Love and Sugar

love and sugar

There’s something happening in my email inbox. ย I’ve gotten lots… and I mean LOTS of emails from you about what to bake for boys.

Boys in the dorm room down the hall from you, boys that you work with, boys that live far away from you, boys boys boys.

You people are crushin’ ย hard. I like this. ย I say thumbs-up. ย I say dive in, head first!… as long as you’re not diving into the shallow end, and you’ve waited an hour after eating, and you’re wearing your floaties… other than that… dive in!

Or just slip n slide it… but go for it. ย It’s Spring, why not love somebody!?

You come to me with your boy and baking questions… you know I’m no expert, right? ย I mean… clearly. ย I’ve addressed this issue before, but I think it’s worth revisiting. ย I’d like to answer all of you boy/baking questions in one fell swoop (I love that expression. ย It makes me feel like Braveheart… but prettier).

Oatmeal Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ship these Oatmeal Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies to a boy that you like that’s far away. ย Cool these cookies completely. ย Wrap in plastic wrap. ย Place in a zip lock bag and package in a shoe box (scratch off the shoe size if you have gigantic feel like I do). ย Stuff with tissue and other packing supplies. ย Include note that says something to the effect of: ย hey. ย obviously I like you… like a lot. ย I baked you cookies and shipped them to you in a box that I decorated with crayon-drawn hearts. ย Ask me on a proper date. ย Like a gentleman. ย Please bring flowers. ย Love, (your name)

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For a boy that you work with… brownies.

Add peanut butter and pretzels. ย That boy will think you’re a genius. ย If he doesn’t, he’s a nutcase and you should stand clear. ย In the very least, your boss will probably love them and give you all the days off you’ve requested. ย True fact.

Oh!  Apple Crisp!

Boys in school probably want something that their mama used to make. ย What do you think about this apple crisp? ย Too much? ย How do you show up at a boy’s doorstep with a tray of apple crisp? ย That might be awkward.

Pineapple Coconut Vegan Banana Bread

Maybe you should stick with banana bread. ย Wrap it up nice. ย A little bow doesn’t hurt. ย Don’t tell him it’s vegan. ย That’s none of his dang business… unless he’s actually a vegan, then he’ll probably want to make-out with you. ย No biggie.

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Lunch date? ย Hm… is he too cheap to buy dinner? ย Chocolate chip cookies.

… and there’s nothing wrong with a lunch date, unless the guy is a jerk… then there’s everything wrong with a lunch date.

Browned Butter Fresh Blueberry Muffins

Dinner date? ย That’s more like it. ย Brown Butter Blueberry Muffins. ย He can have them the next morning for breakfast. ย It’s a nice touch. ย Do not, however, offer to spend the night and share your breakfast gift. ย Not classy. ย Keep it (classy).

He’ll think of you the next morning… and he will text. ย He’ll also tell his mom about you. ย I promise.

I Fried

A boy wants to bake with you!? ย Holy cow. ย He must like you. ย Or he’s a pastry chef and he wants to show off… which also means that he must like you. Make doughnuts. ย Make something with yeast. ย You’ll both get your hands dirty, you’ll have time to chat while the dough rises, you’ll see how he deals with stress. ย If he protects you from hot frying oil… that’s a nice touch. ย And if the doughnuts totally fail (which they won’t because he’s a secret pastry chef), then you can just shrug your shoulders and go out for french fries.

Yea… I’ve got it all planned out for you.

boy food

Want to make him fall in love with you? ย Careful with this one…. don’t go throwing these dishes around.

Shrimp and Grits. ย Cheddar Black Pepper Biscuits. ย Biscuit Pot Pie.

This is boy food. ย Careful. ย 

They won’t even know what hit em.

Now go put some love and sugar in the world. ย Knock em dead.

I love you.

Love,

Joy

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I Made This

Questions

220 Responses

  1. Dearest Joy,

    I am equally enthralled by your sense of humor, astonishing wit, and sheer brilliance when it comes to butter, sugar, and boys. Brava! I will most definitely be trying the brownies on my co-worker… I’ve already made him peanut-butter chocolate chip cookies, but I feel the brownies just might be the hook-line-sinker.

    Thank you for your wisdom and for casting light among the rest of us: head-over-heels-in-love-baking-enthusiasts.

