Meet Joy
I’m Joy. I’m a baker. Had you guessed as much?
I’m currently hurtling into my thirties, trying to show the world, and my kitchen, what’s what.
I’m a self taught/ family taught/ taste buds taught baker.
I grew up in the kitchen in between my father, who makes a mean Sweet Potato Pie, and my mother, who makes a really weird purple hot dog casserole… don’t ask. Between my kitchen loving parents, the clinking cake pans, and the flying flour, it became clear that baking is in my blood.
I live in Los Angeles, by the beach. That’s where I do a majority of my living, working, eating, cocktailing and related horsing around.
On a good day, Los Angeles looks like this. What a world.
I live with a precious kitten named Jules Stevens. He is a monster… a beautiful, hungry, cuddly monster.
I really like chocolate… and cookies.. and anything with the word ‘cake’ in the title… and funky things like Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies. I can think of no better way to get to eat all of these goodies, then to teach myself how to bake them.
Joy the Baker has been up and running and taking over the Internet since January 2008.
In that time I’ve made an immeasurable amount of friends in people like you.
I have a cookbook to be published by Hyperion in early 2012.
Saveur named Joy the Baker the Best Baking and Dessert Blog of 2011. I’ve been nominated for the 2010 Bloggies ‘Best Food Blog’. I’ve been named one of the Top Fifty Food Blogs in the World by the London Times. I’ve been named Best Baking Blog by Foodbuzz… and Forbes said some really lovely things about me!
…all because I have a compulsion to take pictures of the things that I bake.
I’m also co-founder of Homefries.com.
Homefries is a destination for fun, high-quality podcasts, covering food and wine, parenting and simple living, and entertaining.
Homefries is home to The Joy the Baker Podcast, as well as The Crush, The Simple Mom Podcast, and The Table Set.
My friend Michael and I work hard every week to create new podcasts… the kind of podcasts that we would want to listen to.
It’s like easy listening… without the terrible saxophones.
We made a video too! It’ll answer all the questions about who we are, what we do, and why we want to talk at you.
This blog is proof that I’m navigating my way through the world. You’ll get a little bit about life, and a healthy heap of love, cookies, cakes and creams. Together we’ll figure out how they all come together to create one incredibly sweet life.
Would now be a good time to mention my affection for Toasted Marshmallow Milkshakes, Barbecue Buttermilk Onion Rings and trashy reality television shows? Oooooh man.
Now!
Here’s a little of the nitty gritty:
I shoot using a Canon 5D. It’s borrowed. I use a 24-105mm lens, a 100mm macro lens and a 50mm lens. Can I be honest? Back in the day, I used to take food photos with my camera phone exclusively…. I’m not all that fancy.
I use natural light. Why? Because I love to bake and shoot in the morning, and my life works out pretty well that way.
The blog is powered by WordPress, an unbelievable amount of granulated sugar, and a sometimes unreasonable desire to share with you all of my kitchen happenings.
My favorite thing to bake is Apple Pie.
I love navy blue and high waisted pants.
I drink wine. I love bourbon.
I wear clogs in the kitchen and heels out in the world.
I really suck at wearing lipstick.
And… put me in a pair of tight black pants and I’m good for the rest of my life.
I sincerely thank you for coming here so loyally, baking things and saying nice words. I’m so glad you’re around.
I mean that from deep inside my heart.
Contact me at: joy (at) joy the baker (dot) com
I try very hard to respond to each email I receive. Please forgive me if, for some reason, I am unable to get back to you. I like you… I just need more hours in the day.
Follow me on Twitter and get all up in my business on Facebook. Say hello! I’ll say hi back!
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Joy, I just came across your food blog. I love the way you write from your heart your picture are really good. How long have you been blogging? Can you tell me some of your challenages when you first got started? Did it take a while to get people to notice that you have a blog? I just started a food blog in the fall 2011. I love doing it? Do you have any suggestions for a beginner? Diane
Joy! I’ve just discovered your blog and it has brought a huge smile to my face. Thanks for sharing your ideas, passion, and baked delights online.
Joy,
Like Melanie & Diane above, I have just discovered your wonderful blog. Your delight in sharing
your love of baking and your sense of humor shines through pin every post! I’m so glad I found you on Pinterest. Thank you!!
Hi Joy
I am so delighted to have Stumbled upon your blog. I love your spirit and writing style and the fact that you have so many scrumtious recipes is an added bonus. I already see that New Years diet resolution fading away into a distant memory.
