Zoë François
Zoë François is the pastry chef, cookbook author and host behind ZoëBakes, sharing recipes and lessons that help home bakers tackle bread, cakes and cookies.
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Latest
Zoë’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus her backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Magnolia Network
Ten Speed Press
Overview
- Work
- Pastry chef, baking teacher, cookbook author and television host
- Raised
- On a commune in Vermont
- Training
- Fine art at the University of Vermont; pastry studies at the Culinary Institute of America
- Book breakthrough
- Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, co-written with Jeff Hertzberg and first published in 2007
Mini bio
A cookie cart came first.
Raised on a Vermont commune, Zoë studied fine art at the University of Vermont and started a cookie business while in college. A classroom business plan became a real loan, a semester away from school and a cart selling her cookies on Burlington’s Church Street. She later studied pastry at the Culinary Institute of America.
From restaurants to home kitchens.
Andrew Zimmern hired her as a pastry chef assistant while she was at culinary school, and she became his pastry chef within six months. Later, she met Jeff Hertzberg at a music class for their children. Their friendship led to the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day books, bringing an approachable bread method to home bakers.
Books, television and teaching.
Her first solo cookbook, Zoë Bakes Cakes, arrived in 2021 and won an IACP baking award in 2022. Zoë Bakes Cookies followed in 2024 and became a New York Times bestseller. On television, Zoë Bakes introduced viewers to her Minneapolis food community. She also teaches through YouTube and her newsletter.
A new chapter.
In September 2026, Zoë introduced Pie Tree Cottage after leaving Minneapolis. Her newsletter follows the move alongside recipes, baking advice, travel and conversations with fellow bakers.
Creditschronological, newest first
Cookbooks
- 2024Zoë Bakes CookiesAuthor
- 2021Zoë Bakes CakesAuthor
- 2007Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a DayCo-author with Jeff Hertzberg
Television
- 2021–2022Zoë Bakes, seasons 1–3Host
Awards
Quotes
Cookies are in my DNA and my love languageZoë François, ZoëBakes
Explaining the personal stories and family influences behind Zoë Bakes Cookies.
Trivia
- Her first food-industry job was making ice cream cakes at Ben & Jerry’s in Burlington, Vermont.
- Her boyfriend, now husband, built the cart for her college cookie business.
- She went to Woodstock in 1969 when she was two years old.
- Her Tutu Pavlova began as a commission for a Netflix show in 2018.
Find Zoë
Follow Zoë for recipes, baking lessons and notes from her kitchen.
Are you Zoë François?
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