    Much love & sugar,
    jb

  2. While yes, I am commenting on this post almost a year after you have posted it, I was looking for the recipe to your Brown Butter Blueberry Muffins. You crack me up; humor and baking, my two favorite things rolled into one! Your blog is the best! This post is the best! I’m obsessed! Now that I sound like an oober cool, not pathetic freakazoid fan stalker, I would just like to say: you the bomb girl. Wishing you some sunshine and inspiration from the east coast!

  3. Joy,

    How do you go about giving these treats to boys?? I’ve been dating a boy and dream about giving him brownies per your advice. I mean, I would love anyone who gave me homemade brownies….But, since it’s new, I feel like I need to say something like “Oh, I made these for something else…no big deal.” So, I ask you to stretch your boy genius a little further and help!!!

  4. A previous commenter asked about boy retention. Yeah… this stuff definitely works for that. I made and kept a lot of male friends in college just by baking apple pie. Now, I never wanted to date one of them, but eh, I probably could’ve. :)

    These days I’m married, and baking definitely greases the wheels of our relationship. (My darling husband would stick with me even if I didn’t make him peach cake and chocolate mint squares. But I like to tease him that he’ll never leave as long as I keep baking.)

  5. Joy. I just fell in love with you.

    I mean, I guess I’ve BEEN in love with you…so….now I’m MORE in love with you. Thanks for that. Jeez. :)

  6. Ok, now call me crazy but I’d never considered it before. There is a guy that I’ve been admiring lately and was at a loss as to how to get him to admire me back. I’m now comtemplating how to bake him something without looking weird, but I certainly LOVE the idea.

    Thank you Joy.
    Smiles.

  7. I always read your blog, and I always type up a comment praising your hysterical humor and food. But I never post it, maybe I don’t want to sound weird, or something. I don’t know. But not this time, nope this time I just have to tell you, that you are so on the money with this post.

    I’ll even venture to say “for reals” because everything you’ve said is true, and clearly there is some kind of baking magic at work with guys and these foods you have ingeniously suggested.
    <3 So thank you.
    And you rock.

  8. Hi Joy – I think you are the greatest and I wish we were friends. And this post led me to mail a boy some cookies. We’ll see if he gets the hint.

  9. Awesome post! I’m married and want to make all of this for my husband! Unfortunately he wouldn’t eat much of it, but that means there’s more for me! Who knows, I might even share with our girls (ages 6 and 1) or friends and family. Thanks for sharing!

  10. Dear Joy,

    I’ve been checking your blog daily, but this is my first time commenting. I just wanted to say that this post broke my heart. Ok, it wasn’t the post… the heart was already broken and, because of that, the post has touched me very deepily, so i thought I’d let you know. It’s sad, I know, but it’s also kinda beautiful.

    Best

  11. I already have a secret plan to make your apple crisp for my fiancee for fathers day this year. We are getting married in September and he has had to deal with me banning all of our treats from the house in order to fit into my dress, which is already bought, hanging in my closet, and not zipping 3 inches.

    Oh sweet sweet butter and sugar, I have missed you. I pine for fathers day and an excuse to put on my apron and bring a smile to my family’s face with your goodness.

    Thanks for the smiles, today and always Joy!

  12. I just love this posting and I enjoy reading your blog each week. Thanks for your wonderful sense of humor and baking and cooking inspiration.

  13. I actually almost emailed you last week with a”baking for a boy” question! I need to bake something for my *sort of* boyfriend’s birthday that will survive a 2-day trip to Massachusetts AND impress his mom. I’ve got some ideas…

    Great post, Joy!

  14. awesome list, thanks Joy! I do sometimes wonder that too. Here’s my story about my current boyfriend: on our first date I brought him a cream cheese brownie. But it was dark and on the way over, the brownie at some point rolled off of the plate in the passenger seat of my car, so I showed up on his doorstep holding an empty plate with a few crumbs on it, and didn’t realize what happened until later. At which point I rescued the brownie, and we put it in the microwave and ate it, and lived happily ever after. the end.

    ladies, bake for your boys!

  15. I might have to make those muffins (not saying that my boy is taking me on a dinner date or that I will be with him the next morning). Classy.

    psst. I love the line One Fell Swoop too Joy! Its the name of one of my favourite CDs. I’d say you should search for it.