I’ve been having trouble putting my new iPad down but now I have found your site, I don’t see it leaving my side anytime soon.
I look forward to visiting often.
Cheers
Sharon
your posts are always so delicious and tempting. i’ve got to make that toasted coconut oatmeal. mmmMMMM.
Hi Joy!
I’m so happy I stumbled across your blog. Reading your stories and recipes have brightened my day and brought a big smile to my face. I’m anxious to start trying some of these delightful recipes and to share your blog with everyone I know. Thank you so much for sharing your love and passion with us. Also, Jules is so cute!
Best wishes,
Holly
JOY! I am SO HAPPY to see your photo and recipe when I was reading my Food&Wine magazine!!!
I flipped to the gorgeous photo of the ice cream and thought “I have to make it”! This is truly exciting. Congratulations!
thank you for the kindness!!!
So a cousin introduced me to your blog, and I’ve been addicted since. I’ve made dozens of your recipes, and I’ve loved them all. Your blog and the baking it has inspired has actually made up my mind; and I’m in school for a pastry degree. But, Valentine’s Day is coming up…I have a boyfriend who loves when I bake…I need a good recipe for him. He loves cherries, not a big fan of cakes/cupcakes, doesn’t much care for anything too sweet(why are we dating? Who knows.) Any delicious suggestions for my Valentine surprise?
Hey Joy
Love the posts! As an avid baker and cook myself I love all your recipes! They have definitely got me in some good books with the girlfriend, co-workers, and family members. Seeing how you have so many good recipes, figured I should ask the expert! Was curious if you had a good potato & bacon soup recipe! Nothing like a good hearty soup in the cold winters here in the Great White North. Thanks!
Hi Joy! I stumbled upon your blog from Bakerella. I really love your blog and I’m mosdef bookmarking it! Thanks for all the recipes and awesome pictures you have! Cheers, Rima
Hi Joy! Another Joy ~ we are rare! Thank you for your lovely blogspot – I’ve enjoyed it tremendously and will continue to follow on facebook. Found you by searching out ‘how to make cake flour’, which I remember watching my Mom do it-but could not remember how. Spent hours standing on a kitchen chair watching her bake, and love to do it now, myself. She’s in heaven baking for Jesus, I am sure! Regardless …. catch you later …. and thanks! Going to make a cake! Joy Woodruff, Western NY X
I just wanted to thank you for inspiring me to start my own food blog. I hope my blog can become only half as successful as yours! Check it out!
Thanks again!
Hi Joy,
Just wanted to tell you I have been pinning your recipes like no ones business! What does that mean anyway? Humm…. Well I love love love your site and it made my day reading all about you and what you have accomplished. – Kristine
Hello,
I have come across your blog via your Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread recipe which is screaming to me that I should try it. I love your blog and follow it with pleasure! Take Care. Steph
Hi Joy,
Hope all is well with you! Is the book out yet?
x,
Cecille
Just saw the article in Sunset magazine…woo hoo!! and way to go!
Joy,
I would just like to stop and say how much of an inspiration you are to me! I’m a self-taught baker and it has quickly become a beautiful passion for me! I appreciate your humor and the love you have for sweets. You make me want to make me become a better baker every day! I’m 20 years young and you are definitely one of my role models! Thank you for being YOU! :) And I know I’m totally cool for starting a countdown for your cook book!
P.S., More videos please! You are so beautiful!
Gorgeous! You’re such an inspiration and the photographs you take are so so lovely!
You inspire me to bake and blog!
xxx
-S
I absolutely love your website, I just discovered it through “stumble upon”. I have a blog which is about all the inspiration I find in the world, interiors, crafts, food etc and my art. I love your cinnamon pull apart bread and have placed a link to your website and your book from my blog. I am sure all my readers will love your food.
Lee
Hi Joy! I have been following you for some time and I love your blog! You are hysterical! It is such a small world. I was telling my cousin (who used to live in Cali) about you and your blog and how much I love you and it turns out she knows you – she worked with you at the cheesecake F. She couldn’t believe that it was you who i was talking about. she had nothing but awesome things to say about you. Small world.
Love what you do, i can’t wait to get your book. you truly put a smile on my face!
oh man… small world indeed! cheesecake factory!?!? that was a looooong time ago!
ha ha – yup, cheesecake factory! She lived in Cali for a little over 10 years and actually moved back home. We missed her so much but I have to say, having a place to stay out West was a huge plus:-)
Love the new video! It’s graceful and adorable and full of love!
