We’re kicking off our first season by talking about one of the most quintessential American bakes: chocolate chip cookies!

Hosts Jessica and David are joined by best-selling cookbook author Zoë François, who talks about the extensive chocolate chip cookie testing she did for her latest book, Zoë Bakes Cookies, as well as the surprising role cookies played in her family history. Then, Jessica and David answer your burning cookie questions in Ask the Bakers, including tips on the best chocolate to use and the necessary tool you need for consistent cookie baking. They close out the episode with a detour into space, Jessica’s soapbox on why warm chocolate chip cookies are actually bad (!), and the recipes they’re baking this week.

Recipes and other links from this episode:

Find Zoë’s book here: Zoë Bakes Cookies
Follow Zoë on Instagram and Substack
Zoë’s Smash Cookies recipe (the cover star of her book!)
Oatmeal-Date Smash Cookies recipe
King Arthur’s 2024 Recipe of the Year: Supersized, Super-Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
What David’s baking this week: Sesame Wheat recipe
What Jessica’s baking this week: Roti Canai recipe
Our favorite baking scale: Essential Digital Scale
Shop all our chocolate, from chunks to chips
Record your question for our Ask the Bakers segment here!