  16. I absolutely love this post. As I havent seen my boyfriend for 4 months but we will b reunited in two weeks so I found this post very usefull :) thank you :)

  17. This is the cutest baking love story ever!!

    p.s. Every time there is a new boy, I find myself referring to your older post about what to bake for boys. This is even more adorable and helpful. Thanks!

  18. What about to win a boy back because he’s convinced not to be made for couple life … ? (and have been making him chocolate chip cookies, snickerdoodles, german saucepan brownies, and lemon poppy seed cake for two years – argh, the waste of sugar and butter !)

  19. Joy! I sincerely wish we lived in the same state. I know you’d fit in quite well here with our crew! Before he left for a week-long trip, I left a package on the doorstep of the fellow I had a huge crush on that included my favorite articles from the paper that day with commentary, the good comics, a few bouncy balls and homemade treats. Now he’s my husband and super dad to our sweet girl! Treats totally work! Also, now I want to make donuts. Love, Kelly

  20. I love your recipe for love! Ew – sorry.

    But I really do love this.

    What do you say about boy retention? I found one, convinved him to marry me, and would like to keep him around. Would these recipes work for man maintenance as well as man catching?

  21. Wish my ‘boy’ liked peanut butter! Can’t even disguise it in a brownie! But he (and I) LOVE your Cheddar Black Pepper Biscuits! Looking forward to your post on How to Impress a Girl With Baking!
    *love*

  22. I usually try to impress boys with my baking skillz, but I currently have one I’d like to impress who works in a bakery (and I know him because I buy delicious cookies from him alllllll the time.) This wouldn’t work so well. “Here Bakery Boy! I brought you some cookies! Oh… look, here you are at work…. with lots of cookies and muffins and delicious bread-things… *embarassment.*” HOWEVER! Doughnuts could happen. (Though I probably won’t bring them to him at work.) Plans are formulating. Yes.

  23. awesome post. so funny and useful at the same time. mmm gotta look at that biscuit casserole recipe now.

  24. I made my chocolate chip cookies for my first boyfriend ever on our third date. It was lent, he is catholic, he loves chocolate chip cookies. Logically, he had given up chocolate chip cookies for lent. He didn’t tell me, he ate 3 warm from the oven, and 2 more after coming back from looking at stars. We’re now less than a month away from our first wedding anniversary.

  25. Dear Joy,

    I think you are hysterical. The good hysterical that makes me laugh every time you post. Thank you. The world needs more laughter.

    Tomato

  26. Perfect timing as usual, Joy! Baking is what brought my boyfriend and I together… he works as a waiter and my best friend and I used to be Tuesday lunch regulars. I had the biggest crush on him but didn’t know if he was flirting with me or just being a gentlemanly, funny waiter. Finally around Christmas I made him homemade cookies as a gift. He texted me two hours later asking me out on a proper dinner date. We’re so smitten with each other that he actually agreed to meet my entire crazy family over the weekend at my college graduation – of course, they loved him. But he did such an amazing job being his adorable self that I wanted to bake him thank you cookies for rocking the stress and weirdness of meeting my family. He’s such a classy fellow and I’m totally head-over-heels for him.

    p.s. the one way my boy is weird is that he HATES bacon. Pork of any kind makes him sick. So no peanut butter and bacon cookies for him… Isn’t that just the strangest thing?!

  27. What about the boys in the IT department who have worked with me for months creating a new website for my nonprofit? They are super awesome and deserve some treats!

    Joy you are wonderful! I love your blog and totally won over my boyfriend with your biscuit pot pie a few weeks ago :)

  28. When I was dating my husband, I think the clincher was when I made cheesecake. Pumpkin cheesecake. It wasn’t the only thing, but the best way through a man’s heart was definitely through the stomach.

  29. I love this post! I saw my boyfriend in the cafeteria at my college at pursued him with baked goods and anonymous notes…chocolate chip cookies, blueberry muffins, and orange bars were my weapons of choice.

  30. I wooed my husband with curried pumpkin soup that I brought to his office 12 years ago now…I have never made the soup again, but discovered lots of other ones that have kept him around :)
    I bookmarked almost all of these recipes and am now hungry!!
    thanks :)

  31. How did you guess! Yes, just to make my boyfriend (hubby) of 40 year happy tonight I fixed apple crisp. Secret? Threw in a couple pears I had getting real soft and added some boiled apple cider for that extra apple punch. After our dinner of steams clams, I brought this out still a little warm. Melted his heart all over again. You sure have guys pegged kiddo!

