ZoëBakes

Lemon Curd Fool with Summer Berry Salsa

I went to LA and met someone I have admired for years on instagram, not only for his beautiful photos of delicious food, but also his generosity and quickness to laugh and enjoy himself while he works. Donal and Sofie Skehan are even more delightful, funny and inviting in person […]

Churros with Chocolate Sauce

These churros with chocolate sauce are a wonderful homemade treat. You can make the recipe as is, or switch up the flavors by making a vanilla sauce or simply dusting the top in a cinnamon-sugar mixture. It’s a wonderful recipe for Cinco de Mayo or in place of (or alongside!) […]

Cherry Blossom Cake

The magic trick of cake decorating was revealed to me 21 years ago when I attended a week-long class at the Wilton School of Cake Decorating and Confectionery Art outside of Chicago. Anyone who loves cake and piping icing knows the Wilton name and reaches for their products to get […]

Rhubarb Berry Crumble

I wait all winter long for the rhubarb to pop up, signaling spring has arrived. Then, way too fast, the precious plants are bolting and done for the season. In a panic I pick all the rhubarb from my dad’s garden to bake it and freeze the stalks for a […]

Silver Ombre Cake (banana & chocolate layer cake)

Looking for video tutorials? Check out my Cake Basics series on YouTube! You’ll learn how to trim and slice, how to fill a layer cake, how to crumb coat and how to decorate! This Silver Ombre Cake was inspired by the arrival of Tessa Huff’s new book, Icing on the […]

Chocolate Fudge Cake with Strawberry Salsa and Candied Flowers

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 […]

Maida Heatter Bull’s Eye Cheesecake

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 […]

Cherry Semifreddo

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 […]

A chocolate microwave mug cake topped with ice cream.

Easy Chocolate Mug Cake (Made in the Microwave!)

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 […]

Flour Resource – Online Sales and Shipping Guide

I’m a huge fan of supporting smaller wheat growers and trying their flour. Below is a Flour and Grain Resource Guide to Upper Midwest growers, millers, and some of the bakeries who use them. I have personally baked with Baker’s Field and Sunrise Mill flours locally and I’m excited to […]

Rhubarb Fool Cheesecake | ZoeBakes by Zoë François

Strawberry Rhubarb Fool Cheesecake

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.

Simple Chocolate Cake

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 […]