ZoëBakes

06/03/2026

Favorites from my show, Zoë Bakes! Thank you for all the kind messages about my house tour and all the beautiful notes about the show! I miss it too! For those of you who didn’t see my last post, I shared a tour of my house, which is on the market. It’s an exciting time, but it also means I’m leaving behind so many memories, including the time spent in my kitchen on Zoë Bakes (watch all 36 episodes on HBO Max!) To celebrate and look back, today’s newsletter features a few of my favorite and most popular recipes from the show as well as a bit about my next chapter. ♥️

Comment “RECIPE” and I’ll send you a link to the FREE newsletter.

Strawberry rhubarb pie, homemade pizza, pavlova, blueberry cheesecake

06/01/2026

Full Home Tour Video! I’ve done quick video tours in the past, but in this new video I slowed it way down to show all the details of the house Graham and I spent the last 15 years restoring and where we raised our boys. The kitchen you’ll recognize from my show, Zoë Bakes, but you asked for a stroll around the rest of the house. I figured it’s a great time to document what we’ve done to our home over the years, since we’re gearing up to pass it to the next lucky family! Bittersweet!

Step inside my 1902 Minneapolis home! My husband and I have careful...

05/30/2026

Frosty Watermelon Treats because it’s so bloody hot! Two ingredients never tasted so satisfying and looked so elegant. I’ve got Watermelon Sorbet and/or Watermelon Spritz in my “Extras” newsletter this week. Come cool off with me! 🩷🍉

Comment “WATERMELON” and I will DM you a link to these Two Frosty Watermelon Treats in my paid newsletter! Stay cool!

Summer desserts! Heat wave party! Porch cocktails!

05/29/2026

Strawberry Desserts!🍓season is right around the corner, so it’s time for some amazing desserts made with those perfectly sweet ruby red berries. Early to mid-summer is perfect for taking a trip to a farm with pick-your-own strawberries. It’s a great weekend outing with kids and you get to eat berries along the way (when the boys were little very few made it home🤣), then bring your bounty home to make them into cheesecake, fools, crisp, shortcake, ice cream or any of the recipes I’ve created for you (or eat them as is).

Comment “STRAWBERRY” or 🍓and I’ll DM you my list of FREE strawberry desserts.

Or get it here! https://zoefrancois.substack.com/p/17-strawberry-recipes-to-start-june

05/26/2026

Rhubarb Ginger Crumble from Cake From Lucie is featured in my “Extras” newsletter and it’s FREE for everyone to enjoy! CAKE FROM LUCIE is her new cookbook and it’s full of Lucie’s signature whimsical cakes, plus so much more. This crumble jumped out at me because here in MN our rhubarb is taking over the state, in such a good way! It’s my favorite time of year when the ice melts and things come to life!

Comment “CAKE FROM LUCIE” and I will send you a link for the Rhubarb Ginger Crumble (or get the link below)! Her bakery is one of my favorite stops when I am in NYC, now you can have her beautiful desserts at home! 🩷

RECIPE: https://zoefrancois.substack.com/p/jammy-rhubarb-ginger-crumble

05/26/2026

Victoria Sponge Cake! I fell in love with Victoria sponge cake on a trip to Dublin. The cake itself was so deliciously light but I had a difficult time replicating its texture when I got home. Once I employed “self-raising” flour, a common ingredient in the UK, which contains baking powder and salt in the mix, I had a total victory! The traditional filling is whipped cream and jam with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar. I added some strawberries for flavor, texture, and decoration along with some edible flowers.

Speaking of Dublin, do you want to explore Ireland with me and in October? Join us for Castles, Cottages & Cookery! Comment “Ireland” below and I’ll send you the FREE Victoria Sponge Cake recipe + the trip details.

Irish desserts, summer cake, strawberry cake

05/25/2026

Homemade Pizza! My no-knead dough goes together in a snap and then you have fresh pizza in just minutes. The dough works great in a wood pizza oven or on a baking steel/stone in your kitchen.

Comment “PIZZA” and I will send you the recipe and full how-to videos on making the dough! Or get the link below. This pizza dough is always in the Top 2 Recipes on my website for a reason, come check it out! ♥️🍕

RECIPE: https://www.zoebakes.com/2024/03/01/00-pizza-dough/

05/20/2026

Desserts for a long weekend! 💕 With the long weekend just around the corner, it’s time to think about treats for summer (or pre-summer!) gatherings. Fresh berries, homemade ice cream and bars for BBQs and parties.

Comment “weekend” and I’ll DM you a link to my FREE newsletter, featuring all these recipes + more! ✨

Memorial Day weekend desserts, potluck desserts, desserts for barbecues

05/19/2026

10 ways to RICE KRISPIES TREATS! If you want a no-bake, last-minute crowd-pleaser, these are the ticket! Everyone loves them, kids and even the adults who say they’re skeptics. My husband, who claimed not to be a fan of the entire rice treat genre said the cocoa version changed him and he’s a HUGE FAN. I have a variation for every possible craving—strawberry, peanut butter, brown butter, cocoa, even SAVORY variations (these may be my fav)—the list goes on and on.

Comment “FAST” or “TREAT” below and I’ll DM you a link to my Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats. My paid “Extras” subscribers also have access to 9 other variations to try!

You can also find it here! https://zoefrancois.substack.com/p/best-ever-rice-krispie-treats

05/14/2026

Baked Alaska! It’s such a fun dessert with all the summer vibes of an ice cream cake and the beautiful golden exterior of torched meringue. Plus, it’s an excuse to use my favorite kitchen tool, a blowtorch, to achieve that amazing toasty exterior. 🔥I have six different Baked Alaska recipes on my site, from Coffee, Bourbon & Chocolate to Raspberry & Lime Sorbet. I hope you’ll give one of them a try!

Comment “Baked Alaska” and I’ll DM you a link to my FREE newsletter with all of these recipes!

homemade baked Alaska recipe, frozen desserts