  32. I love your ‘life tutorial’ blogs so, so much. This is gorgeous. I think I’m going to have to make that pot pie for the boy that’s already in love with me (more love wouldn’t hurt, right?)!!

    Actually, what about a recipe to say “I do love you even though I’ve been a bit of a stress-head lately”? And maybe a bit more than a bit…

  33. I landed my husband with chocolate chip cookies. We served them as favors at our wedding with a little story about the first time he changed the oil in my car and I baked them as a thank you. The rest, as they say, is history. And don’t think I haven’t forgotten the magic that baked goods performs on boys. I recently got a puppy as a result of some banana bread.

  34. I’d like to say that while I LOVE your site and recipes, I use a lot of them very, very often, I’ve baked many things for many different boys and men but none of them had their heart melt with my baked goodness….sad day….so I say get to know em a little first before you offer up the goods, no dirty pun intended ;)

  35. I just love this post because I ALWAYS use my baking skills to bake for people I love, especially my super special boy (man) friend.

    I think my favorite thing that people say after they’re tasted something I’ve cooked or baked is “why don’t you just marry her already before she finds someone else to cook/bake for!”…that always makes me blush a little

  36. The Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pecan cookies are just delicious. The spices in the batter take the cookies to a whole new level. I used dark brown sugar for some extra depth. The dough was so addictive that I kept going back for more and more while baking! Thanks for the fantastic recipe!

  37. Such a delightful photo essay on every possible way to cook for boys – and what a great theme! Love the paragraph on making donuts.

  38. can I say from personal experience that your browned butter blueberry muffins have made us instant friends with the neighbors. Who, by the way, have three boys.
    But then, all of the boys stopped coming over to my house for the muffins, they thought they were so yesterday…because I made them your orange and chocolate scones. I try to make sure and tell them I didn’t come up with these recipes but they seem to think my family is the most amazing thing since sliced bread…or maybe browned butter muffins. howell.

  39. Not to sound like a creepy stalker, but I’ve had two dreams that I met you in the past week and that we instantly became friends and then had an all day bake-a-thon. Apparently I’m reading your blog too much! :-)

  40. While I did not snag my boyfriend with food (he liked that I’m down-to-earth and don’t wear makeup), he loves me even more because of my cooking. Top requests are cinnamon bread for his morning coffee, tator tot hotdish (wanted it for his birthday) and chocolate pudding pie with fresh whipped cream. But he will try anything I make, and ends up liking almost everything.

  41. I loved this! So true. I definitely got my boyfriend through food. Reeled him in with pretzel jello and kept it going with cookies, brownies etc until I invited him over for dinner and dessert. Works like a charm.

  42. Boy Food!!!! What Don’t They Like???? Too Funny! I’ve found that most guys like/love most food…
    as long as it’s not toooo fancy! Like my guy/best friend/sweetie/hubby loves oatmeal raisin cookies… not into adding chocolate chips (I’m thinking that’s more a girl type of cookie… chocolate… what’s not to like!). I make another oatmeal cookie that does a bit of extra though…. Oatmeal, Crasin, White Chocolate Chip and Pecan’s…. yum!!!
    They item that really hooked him though and probably made him think about popping the question…..
    Home Made Strawberry Short Cake…. not angel food cake…. ohhhh no, the real stuff!!! I’m talking making the huge short cakes that you slice in the middle like a layer cake and fill that baby with tons of strawberries (that have been sugared and set for a while) and then lots of fresh whipped whip cream…. My sweeties birthday falls sometimes on Fathers Day…. so he gets extra sweets… since he’s a great dad and grandpa too!!!

  43. Think I’m going to surprise the hubby with a shoe box decorated in high school love letters for work. Totally doing shrimp and grits for Fathers’ Day

  44. Joy – you are seriously the most adorable person I’ve read on the net so far! ^^ I love your blog and this post just made me smile after the reeeally crappy day I had today. Wish I had someone to make all this stuff for… *sigh* ;)
    Hugs & kisses from Germany!

  45. Joy! I’m a boy who wants to impress girls with delicious baked goods! When are you gonna do THIS post, “If you happen to be interested in girlsโ€ฆ wellโ€ฆ thatโ€™s a whole other blog postโ€ฆ”

    Love reading your stuff. I really should bake some of it some time…
    -Brett

    1. you’re right! you deserve a post too! really tho.. i think that a boy can bake just about anything and impress a girl. like… anything! with chocolate.

