eat dessert first
Sometimes great ideas can come from the strangest places. Who would have imagined that spending my birthday, in the rain, making S’mores with people I didn’t know could have been so much fun and such creative inspiration? In November my good friend and partner in many culinary adventures, Jen, treated […]
It is smooth and sophisticated, but there is a mystique about working with rolled fondant that keeps too many people from using it. Fondant reminds me of Play-Doh, you can create everything from an intricate wedding cake to a birthday cake in the shape of a Tonka truck. Your imagination […]
Whether you call them Russian Tea Cakes, Mexican Wedding cookies or something else, these snowy powdered sugar cookies are perfect for the holiday season. Looking for more cookie recipes or a great holiday gift? Check out Zoë Bakes Cookies! What Are Russian Tea Cakes? It is a slight mystery why […]
When I grow up I want my very own Masala Farm. The first time I visited Suvir and Charlie’s home I felt as though I belonge there. They have created a home in the countryside made of magic, an impeccable sense of style and an art collection from their travels […]
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love the theatre and creativity it inspires in people. Once I had kids it took on a whole new level of special. The boys love to get in costume, and it is a great excuse for me to dress up too. They’ve […]
Today Artisan Pizza and Flatbread in Five Minutes a Day is finally available in stores. That sound you hear is me clinking a glass of bubbly. Please join us on our book tour, which starts TODAY at noon in the Har Mar Barnes & Noble. To find details and dates […]
Shopping for rugelach is one of my earliest memories and this recipe a family favorite. Its story plays a prominent roll in the Bubbe Berkowitz chapter of Zoë Bakes Cookies. This version features raspberries, nuts and chocolate wrapped in a simple to make, tender, cream cheese dough. It’s a popular […]
A dacquoise is a classic layered French dessert. I made this version with toasted almonds and topped it with some fresh peaches and cream. A Throwback to My 20th Wedding Anniversary Yesterday was my 20th wedding anniversary. I asked my husband what he wanted to have for dessert on our […]
Canning seems to be one of those skills that you are born into. Most canners can’t remember the first time they saw their mom or granny doing it, it was just always there. I imagine them sitting in a bouncy seat on the kitchen counter watching as jars got filled […]
I first made brown butter rice krispie treats in 2011 when I visited Flour Bakery in Boston. The esteemed pastry chef, Joanne Chang, improved on a childhood favorite by adding one of my all-time favorite flavors: brown butter. I was smitten.
It’s hard to find a better summer treat than strawberry ice cream. As always, bonus points for freshly picked strawberries, but you can get the wonderful summer flavor from store bought, too. The secret to the best strawberry flavor is roasting. Read on and see for yourself! Last weekend my […]
I was amazed recently to find Ovaltine on the shelves at the grocery store. I hadn’t had or thought about it in about 35 years. There are certain memories of childhood that hold space in the brain in a sensory way, and Ovaltine is one of them. I can’t remember […]
I'm Zoë François and I love to bake. This is where I play with sugar and take the mystery out of baking everything from cookies to wedding cakes. More...
