ZoëBakes

Blueberry Cake

Sometimes the best ideas come from happy accidents. I had set out to make blueberry sauce for the boys’ pancakes, instead this purple, berry-stuffed cake materialized. I’d been testing a recipe for the perfect white cake, which I am always on the hunt for. (I think, in my humble opinion, […]

Cherry Cheesecake

This is a classic cherry cheesecake. It’s shaped like a heart for Valentine’s day, but you can make it any time of year in a regular pan. It has all the classic cheesecake flavors, with a graham cracker crust creamy filling. The addition of fresh cherries for a topping gives […]

My Kitchen Remodel (Before and After)

In 2013 my husband and I bought a house. It’s a gob-smacking piece of 1902 architecture with ornate woodwork, the likes of which I’d never seen before. It was built by T.P. Healy, who made a name for himself in Minneapolis building homes for the flour barons and other folks […]

Éclairs

“Lightning!” That’s the literal translation from French I got when I put éclair into google translate. I’ve read a couple of explanations for this name, but only one makes any sense to me. “They disappear in a flash, quicker than a bolt of lightning.” This is the absolute truth. Eclairs […]

Pumpkin Cake For Halloween or Thanksgiving

I first made this fun pumpkin cake with my kids for Halloween (they’re adults now!). It’s a fun and festive cake that can be dressed up for adults or made just for kids. Pumpkin season is here, which is the only reason I can send this short summer off with […]

Tiramisu

By the time I became a pastry chef in the mid 1990s tiramisu, the decadent Italian dessert that defined the 80s, was banned from all high-end restaurants. It was a matter of bad PR, not because it wasn’t well liked or frequently requested. In fact, it was its very popularity […]

Tomato Water Sorbet with a Sweet Tomato Chip

It is the end of the growing season in Minnesota and time to harvest all the last hanging fruit from the tomato vines. Any day now we’ll get a killing frost, and I’m bracing myself for it.

Installing my new BlueStar Rangetop and Prizer Hood – Kitchen Remodel

Last year I bought a new house. It had 4 kitchens. I thought I would use one for cooking with my family, one for my “studio/work space” and the others were, well I wasn’t quite sure what to do with them. There is a decent explanation for all of these […]

Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies are a classic for a reason. This is a fun throwback post that features my now adult son when he was little! Plus, you’ll find a gluten free peanut butter cookie recipe variation using peanut flour. For more amazing cookie recipes, order my cookbook, Zoë Bakes Cookies, […]

Jars of Rhubarb-Orange Jam on a countertop

Easy Rhubarb Jam With Orange

This easy rhubarb jam recipe uses orange for sweetness, so you can try something different than a standard (but still tasty!) strawberry rhubarb jam. It’s one of my oldest recipes and the first jam I ever made! My Jam Story From 2013 When I moved last year, I left behind […]

Puffy Popover Pancake

Last week, and the week before that, I got emails from my brother Carey, with pictures of puffy popover pancakes he’d made. One was stuffed with mulberries and the other with pear & apple compote. I adore that he makes stuff like this for himself and his wife. His emails […]

A serving of Strawberry Shortcake on a clear plate with a fork and napkin

Easy Strawberry Shortcake

This strawberry shortcake recipe is made using my scone dough. It creates a perfect cake for fresh strawberries and whipped cream for a simple and delicious homemade dessert. You get the same flaky layers as with a biscuit dough, but the scones add a fun little twist on the classic […]