eat dessert first
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 […]
There is really nothing better than the combo of sweet berries and tart rhubarb. This strawberry rhubarb crips is an easy way to combine these two early summer favors. This is a strawberry-rhubarb crisp I created years ago for or Cooking Channel Weekend Baking post. If you are one who […]
For many happy occasions you’ll want to write a special sentiment on a cake. The problem is not what to say, but how to make it both legible and gorgeous. Everyone has had a good chuckle over the cakes on Cake Wrecks, but we want to avoid having our efforts […]
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! There is nothing more disappointing than having a cake that is speckled with crumbs, unless of course […]
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. I studied pastry at the CIA (the culinary school, not the spy agency), worked in restaurants, have written 10 cookbooks and you can find more of my creations in my Substack Newsletter and YouTube videos. More...
