Meet Joy
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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.
CONTACT:
Contact me at: joy (at) joy the baker (dot) com
For press inquiries, contact Daniel Ryan Kinney at: daniel (at) rhinelandent (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!
The Joy the Baker Cookbook is my first cookbook. Published by Hyperion, 2012.
Two more cookbooks are in the works with Clarkson Potter.
Saveur named Joy the Baker the Best Baking and Dessert Blog of 2011 and 2013. Joy the Baker has been named one of the Top Fifty Food Blogs in the World by the London Times, Best Baking Blog by Foodbuzz… and Forbes said some really lovely things to say!
Joy the Baker food and photography has also been featured in Food and Wine Magazine, Bon Appetit, Redbook Magazine, Glamour, Ladies Home Journal and Sunset Magazine.
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 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.
I live with a precious kitten named Jules Stevens. He is a monster… a beautiful, hungry, cuddly monster. You may seen him trying to steal cookies throughout this site. He’s a sly one.
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, than 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.
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.










724 Comments Add A Comment
Hey Joy,
OH MY!!!!! I am in love with your style, recipes and joy for baking. I want to be just like you when I grow up ( I am older than you…hehe). Baking is a love of mine also and I thank you for taking the time to update your blog with so many fab recipes. I will be checking back often.
Blessings,
Melanie
I am now a fan & here to stay! Love your wit, enthusiasm & of course recipes. May I join you as you take over the world ;)
heck yes!
Hi Joy! I am the cousin that Stefani mentions in the above post :). I came upon your blog randomly, in an effort to be inspired for my own recently-created food blog! I was also an English major in college and I adore your writing style and your photographs are fantastic. Unlike my cousin, I DO love to bake anything and everything and have a HUGE sweet tooth, mostly geared toward gelato, ice cream, pies, and cookies. Thank you for sharing all of your crafty ideas (like the spiced nuts and lavender & vanilla sugar!) as well as your baking gift– I have become a die-hard follower :).
Kelsey Taylor
Hello Joy, Found you thru a friend on facebook. I can believe just how negative and abusive people can be and was saddened to hear you have been a receiptant of such disrespect. I looked over your site and it is lovely. I think you are beautiful and people that hate themselves are the only ones that lashout at the world, simply they are jealous. But you are quite right, and you have a great and wonderful attitude, that will serve you well throughout your life. Best Wishes and thank you for sharing your creative talent
Hi Joy! My cousin recently introduced me to your website and I’m a huge fan! I, like some of your followers, wouldn’t classify myself as a baker but DO love to cook… you are quickly enticing me into the world of baking :) On that note, I was wondering if you might have a recipe for those tricolor, rainbow Italian cookies (which I LOVE)? I don’t love super sweet sweets and I find these cookies to be kind of just the right amount of sweet, but not too much– I also LOVE almond flavored anything!If so, that would be great…and if not, I will continue to tune in and thanks for all the sharing!
Stefani de la Peña
I Was looking For A Pumpkin Muffin Recipe on the Cooking Club Of America website when they offered a link to your Maple Pecan Muffins and your Blog. I can’t wait to try the muffins and many other recipes. I just love your Blog. Your Blog is such a great find for me. I love baking and I am already hooked on your Blog.
hello there, i stumbled upon your blog in search of a yummy and unique chocolate frosting and i found YOU. love your stuff…
I have a really fun and cute line of fun kitchen/picnic/running around town totes that i am thinking i should put on your blog.. you may know a friend of mine, she does a blog called my favorite everything and she blogged about me and my fun totes so if you would like to check out my site or even her blog, let me know what you think!! i would love to chat more if you are up for it.
take care
vonny
Can we move in with you?
hi,
i love the photos..would you tell me what lens are you using?
As a fellow blogger, I must say, I am inspired! Thanks so much for showing me the possibilities out there!! I hope you might have time to check out my creation,
http://www.foodwithwit.com
know you are reaching people with inspiration!!!
thank you
“C”
Hi Joy
I just wanted to tell you that I admire you and your cooking. I just found your blog yesterday and I am already hooked. As a matter of fact, we made our first JOY recipe this morning…apple pancakes…my family loved them. My 11 year year old daughter loves cooking and she is thrilled with this blog. We are going to make your Peanut Butter Chocolate Pillows this afternoon! She cant wait!! Congratulations…you are so young and headed in a great direction!
Well howdy!
I like to bake too! But now I’m in college, and I miss having my own kitchen… Anyways, I need a cookie recipe that I can make and mail to my boyfriend in New York. Maybe a cookie that can keep for a few days in one of those handy air-tight storage containers?
Thanks a bunch!
Love your site.
Do you have a way to show all the recipes for a category (such as “cupcakes”) so that your amazing photos of each cupcake appears, allowing us to select a recipe based on the image?
Your images are so lovely. And, I am a visual thinker. So I would love to see a feature like that.
Thank you for a truly gorgeous site.
You are Joy The Baker & Photographer!
Hey…guess what……I started a blog a few days ago and this morning I talked about you! :)
cathy b.
p.s.you’re cool
here’s the link now that i actually typed it in correctly. Duh.
If I lived by you, I’d really want to be your friend. I love your blog, and you keep me extremely entertained.