ZoëBakes

Black Velvet Apricot Upside Down Cake (+ a Gluten-Free Version)

Recently I stopped at Whole Foods to pick up some stinky cheese and taste-test all their gluten-free crackers, for research. On the way to the cheese counter these velvety little apricots shouted across the room at me and I was powerless over their beauty. I am a little embarrassed to […]

Onion Tart

At my house there are typically three (or more) desserts on the counter, along with several loaves of homemade bread, but when it comes time to eat dinner I am scrambling around to cook something, anything. On any given night I would not call my meals inspired. I love to […]

Easy Homemade Jello (Fresh Strawberry!)

Why bother with homemade Jello? It’s easy to make, tastes great and is made from simple ingredients. This recipe is strawberry, but you can make yours with all kinds of flavors! Jell-O always seemed a bit like magic to me. Add water to the brightly colored, sugary powder and in […]

Hamantaschen

Before I moved to Minnesota, my husband and I lived in Burlington, VT, which we considered a suburb of Montreal. When our small college town felt as if it would pop at the seams, we’d jump in the car and drive to Canada. We’d make the rounds of foods we […]

Pineapple Quesito (Puerto Rican Breakfast Pastry)

This is a Quesito (Ke-see-toe) and it is delicious. Seriously, it is so perfect in its simplicity; flaky puff pastry wrapped around sweetened cream cheese and buttery pineapple. And it’s beautiful, in a shabby chic kind of way, nothing fussy, just rustic goodness with a generous dusting of powdered sugar. […]

Lemon-Lavender Meringue Tarts

These lemon-lavender meringue tarts may seem a little upside down, we usually think of the meringue piled high above the lemon filling, not the other way around. This is a simpler twist on the classic, but all the same tangy-sweet allure. The best part is there is no crust to deal with, […]

Honey Madeleines

Nearly 34 years ago I got married, and as a gift I was given a copy of Patricia Wells’ book about the cuisine of Joël Robuchon. It was a heady book for a 23-year-old with Vermont commune roots. The book, and its recipes, stepped me directly into the intimidating world of […]

Layer Sponge Cake for Passover | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

7 Layer Passover Cake (Matzo Sponge Cake with Poppyseed Buttercream)

This 7 layer Passover cake was inspired by a conversation I had with Deb Perelman about Dobos Tortes, which is a cake made up of many layers (7 to be exact) of sponge cake, separated with chocolate buttercream and topped with a layer of caramel. It is a style of […]

Butterscotch pot de creme in blue china teacups topped with homemade creme fraiche

Homemade Crème Fraîche

Homemade crème fraîche is the sophisticated French cousin of sour cream. Its texture is smoother and the flavor more subtle, not quite so sour, but still a bit sharp. It is simple to make and requires only two ingredients, so it is no wonder it is a staple in most […]

Chocolate Fondue (No Special Pot Required)

In the 1970s I lived in Westport, Connecticut and my best friend’s aunt owned a fondue restaurant. It was the hot spot in town for people to go on dates and it all seemed terribly sophisticated and romantic to my 13 year old self. I have to admit I’m a little disappointed […]

Everything-but-the-Kitchen-Sink Rice Treats for Valentine’s Day

Need something quick and fun to make with your kids for Valentine’s Day? Really, the kids are just a foil for my own craving to make something silly and delicious. As you may remember, these are not the first crispy rice treats to appear on ZoeBakes. It’s a bit of […]

PB&J Cheesecake with Poured Ganache

Peanut Butter and Jelly is a staple in most children’s diets. In fact, I just read that Americans will consume billions, with a B, of sandwiches every year. I can believe it, since my kids picked it for lunch 9 out of 10 times, until very recently.