  46. Could please, please, please upload the little picture of the biscuit pot pie on this page in a bigger size? you haven’t that one on the recipe-page, and i like that one here very much!!
    thank you :)

  47. This is hilarious! And I feel like each one was dead on…. whenever I bake for my boyfriend, adding peanut butter (to whatever I’m baking!!) always makes it his NEW favorite thing I have ever baked.

  48. Perfect timing! I was just pondering what to send a friend of mine. He’d be grateful for anything, but these are great ideas.

  49. I love this post. Can’t wait to find some unsuspecting, adorable boy and make him fall in love with me with biscuits and cookies and muffins, oh my!

  50. Why didn’t I see this post yesterday?! I have a bake-off on Monday, and I already started baking my chocolate hazelnut tart. Any of these would have been amazing.

  51. I can testify the Chocolate Chip cookies work-and have been requested on many occasions….by a boy…that I like :)

  52. Thanks JOY!
    I’m going to recommend this post to all my girlfriends, even the grandmas, because you know, it’s important to keep the love going to the men in our lives…
    I personally want to bake it all (except the cheddar biscuits cause I’m allergic to cheddar but may substitute asiago…?) and share it with my man.

  53. You had a moment, you went with it. I’m glad you did. And I’m so glad you strayed away from the typical steak and potatoes. It’s just too obvious and lame.

  54. My boyfriend and I spent a fun day yesterday making and decorating cupcakes so I can vouch for baking together definitely being a romantic afternoon activity!

  55. How come the chocolate chip cookies are relegated to the cheap not-worth-it lunch-date dude? A really good chocolate chip cookie is worth it’s potential weight-gain in gold! And besides, lunch dates are great ‘cuz if they go well, you can stretch them into an afternoon/evening date, and if they don’t go so well, you have the whole rest of the day to go hang out with friends and eat treats and forget about the disastrous date! :)

  56. oh joy you make me smile, a lot! This is a fantastic cute post. I may have won my boy over with some of you chocolate chip cookies some years ago, so now i’m trying to think of reasons to bake all this yumminess for him (or maybe for myself).

    Also, way prettier than braveheart.

  57. Love love LOVE this post! Joy you are so cute and honest. Your posts never fail to put a smile on my face. Thank you so much for being you. <3

  58. Joy. This post should win an award. In fact it should win every award. Every award everywhere. Period.

  59. Just read every name of each recipe to a boy I really adore. Response “YUMMM” Bingo Joy…BINGO

  60. I thought I’d tell you about the time I invited a boy I liked over to watch a movie. Arsenic and Old Lace. I made your flourless peanut butter cookies and he was dang impressed. Nearly a year later and he still asks for them. Along with your nectarine and cream cobbler, chewy molasses chocolate chip cookies, and dark chocolate brownies. Thanks for all of your help, Joy.

  61. Are you from the South/have any relations in the South/ever been to the South? Cuz any and every Southern man I’ve ever met would not only love you for these baked goods but Shrimp and Grits is most definitely the way to a man’s heart, whether he’s Southern or not. Best man advice I’ve ever been given.

  62. Joy, this post is HI-larious! It’s funny because I happen to bake for boys all the time…though they are family. My brothers and dad (especially my dad) LOVE when I bake. Making sweet things make men happy

    And fat. But mostly happy.

    I nearly squealed when I saw the link to your other boy/baking post because you have an oink cup! I too have an oink cup. Actually, I have two and one is for my brother who loves it.

    I love you, Joy. You’re awesome. I tell everyone who has even the slightest interest in baking to read your blog because I know they’ll love it as much as I do.

  63. There was a guy I liked and i went to his door twice with treats-one morning with blueberry muffins and another time with a spice cake-I didn’t snag his heart but I definitely made an attempt ;)
    This just gives me more ideas for next time!

  64. First time commenting but I just wanted to say that you are so fun! I love your writing style, it makes me smile. :) I wish I had a boy to bake for!

  65. When I was thirteen I baked a black forest chocolate cake and wound up on my crush’s doorstep to give it to him. He wasn’t home, his sister laughed in my face as she took the cake from me, and the boy and I never talked again. C’est la vie! I hope he liked the cake at least.

