & Thyme Cakes

June 12, 2020July 2, 2020 zoe 6 Comments

I think this Lemon, Ricotta & Thyme Cakes from Benjamina Ebuehi’s book The New Way to Cake is the ultimate summer dessert. My herbs are just starting to come up in the garden and there is nothing more beautiful and fragrant than fresh herbs. I have lemon thyme in my garden and I strolled into my neighbor’s herb garden to help myself to some of her thyme. The combination is perfect in these lemony, rich cakes. If you don’t have thyme, you can try sage or rosemary (maybe use a touch less, since they are a much stronger flavor).

You may be familiar with Benjamina from GBBO, but I know her from her sleek and stylish Instagram account (@bakedbyBenji). I fell in love with the book the second I saw the exquisite cake on the cover and she has an elegance to her everyday cakes that speak to me. She combines familiar and comforting cakes with just a hint of something new and exciting. I love this book!