Tag: Christmas

Holiday and Celebration Bread in Five Minutes a Day

Zoë François 2 Comments

Holiday and Celebration Bread in Five Minutes a Day book is out, just in time for the holidays! Thanksgiving is past and now we can dive into the  Christmas and Chanukah baking season. Holiday and Celebration Bread in Five Minutes a Day is the book I have been waiting to create since the day Jeff and I started our adventure in Five Minute Bread, over a decade ago. This book is full of all the sweet and pretty breads a pastry chef gets jazzed about. There are breads from all over the world, for just about every occasion. From Tahini Swirled Challah, to Christmas breads from all over Europe (and beyond), pitas for Ramadan and other celebrations, even monkey bread for after school, of course, there are several sticky buns and cinnamon rolls, plus this beautiful Holiday Star Bread Recipe. We even have a simple technique for making croissants, which our readers have been asking for since the very first book in 2007. We nailed it and it’s in this new book!

You can watch the simple magic of this bread come together on Zoë Bakes season 2 – Breakfast Basics through Discovery+ and my @zoebakes Instagram Highlight video.

Washington Post Best Cookbooks of 2018 Holiday and Celebration Bread in Five Minutes a Day made this list because the good folks at The Washington Post saw all the beautiful Star Breads being baked and posted on Instagram. So, I have YOU to thank for this amazing honor! Really, what a thrill!

Holiday and Celebration Bread in Five Minutes a Day | Breadin5

Scroll down to see more of what is in the book, including pictures of me looking pretty excited about the whole thing. It’s never too early to get started on your holiday shopping, so feel free to order a copy of Holiday Bread for yourself and all those loved ones on your holiday list! 😉 We can’t wait for you to bake from Holiday and Celebration Bread in Five Minutes a Day. Happy Holidays!

Looking for more gift ideas, you can find all of my Favorite Kitchen Equipment and the Cookbooks I use here!

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Triple-Layer Parsnip Cranberry Cake

Zoë François 2 Comments

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!

Triple-Layer Parsnip Cranberry Cake | ZoeBakes photo by Zoë François

For those of you who have followed my blog for a while, you’ll know I am a tremendous fan of Dorie Greenspan. I’ve considered her a mentor in my own career as a chef and cookbook writer. She is the absolute top of the game and I look forward to every book she puts out with bated breath.

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Russian Tea Cakes (Mexican Wedding Cookies)

Zoë François 26 Comments
Russian Tea Cakes (Mexican wedding cakes) packed in a holiday tin

It is a slight mystery why these are called Russian tea cakes and not cookies, but no matter the name, they are delicious. How can you go wrong with toasted pecans, brown butter and sugar? The texture is like a shortbread cookie that is taken to new heights by the richness of the nuts. They are typically served at the holidays, maybe because they look like little snow balls, and at special occasions, like weddings, as the name suggests. This holiday my aunt Kristin, who is my pastry muse, requested them. It is ridiculous that my house isn’t stocked with them all year round. The recipe is so simple and the results so incredible. Thanks to Kristin my cookie jar is now full. They make a great gift because they pack up well and actually improve with a bit of time, which can’t be said for many cookies.

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Aebleskivers! (My Baker’s Christmas Wish List continues!)

Zoë François 268 Comments

Aebleskivers Recipe | ZoëBakes | Photo by Zoë François

This fall I met Chad and his partners at the Mill City Farmer’s Market in Minneapolis. My co-author and I did a bread presentation from our book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. When I came off the stage, there was Chad and these funny round pans, which were filled with little cakey spheres. I’m not sure what pastry rock I have been living under, but this site was completely foreign to me. I had to run off to do a wedding cake that day so I couldn’t stay to see Chad’s explanation or try one of these donut/dumpling/cake/crepe like creations. The following week I went back to find him and his spheres and found out they were called aebleskivers. Here’s what I learned:

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