eat dessert first
Happy New Year! We all say it every year—the days flew by! My 2025 was packed with more amazing experiences, recipes and fun. I hit a personal milestone with my Substack (thank you for subscribing!), led trips in Italy and Paris, and am planning several others for next year.
This Cinnamon Swirl Bread recipe is sponsored by Diamond Crystal Salt Co. All opinions are my own. This super tender, cinnamon spiced, perfectly balanced salted caramel treat is made for your holiday gatherings. It’s like the perfect cinnamon bun, just more fun. Great for Christmas morning or swap out the […]
This homemade marshmallows recipe is perfect for hot chocolate, s’mores or just snacking. You’ll find ways to add extract flavors to your marshmallows, too. And don’t forget my homemade graham crackers recipe to go with them! I really, really wanted to start this post by bitching about the weather. Something […]
This is one of the most Christmas-time cookies in Zoë Bakes Cookies. The warm spices and light touch of molasses make for the most flavorful and delightful snappy cookie. You can leave them unadorned but a lemon-flavored Royal icing is a beautiful finish. Cookie cutters are hands down the best […]
My Granny Neal always made this espresso shortbread around the holidays. It’s studded with hunks of walnuts, and the specks of espresso give the shortbread a rich bold flavor and an elegant look.
A Christmas Croquembouche seems like the perfect way to celebrate this holiday season. Cream puffs held together by swirls of delicate caramel make for a gorgeous, festive display. More Holiday Recipes
Bûche de Noël is a fun, festive cake resembling a holiday yule log. It’s a beautiful cake that’s perfect as a Christmas dessert. This is a classic French dessert that is served at Christmas time. Bûche de Noël translates as the “Christmas Log” and is meant to look like the […]
I love making Sufganiyot for Chanukah. Below is a recipe for a jelly-filled donut, but you can fill and top these with whatever you want. More Holiday Favorites
This spice cake is a beautiful fall recipe. The cranberry filling, spices and gorgeous look makes this cake right at home on a Thanksgiving or holiday dessert table. As the temperature turns chilly and the holiday season nears, it makes me crave all the warm spices. This cake is adapted from my Zoë […]
This caramel apple pumpkin pie is a twofer for those of us who love both apple and pumpkin pies. Both great flavors layered together in a flaky, rich crust. I used apples that kept their shape when I caramelized them, so they would add a bit of texture to the […]
This is the perfect pairing of a sweet, rich, brown butter blondie and the tartness of rhubarb crisp in the spring (or cranberry crisp if you’re feeling festive around the holidays)! This Cranberry Variation is perfect for the Thanksgiving or even Christmas table. I suggest baking a double batch in […]
Thanksgiving is all about pie, but sometimes it’s fun to think outside the box. This list of 15 Thanksgiving desserts goes beyond pie. Don’t worry, I threw in a few bonus pies. Or, you can check out my 22 favorite pie recipes and guide to pie crust. If you’re like […]
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...
