What does it look like to build a life you actually love — and use your passion to get there? In this episode of Home Cooked Stories, I sit down with Molly Wilkinson, an American pastry chef living in Versailles, France, who turned her love of French pastry into a thriving business and a life entirely on her own terms.

Molly didn't follow the traditional path. After training at Le Cordon Bleu, she skipped opening a bakery, pivoted her entire business model during the pandemic, and built something that works around her life — not the other way around. From teaching pastry classes online and in her Versailles apartment to embracing the French art of living well, Molly's story is equal parts inspiring and deeply relatable.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• Making French pastry at home without the intimidation
• Building a business with flexibility and intention 
• Why embracing imperfection is the secret ingredient 
• What living in Versailles, France, has taught her about slowing down 
• How an American girl from Texas found her rhythm in a French kitchen

Whether you've dreamed of a life abroad, want to try your hand at macarons, or just need a reminder that it's okay to build things differently — you're going to love this conversation.

Connect with Molly Wilkinson:

📖 Grab Molly's book — French Pastry Made Simple — and bring a little French pastry magic into your own kitchen.

🥐 Join Molly's "Le Baking Club" - a French pastry membership for building community, learning new recipes, and accessing classes - all from your own home.

📱 Follow Molly on Instagram and keep up with life in Versailles, French pastry inspiration, and everything in between.

Savor the Stories:

🎙️ If you loved this episode, subscribe to Home Cooked Stories so you never miss a conversation. You can also subscribe to my newsletter via Substack and follow along on Instagram. Merci!