  66. doughnuts it is! too bad he cancelled on me for our baking date tomorrow. i think i’ll make them anyway!

    you’re the best joy!

  67. Joy, you crack me up every time. There’s some darn good truth in what you’re saying though…especially about the doughnuts…good date idea! :)

  68. Oh, Joy…you make me chuckle. I think the PB Pretzel Brownies are perfect…sweet and salty. :)

  69. I have two boys (3 with thier dad)…so I am all about wooing the boys with baked goods….works everytime….xox Love you , if I went that way Joy I would be sending you cookies in a shoebox with hearts on them….with a note that says”Marry me!!”ha ha:))

  70. Hehe, this is a super cute post! And it’s so awesome since the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach :) You’re blog has such tasty looking treats and is always entertaining!

  71. I read your posts, and I think, “I want to be Joy’s friend….what a super fun and funny gal she is”. Love your blog!

  72. Favorite post ever. I had a total drool moment over the shrimp and grits recipe. I am gonna do a date night for myself soon. Those shrimp and grits are sooo on. Thanks Joy. You are a sweetheart.

  73. I wonder what you bake for your very close friend, who’s currently in a loving relationship with your other very close friend?
    But really, these last few kind of “life advice” posts have been great. I really liked the turning 21 post as well.

  74. So what if he asks you to spend the night so you can share the muffins? Do you pretend you have an early morning tomorrow so he thinks of you while he eats the muffins?

    Love this post. Really cute.

  75. Boys do enjoy girls who bake (pretty sure my dad married my mom for her cream cheese brownies). But, holy cow, do girls enjoy boys who bake! Gentlemen, find out your lady’s favorite dessert, bake it constantly, and suddenly her mama will be telling everyone what a sweet boy her daughter is dating.

    Not that I bake just to get the ladies. But it works. Just sayin’.

  76. True story: boys far from mama love banana bread (and I don’t tell them it’s vegan) and giving cinnamon/caramel rolls for their breakfast always results in a morning text. A well written post; you have a lovely I’m-confiding-in-you style.

  77. I totally made apple crisp and showed up on my boyfriends doorstep
    And that was 2 years ago, and I still make apple crisp for him
    So it works some of the time ;)

  78. Thank you for making my heart smile.

    My husband loves my food – and one of the reasons he fell in love with me is that I can cook –

    I often say that he’s Vinegar, and I’m Oil — together we make Great Salad Dressing! But really, he’s sweet and I’m a little tart…. so we’re more like Lemon Loaf. aha.

    Thanks for the great post, I’ll be reading it to David while he’s watching the Hockey game (between two groups of men who never grew up and like to hit each other); and because he loves me, he’ll pretend to listen :D

    Shannon

  79. Love this post. I actually baked my now bf your dark chocolate brownies when we we’re initially dating so you helped assist my current wonderful relationship!

    The way to a mans heart is totally through his stomach.

  80. I read this post to my husband out loud and he thinks you’re awesome. Also, now he wants those brownies. Your posts never fail to make me laugh :)

  81. today is the day of my 10 year wedding anniversary and my husband will stick around for another 10, for sure, if i make him anything on this post :)

    seriously those brownies w/ pretzels, I missed everything after those b/c they look so good!

    great post, joy :)

  82. I have 5 men in my life who would love all these. Scary thing is my husband and 4 sons could eat all of this in just a few days!

  83. First time I’ve shipped cookies, let alone to a boy… thanks for the help with long distance Joy!

  84. I love the baking for boy posts! They remind me of college and also things now (I am still in my 20s and bake for boys I like). I think you are right about that final section. It is deadly and will result in love. Use with caution. :)

  85. in Poland we have phrase ‘through the stomach to the heart’ and now i see it totally works for all over the world :)

  86. oh my heavens. This makes me so incredibly happy to be single. Now I have this fantastic “to-do list” for the guy that will be worth getting some day.
    So…um…any advice on where to meet the good guys??

