eat dessert first
These are the manicotti crepes I made on the Family Crepes episode of Zoë Bakes on Magnolia Network. In this episode I demonstrate the delicious versatility of crêpes with everything from bananas Foster crepes to these savory manicotti crepes. For more inspiration, I also visit local pastry chef Diane Moua […]
My son, Henri, does not adore sweets like I do (believe it or not!). But he does love a good cheesecake and we decided to make a savory version featuring cheeses we tasted at Redhead Creamery. This cheesecake features cream cheese, fromage blanc, and cheddar and is topped with an […]
Cherries may be best known as Northeastern fruit (D.C. cherry blossoms, anyone?), but different varieties are plentiful across the northern states. I love using cherries in cakes and desserts because they are tart AND sweet, making them a burst of balanced fruit flavor. They’re tasty in toppings, filling or inside […]
Why should fall and winter get all the pie fun? Yes, pie is the perfect dessert for a holiday gathering, but let’s not forget about all the fruit pies for summer. You’ll find blueberries, strawberries, cherries, and more in this collection of summer pie recipes. Looking for more pie recipes […]
This beautiful cinnamon star bread recipe is shockingly easy to create. It’s perfect for so many occasions—from holiday breakfast to a regular old Saturday brunch. The beauty of this easier-than-it-looks recipe is that you can play with the flavors to match your mood, sweet or savory! You’ll find the recipe […]
I love tropical desserts because of the sweet, tart flavors. Key lime pie, for example, is one of my favorite desserts and I seek it out whenever I can. Plus, tropical fruits are vibrant and colorful, which makes for a gorgeous serving plate. I’ve put together a list of some […]
If you’ve followed my work for a while, you likely know that I love Baked Alaska. I have several on this site, including a red, white and blue version for the Fourth of July, a coffee bourbon chocolate baked Alaska, and a passion fruit baked Alaska, which I have dubbed […]
Kick off your summer with some tasty Memorial Day desserts. These recipes will please a crowd and are great for the summer season. Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer here in Minnesota. I think that’s true almost everywhere, but after the long, cold winter and often erratic […]
This lime angel pie features lime curd, a beautiful meringue and fresh berries. Think of it like a key lime pie filling in a beautiful Swiss Meringue shell! When my grandmother passed away she left me her recipe box, her collection of Norwegian spoons, other sentimental things from my childhood […]
There are a few classic dessert flavors, but perhaps none more so than peanut butter. Its rich, creamy texture and unmistakable taste always transport me right back to childhood. I’ve put together a list of my favorite peanut butter desserts to bring you back to that happy place too, and […]
When my boys were little my dad set up elaborate egg hunts for them on Easter. A tradition he took very seriously and had started when I was a little girl. In the mid 1970s, when I was about 7, my dad decided to surprise the neighborhood kids and rented a […]
If you have my book, Zoë Bakes Cakes, you likely know from the intro that the story of my life with sweets started with an auspicious meeting with the humble Twinkie. I would never presume to create anything as iconic as the original, but these homemade Twinkies are freakin’ delicious.
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...
