Recent Posts

Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies

Order my new cookbook, Zoë Bakes Cookies, now! Salty and sweet is a classic combination. I’ve always upped the salt in my cookie recipes. Together they create just the right balance for the perfect cookie. I was intrigued by the the use of sea salt in the Jacques Torres chocolate […]

Framboise Lambic with Blueberry Ice Cream

Recently my husband has been on a Lambic beer kick. He’s tried them all (pêche, pommes, kriek and cassis) and the Lindemans’ Framboise (raspberry) is the hands down favorite. I’m not a beer drinker, unless I’m sitting on a tropical beach with the sun beating down on me and eating […]

Grilled Pineapple with Rosé Glaze

I’m always looking for things to throw on the grill in the summer. I’ve tried everything from brioche fruit pizzas to Brussels sprouts. I admit the Brussels sprouts were not amongst my greatest achievements in grilling, but this pineapple is now one of my favorites. I did nothing but slice […]

Sweet Peach Lassi

Sweet Peach Lassi

How can something so tasty be SO easy? Just throw it all in the blender, let it whirl and you have a a gorgeous sweet peach lassi! This is what I made my boys for breakfast this morning. Peaches and a bit of honey sweeten the tangy yogurt. Pour it […]

Orange Sponge Cake

Orange Scented Sponge Cake

I made this fresh orange scented sponge cake from my The Fannie Farmer Baking Book. It is a classic and really nothing about it needs changing. It is light and the orange gives the cake a fresh flavor that isn’t overly sweet. I combined it with a dacquoise, strawberry whipped […]

Honey Cake with blueberries

Orange Blossom Honey Cake with Fresh Blueberries

The strangest thing happened on my way to ordering new chefs jackets; I discovered the most amazing honey I’ve ever eaten. You see, Jeff and I have been doing a lot of TV appearances recently to promote our book. I decided that my old worn out chocolate covered chefs jackets […]

lime lavender granita with a fig and spoon on a green plate

Lime-Lavender Granita with Fresh Figs

I’m finally home from all of my traveling. I’ve never been so happy to be in my kitchen, despite the 94°F forecast and no air conditioner. Something frozen, tart and a little floral is exactly what I need to get through this day. I just went to the market and […]

lavender plant

Lavender Simple Syrup

This gorgeous lavender* (salvia) plant is from Stephen Durfee’s garden in Napa, CA. It inspired my to make a lavender simple syrup on a hot day and drizzle it on a honey cake with blueberries. The following recipe can be made with rosemary, lemon thyme, star anise, cinnamon sticks, organic […]

How To Make Fondant Flowers

Thank you all for the lovely comments on Claudia’s cake. It was so much fun to make. Now I will show you how to make the flowers. I used rolled fondant, but you can also use pastillage/gum paste, which will dry faster and harder. They are used in exactly the […]

How To Make Rolled Fondant

My neighbors Cynthia and Trent asked me to make a cake for their mom’s birthday party. Of course I wanted to do it, but as they described the style of cake she wanted I got downright giddy about it. “Something bright, colorful and wildly whimsical” were the words they used […]

Rhubarb compote

Easy Rhubarb Compote With Vanilla Bean

This rhubarb compote is one of my oldest recipes! It only requires a few simple ingredients to make a tasty treat that can be used on all kinds of desserts. Here in Minneapolis, otherwise known as gardening Zone 4, we jump for joy when we see ramps and rhubarb. Rhubarb […]

lemon blueberry ring

Blueberry Lemon Curd Ring

Elizabeth wrote and asked me about assembling the Blueberry Lemon Curd Ring from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day (page 228). I already had the Brioche dough, in my mini dorm fridge filled with buckets, and I had just made the lemon curd for mother’s day so it was […]