  87. Oh Joy, you are so very wise. I love, love, love your blog. thank you for your words of wisdom and the fantastic recipes. xo

  88. Thank you so much for your amazing recipes and witty way of writing. I love it.
    I can’t believe I never thought of it before, but as soon as I read the first idea of mailing something to a boy far away it hit me flat in the face…you see, my husband is in another state. Has been for over a year now, not fun, not cool, very stressful. I love to cook and bake, my 3 kids enjoy it when I do, so that’s nice. But I really miss cooking for my man. You are so creative and I just want you to know how thankful I am for you writing this to remind me that I COULD mail him something sweet:o)
    May you be blessed!
    Joy

  89. i married my boy, but i might just make him some doughnuts :D. Your posts are so wonderful and they always make me laugh…i don’t know if i quite love you, but i reaaalllly like you. and since you’re a better baker than me, make yourself some dulce de leche cupcakes from me :)

  90. Joy, you are a true genius… in matters of baking, boys and breakfast texts. Your posts are always a pleasure to read.
    Thank you for sharing.
    P.S. Once you’ve married him, I recommend a fresh key lime pie, from scratch. And get him to use his big strong hands to help you juice the limes. He’ll feel important AND realize how much you are doing just for him. :-) At least that’s what happened around here yesterday.

  91. Joy, I love that this showed up today. I’m 2 hours away from making dinner with a boy tonight. (First date!) I’m bringing cornbread to go with dinner, and blueberry cobbler for dessert. He’s pretty special. :-)

  92. My husband won over my college roommate with chocolate chip cookies. My parents with the fresh nectarine pie. And me? With the hours we spent cooking together. : )

    In fact, cooking and baking is still one of our favorite things to do together. Food, an excellent way to build solid relationships. : )

  93. This post (and the one when you shared how you ended up taking your shirt off in public) is why I love your blog so much. I can attest that baked goods are the way to a man’s heart (ask mu hubby) BUT only for that special man who is worth it. We mustn’t go throwing our pearls before swine ;)! Thanks for reminding the ladies to keep it (classy)!!

  94. Hi Joy! Just a comment from a Danish girl currently enjoying the aftermath of three hours of baking your velvet cupcakes and Lemon Poppy Seed muffins as well, and I can for sure tell you that baking those two batches is suitable for satisfying boys as well! The happiness I received from succeeding with your recipes, was rubbing of on my boyfriend, so that’s definitely a plus, and even better: He loved loved loved the result! Anyways, I just want to say thank you for writing this blog and providing us with all these amazing recipes – I’m a fan! :-)

  95. This made me so happy! Will definitely have to make those brownies for my boy tonight. But just saying having a boy cook for you too is something kinda wonderful :)

  96. Stinkin’ hilarious post!
    My man has been my cookin and bakin guinea pig for 23+ years.
    He used to be able to eat it all…now I have to hide stuff so he doesn’t (thought he’d never get a belly, ha!) Regardless….still gonna whip up a bunch of stuff on this post..awesome ideas/recipes. Happy baking always!

    Joi

  97. Speaking as one of the boys, I have to vouch for every call in this post. Spot-on accurate :-)

    Of course, it works the other way ’round, too. Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies. Married four years now. ‘Nuff said.

  98. I make my husband pumpkin pie! When we were dating I bought him a pumpkin pie on his birthday (in October), when we were first married I made him a pumpkin pie using the can stuff, and now I make him a pumpkin pie from an actual pumpkin! He loves it!

  99. i’m currently watching a workshop online with food photographer, penny de los santos, and all i can think of is joy the baker photos–holy heck, joy–you are your own food stylist and photographer–like pro style…for serious. your baking and writing cheer us right up, but your photos are totally inspiring :)

    1. you are so sweet! penny is one talented lady. i love her work so much! that you would even think of me during that workshop is amazing. thank you!

  100. Oh, well timed! I just went on a first date with a boy I really like, and brought chocolate cherry oatcakes and your honey sugar cookies with me for him. He was suitably impressed. Next time, I’m upping the ante with pomegranate chocolate brownies. I hope your cookbook comes out soon, because I’m going to want to try something new for him on each date! :D

  101. Love, love, love… to be in LOVE. Here’s a secret: I still get butterflies thinking about the first kiss. Five years later. We’re married. With a kiddo. Make that first kiss count – so you can day dream about it later! :)

  102. About love and sugar, I’m proud to say that I’ve made many, many of your recipes–Chai Spiced Buttermilk Pancakes, Chocolate Avocado Cupcakes, the Single Lady Pancake, the Chewy Molasses Chocolate Chip cookies, etc., etc.–for my boyfriend and he’s never failed to appreciate the winning combination. It really works.

  103. Oh Joy. I’ve had a terrible week and this has cheered me up. That’s pretty lame, isn’t it? Anyway I’m kind of crushing on someone…just trying to decide if I’m brave enough to send him some cookies!

