News + Recipes You May Have Missed
News + Recipes You May Have Missed
Season 3 of Zoë Bakes is available now, plus a bunch of recipes!
December! Where did the time go? I hope you get to relax and enjoy time with family and friends this holiday season. And some baking, of course! Happy Holidays!
TV
Catch me on TODAY All Day this Wednesday Dec. 7 where I’ll be making maple raisin holiday cookies in the Great American Holiday Cookie Swap! Tune in at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET.
Don’t miss the Silos Baking Competition: Holiday Edition where you can watch me judge with Andrew Zimmern and Joanna Gaines! The episode premieres Dec. 9, 8 p.m./7 p.m. CT on TV, discovery+, HBO Max, and the Magnolia | Time Well Spent app!
Zoë Bakes Season 3
In case you missed it, Season 3 of Zoë Bakes is here! You can stream new episodes every Friday on Discovery+ or on the Magnolia Network | Time Well Spent app. As always, it was a joy to meet new chefs and bakers, and share some favorite recipes with all of you. Once you’ve finished streaming, you can head over to my website to get the recipes from the show, and don’t forget to upgrade to my Extras newsletter for bonus content from season 3.
Tips for Making the Best Cookies!
Every gathering is made a little better by a giant platter of cookies and since it is the holiday season, I know you may be hosting or participating in cookie exchanges. Check out my tips for making the best cookies (or building your house out of cookie dough) and all my favorite recipes too.
Paris-Brest
This Paris-Brest recipe is featured in the first episode of season 3, featuring the bakers from Marc Heu Pâtisserie Paris. It’s a gorgeous French pastry that is shaped like a bicycle wheel and makes for a show-stopping dessert featuring choux pastry (cream puff) filled with cream, jam, and fresh fruit.
Cranberry Desserts
I made this collection of festive cranberry desserts with the holiday season in mind and they are perfect for your winter gatherings. There is something about a cranberry dusted in sugar that just reminds me of snowy days and holiday decorations. If you are looking for some new dessert ideas for upcoming parties, this is a great place to look.
Victory (Victoria) Sponge Cake
For episode one of season 3, I visited Heidi Skoog of Serious Jam. Her wonderful floral jam inspired me to make a classic Victoria sponge cake with layers of jam, Chantilly Cream (sweetened whipped cream), and perfectly fresh strawberries. It’s another showstopper that would look and taste amazing at a holiday party. Heidi has seasonal jams to choose from or you can use the cranberries from above!
Spice Cake
Spice cakes are a staple of chilly weather and winter gatherings. I adapted this spice cake with brown butter & brown sugar buttercream from recipes in Zoë Bakes Cakes to create an elegant cake that is another stunner. I really think the colors and flavors will complement your winter-themed meals and decor. As you can see I am a bit obsessed with cranberries this season. The color and tartness make them a perfect companion to a holiday dessert.
Brioche
French Toast is a must-have for brunch, especially around the holidays and the best way to make decadent French Toast is with a loaf of brioche. This is a simple loaf to make, and I promise it makes fantastic French Toast or sandwiches! For even more simple bread recipes, check out my Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day book series. It is a great way to get into baking bread for yourself or someone on your holiday shopping list!
Most Popular Recipe in November
Pies! There’s no surprise here that my “Thanksgiving Desserts” were the most popular post of the month. I’m happy to include it here because these aren’t just wonderful pies, but a variety of winter recipes that will work for the rest of the holiday season and your cold-weather baking in general.
ZoëBakes Shop For The Holidays
Do you still have holiday shopping left to do? For those who aren’t ahead of the game (no judgment, I haven’t even started), the ZoëBakes Shop still has gifts available, including signed copies of my books and aprons.