Joy,
I love your green recipes – so innovative and such a “treat.” I’m requesting something using dates, figs, prunes, and citrus – something healthy sweet. I’m dying to do something with that, but I figure you will know what to do. Please consider.
Had to click on your side because of the name. Many years ago my best friend’s name was “Joy Baker”!! You can see my interest….also she loved to cook. She and I worked together in NYC in the 1960s and sadly she passed away about 6 1/2 yrs ago. I miss her very much and when I saw “Joy the Baker” it put a smile on m face. Then I found out I enjoyed your blog!! It’s great….thank you.
Your writing style is what makes this, by far, the best food blog I´ve ever come across. Thank you for your honesty and your humor. And thanks for making yummy food too! Have a beautiful day!
THIS is awesome! I’m so happy I found your blog. Your story about baking with your dad is so special. I will be visiting this blog again and hopefully learning some tips on how to bake love infused treats for the ones I love! Thank you for sharing!
I’m more of a stove top cook… but I’m currently indulging myself into baking as hubby has a sweet tooth. So glad I found your blog (through PW) coz I love everything I see on your blog, not to mention I love reading your posts — they’re entertaining! Thanks to you!
Truly the only blog I have ever read where I found my self smiling and laughing out loud during every post. I brought my boyfriend, parents, and sister in to share different wonderful things I had found. Rather than just lusting after food I will actually try ideas that I read because you offer sugar and gluten free options. I cant explain how rare that is and how exciting it is for a tummy challenged gal! Thank you for sharing your wit and tallent. Please keep doing what you are doing and being exactly who you are :)
Hey Joy,
Love your blog, I just discovered it today and I will definitely be coming back to make the blood orange + avocado salad and my boyfriend’s mouth is already watering over the bitesize brie bites. Keep up the great work!
Cheers!
Joy, I love the little movie you have up (don’t know how long its been there.. I just happened to click on the ‘Meet Joy’ link on accident.
You keep it real and you keep it classy and I just want you to know that I appreciate what you do! I would love to meet you some day and I have a feeling that if I lived in California or if you lived in Alaska we would be great friends.
- Jen from AK
Hi Joy! I just stumbled onto your website when I was searching for coffee smoothies! I LOVE coffee (my family in India owns a coffee plantation.. so I think it runs in my veins…) and I’m falling in love with smoothies. Anyways, I think you are ADORABLE!! I love your pictures. I love to bake, eat, and above all, entertain people I love with my food. So, I’m really glad I came across your blog!! :) I had started a blog a few years ago and it’s been put on hold for a while now ( I don’t feel so great about that :( ). I would LOVE to bake/cook and start it up again.. I’m also in my last year of med school…so I don’t think this is the best time to do it! Anyways, I just wanted to thank you for all the passion, love, and HARD WORK you put in each day to invite us into your world, amuse us, entertain us and TEACH us. Just one more thing.. that whole story about your dad…ahhhh..you almost had me in tears! Keep up everything you’re doing and I wish, hope, and pray nothing but the best for you! Looking forward to more from your blog!
Bless you!
L.O.
What a beautiful video! Thank you for sharing with us.
HI Joy,
I just wanted to say how inspirational your little video about yourself was. I have just started blogging and I hope it evolves into something such as lovely as your own.
Keep it up :)
cx
Joy,
Thank you for posting the roasted citrus and linked recipes. I feel like that was for me. I tried it immediately, and love it. Inspired, I may use it in a tart with a “rugelach filling” base of figs and ginger. Thank you so much!! I’m so excited!
Joy,
I have just decided that you are my food blog soul mate. I’ve stumbled through dozens of adorable websites with amazing recipes I bookmark and never make, but this one is different. Not only does all of the food sound delicious, but your comments are hilarious and completely true. So thank you, and also, I’m a bit bummed I don’t know you in real life. I bet we’d be friends. Good luck with everything!
Rachel
I love you blog and have been following it since the beginning. Your personality shines in your writing and I enjoy reading your little anecdotes you include with your recipes. Looking forward to your first book coming out (hopefully in the UK?) but I was thinking that you should consider writing an advice-type of book for young women. You seem so relatable and sincere, like a good friend should be.
All the best!
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