When it's too hot to cook — and, frankly, even when it's not — a parfait is just what the doctor ordered. This simple, layered dessert at once evokes childhood nostalgia (for me, it's Dairy Queen) and a kind of adult elegance that says, "See? I have made some effort."
I hadn't much thought about parfaits until I binged my way through every episode of "Zoë Bakes," the feel-good Magnolia Network baking program hosted by author and recipe developer Zoë Francois. As the star of the show confidently baked, battered and blowtorched her way through an array of festive sweets, I found myself mentally bookmarking her creations — and remixing them in my mind.