  104. I love that my husband promised he’d learn how to make croissants for me, and came through with it, and made some amazing croissants the Julia Child way. Amazing!
    I definitely love baking for people, and am generally the one doing that (and looking for any excuse to bake someone something tasty, “We have a lab meeting tomorrow… I should bake some brownies!”) โ€“ย but it is nice when it goes both ways.

  105. So I asked my husband, who isn’t much of a baked goods fan (or of sweets in general! What the hell is wrong with him), what would be the baked sweet item into his heart. His response: “without a doubt, a good fruit pie”. And I got to thinking about this, not only are they laborious but the sexual entendre is right on point. Always thinking with their heads ;)

  106. I think if I made my hubby the shrimp and grits he would propose all over again!! That happens every once in a while when I make something super yummy!

  107. Great idea! Seduction by baking ^^
    Next thing will be baking the perfect dessert for a girl! (yeah we deserve it too!)

  108. LOVE this post! i think i may have convinced my boy to date me and later marry me by baking him a pie with his name on it and sending banana bread to him when he was away at college. i keep him around with cookies, cakes, and pies. baked goods make boys swoon!

  109. Possibly the most genius thing I’ve read all saturday. The way to a man IS through his stomach :D

  110. Just love this! It all really makes me want to find a lovely man to bake for! The baking part I can do with some help from you! All I need now is to work out how to find the perfect boy! :-)

  111. That’s adorable! Now if only I could get up the courage to mail something to the guy I’m crushing on… ;)

  112. Amazing!! Now if I only had these suggestions before I shipped my boy a package…. but for some reason I don’t think the cookies would have lasted through air mail and some number of weeks before actually getting to the ship in New Guinea. He’ll just have to get love and sugar when he’s back home! Thanks so much for sharing Joy!! :)

  113. This post totally cheered me up! And made me hungry. Hungry for luurvv :) And chocolate chip cookies.

  114. I read your blog all the time (like for years) but I have never left a comment before! That said, I LOVE this, I’ve often thought that if I could just carry around a plate of cookies, or brownies, or anything delicious I would already be married. But i’m in no hurry :)

  115. I LOVE this post!!! This makes me want to work hard to woo my husband all over again:) And I have no idea why I haven’t seen those oatmeal pecan chocolate chip cookies before!! I need to make those immediately!

  116. Aww, what a perfect post! My boo and I love to cook and bake together, but he’s gone for three months doing reforestation work and my kitchen’s feeling very empty. Shipping some oatmeal cookies sounds perfect–he loves my recipe with citrus zest, dried cranberries, chopped almonds, and white chocolate chips.

  117. I used to bake chocolate chip cookies for my now husband while we were dating. We were on the quest for the the perfectly chewy, slightly crispy edged but not cakey chocolate chip cookie. I think we tried every variation that there was. I’m not sure we ever found the perfect cookie, but we did find a diamond ring, wedding, and now a baby on the search. :o)

  118. Oooh, new post! Goodie! I’m baking right now, actually, so I’d better not get butter or flour in my keyboard. I’m lucky enough to have a boyfriend, and he loves it when I bake or cook – he’s very pleased and impressed whenever I whip anything up, really. There is a Norwegian saying which goes something like “the way to a man’s heart goes through his tummy”, and if that makes sense at all in English, I’d like to say that I think there’s some truth to it. Those cheese and pepper biscuits look perfect for a picnic! Thanks, Joy! You’re the best!

    1. “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” is also common here in the US. Only in my relationship, it’s more true for me than my husband! : )

  119. As I was scrolling through your post, my husband saw the peanut butter pretzel brownies and said “YUM!” I think those will have to be made soon in my house!

    Love your blog!

  120. Brilliant! The amazing guys in my life would scarf everything on this page down in a heartbeat (come to think of it, so would I, yes, yes I would do that…not all at once, of course). You have a way for words, Ms. Joy! :D This was a fantabulous post.

  121. I made my boy the biscuit pot pie and there was love to be had (only, we haven’t said the L word yet, but there was LOVE present I tell you). He loved it in any case, and we both had full, happy stomachs.

  122. hahaa!! this is genuinely incredible – when I do find THAT boy, I’ll sure as hell be making him choc chip cookies, and he will fall in love with me damnit! x

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