Recent Posts

Plum Baked Alaska covered in toasted meringue.

Holiday Gift Guide for Bakers

The holiday season is upon us! It should come as no surprise that in my house this is a time of year for desserts and baked treats (as if there is a time of year that isn’t). It’s also a time for gathering with friends and family and sharing some […]

Cranberry Almond Coffee Cake

Rustic Almond Coffee Cake with Cranberries

This is a cake from Zoë Bakes Cakes and in the book, I baked it with grapes; juicy, sweet, but slightly tart, table grapes. It’s curious why grapes are rarely used in baking, unless dried into raisins. They are juicy and have such a wide range of sweetness and flavor, […]

Pear Meringue Cake Aran

Meringue Cake with Roasted Pears

I started the Zoë Bakes blog in 2007 as a way to stay connected to pastry while I was raising my boys and working on the Breadin5 bread books. I quickly found my community of online peers and Aran Goyoaga and her blog, Cannelle et Vanille, was at the center […]

A slice of pumpkin cake with cinnamon meringue and layers of bittersweet ganache

Pumpkin Cake with Balsamic Cinnamon Meringue and Bittersweet Ganache

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 […]

Bittersweet Chocolate Tart with Irish Cream

Bittersweet Chocolate Tart with Irish Cream

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, […]

Homemade Graham Cracker Crust in a white pie plate

Graham Cracker Crust

When I think of graham cracker crust, I think of cheesecake. The graham cracker flavor is just the right amount of sweetness for the rich filling. Plus, one of the best things about a graham cracker crust is how simple it is to make. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can […]

Pink applesauce jars on a countertop

Easy Homemade Applesauce

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, […]

Layer cake with piped frosting flowers

Baking at High Altitudes

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.

Scones

Squash Scones

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 […]

Hot Chocolate Cake

Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

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 […]