A New Way to Join Me in My Kitchen!

I can't wait to get baking with you!

Zoë Bakes on YouTube!

I’ve had so many lovely comments, DMs, emails, and even snail mail asking about the next season of Zoë Bakes on Magnolia Network. The short reply is that there are none planned for this coming season. I really miss creating the show and baking with all of you. I am particularly pleased when I hear from all the kids who watch the show and follow along while I make pies, cake, bread, and even pâte à choux pastry. Kids are the best measure of success because they are so honest and unfiltered, so I take their love of the show as the highest form of compliment. Thank you ALL for watching and baking along with me. Such a JOY! And now there is a new way …

Since I am not shooting the show I’ve decided to create videos on YouTube. I was getting so many questions and I am a visual learner so it seems most instructive to show you in a video, instead of trying to tell you in a comment. If there are techniques you are curious about, please leave me a comment (below or on YouTube) and I will try to make a video to show you how I do it. I will be sharing Tips & Techniques that I have learned over my three-decade (it went by so quickly) career as a baker, cookbook author, pastry chef, and teacher. It’s just me in the kitchen with some cameras my husband, Graham, set up for me. No director, no crew, no HMU (hair and makeup stylist), no script, just me and Graham as my editor. This is you and me baking together and I am so excited.

Be sure to subscribe to my ZoëBakes channel to be notified of new weekly videos, tips & tricks, Q&As, and videos for some of my most popular recipes.

If you have a request for a video of a certain recipe or technique, please leave a comment!

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Homemade Vanilla Extract

Making your own vanilla extract is so easy and delicious. I started my current batch in 2012, and I just keep adding more vanilla beans and vodka once it gets halfway down the bottle. The extract will keep indefinitely; and over the months, it just keeps getting better. The type of vanilla bean you use doesn't matter, and you can combine the various beans from Mexico, Madagascar, Tahiti, Indonesia, and beyond. They range in flavor and cost, so try many and pick your favorite.

If you've made this recipe before, please take a moment to rate/review it. It helps other bakers find my recipes more easily!

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30-Second Vanilla Hack

So you've just started your first batch of vanilla extract, but it's going to be a while before you can use it. This hack can help boost the flavor of store-bought vanilla extract while waiting for your homemade vanilla to mature.

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What You Need to Make Homemade Vanilla

You only need a few items to start making your own vanilla.

• Vanilla Beans - these are the ones I buy

• Vodka - it doesn’t need to be expensive, cheap brands work great, too.

• Paring Knife - for when you split and scrape your vanilla beans.

• Glass Bottle with Stopper - Empty liquor bottles work well!

• Funnel - for a small bottle, using a pastry tip works in a pinch.

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