Zoë Bakes Cookies Cookbook Review

Zoë Bakes Cookies: Everything You Need to Know to Make Your Favorite Cookies and Bars

In this week's cookbook review, we dive deep in the sweet world of cookies, with Zoë Bakes Cookies

This new book continues Zoë François’s winning formula: pairing heartfelt personal storytelling with dependable, creative cookie and bar recipes. As a New York Times bestseller and Editors’ Pick for 2024, Zoë’s book invites readers into her kitchens—from the communal vibes of her Vermont upbringing to the cozy buzz of her Minnesota home.

Packed with 75 recipes and a kitchen-savvy teaching section, it stands out as one of our favorite cookies cookbook.

‍

‍

A Warm Welcome into Zoë’s World

‍Zoë Bakes Cookies opens with Zoë’s stories: childhood memories in Vermont, late-night baking during college, and cherished family moments. These narrative introductions are more than quaint; they connect the baker’s past to each recipe, offering context and nostalgia before you ever preheat the oven.

Before you sift any flour, Zoë dedicates over sixty pages to her Cookie Academy, a hands-on exploration of baking basics.

She breaks down ingredient functions, encourages weighing by scale, and offers real-life photos demonstrating how adjustments affect cookie texture. The guidance on emulsification, adding flavor early, and even meringue troubleshooting makes this a resource that elevates beyond mere recipes—baking becomes intentional and adaptable.

‍

‍

Stories That Bake Into Every Bite

Zoë Bakes Cookies presents a thoughtfully curated selection of recipes that balance classic favorites with nostalgic flair.

Rooted in personal history, the book revisits Zoë’s Vermont commune days with wholesome, grain-forward cookies like Ultra–Peanut Butter and homemade granolas. Her holiday and Jewish heritage recipes—such as rugelach, matzo cookies, and linzers—add cultural depth, connecting past and present through food. Each cookie carries with it a story, and each story brings a deeper appreciation for the act of baking.

Rounding out the collection are hearty bar treats like Gooey Blueberry Butter Bars and Cocoa Nutella Brownies, which reflect her Midwestern upbringing and love for comfort food. Whether you’re baking for a celebration or a quiet afternoon, this book offers a wide range of options that make it more than a seasonal read—it’s a timeless, year-round baking companion.

‍

‍

‍

Technique with Flexibility & Flair

One of the most valuable aspects of Zoë Bakes Cookies is its balance of structure and creativity. While Zoë provides precise instructions, including scale-based measurements for accuracy, she never demands rigid conformity. Instead, she encourages bakers to explore ingredient ratios and adapt based on taste, texture, or what’s available in the pantry.

Her emphasis on dough-freezing strategies is particularly helpful for today’s home bakers. She offers smart, actionable tips for preparing ahead—so that you can bake on a whim without compromising texture or flavor.

Equally important is the room she leaves for experimentation. From mix-in swaps to adjusting batch sizes, Zoë creates a framework that is reliable yet forgiving. She invites readers to approach baking as both a craft and a conversation, where observation and curiosity are just as important as the written instructions.

The result is a cookbook that doesn’t just teach recipes—it teaches confidence. It’s a trustworthy roadmap that offers clear direction while leaving space for fun detours, creative variations, and new family favorites waiting to happen.

‍

‍

Final Thoughts

Zoë Bakes Cookies is a standout baking resource—educational, emotional, and eminently usable. It occupies that special space where skill-building meets storytelling, where reliable technique meets heartfelt memory. This is a cookbook destined to be dusted, loved, and relied on. It belongs on countertops and in laps, ready with mix-ins, scale, and story.