eat dessert first
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!) […]
This cherry cake features layers of sponge cake and a simple whipped cream with cherry sauce. It’s best with fresh juicy cherries, but frozen berries work too. I adorned the cake with gorgeous royal icing cherry blossom flowers. How To Decorate Cherry Cake I learned the magic of cake decorating […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
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 […]
These chocolate macarons are bit of a contradiction. They are both light, as a macaron should be and fudge-y, like a brownie. The chocolate macaron shells are made with cocoa powder and then they’re filled with a chocolate ganache, so they’re super deep chocolate fantastic flavor.
Last week my youngest son turned 18. It hit me that he’s a man and about to head out into the world to make his mark. I am so excited for him and looking forward to watching him and his brother become their own men, but it’s a touch bittersweet […]
I'm Zoë François, Emmy-nominated host of Zoë Bakes on HBO and a New York Times best-selling author sharing bakery-quality recipes that are doable for everyone! More...
