It seems like I’ve been exactly everywhere but my own kitchen this past week. My oven is lonely and my kitten is pissed.
Let’s play a game. I need your company with all of this airport time I’ve got on my hands.
Let’s play Ask Joy the Baker.
You leave a comment asking me dang near whatever you like. I’ll respond to your question right there in the comment section. Boom. Instant gratification.
Go on…. ask me why I’m eating Chicharrones in Tracy’s parents’ guest bedroom at midnight. Ask me if the boy I’m dating has longer hair than I do. Ask me if I think you should move to Los Angeles. Ask me what the capital of South Dakota is. Ask me what Washington’s state bird is. Ask me if I’ve ever met a clown. Ask me why George Clooney has never asked me out on a date. Ask me why I could watch Sean Connery in The Rock on a constant loop for seven weeks straight. Or… ask me about cookies. Whatever.
Yes. I’ve sorta done this before.
Answers may sometimes be limited to statements like “huh!?” “no” “duh” or “let me google that for you”.
Lisa DeRobertis
Hi Joy, my husband an I (Lisa and Steve) live with our 12 year old pit bull Scrappy. And if you ask her it’s her house she lets us live with her. LOL. My ? Is I need to make mini cheesecakes in muffin tins, I have he recipe down my problem is , usually when I make cupcakes they stick to the paper. I want these to come out perfect, they are for my hubby to take to work. I have made several desserts, lunch sides etc. that he has taken in. With, as always raving reviews. So don’t want to screw this up. We live in a 4 bedroom 2 bath mobile home. I have turned one room into my craft room. I crochet, plastic canvas etc. Mainly as gifts to our 16 grand childrenand 8 adult children. We live on 3 acres, and have an above ground huge ass pool We are secluded enough I ‘ve no tan lines! So anytime you want to come visit, relax and enjoy an adult beverage, come on. In the mean time can you answer this one ? How do I make mini cheesecakes in regular old muffin baking pans so they do not stick. Either using the paper cups or not.
Heather
Hello. I have a recipe for a dessert I would like to make for my father. The only problem is that everything says an 8×8 pan and I want to make it an 8 1/2×13 pan. Would you suggest doubling the recipe or just making 2 of the 8×8 pans?
joythebaker
I would suggest doubling the recipe.
Seikiana
The farewell party for a dear friend is not today but tomorrow instead. Had a pineapple upside down cake made from scratch for today. Would it be ok shape for tomorrow in the fridge or should I deliver it to be served at the workplace today? Thank you.
joythebaker
Sorry I was not able to respond in time, but the answer is ‘yes’ the cake will be fine in the fridge overnight.
Johnette
Today I baked a Choux pastry for Cream Puffs and they looked perfect, but when I removed them from the pan, there were no bottoms. What did I do wrong??
Joy
Hi Joy,
I’ve stored chocolate and nuts in the freezer for years now. But I’m moving and need to sell my freezer. Can I store the frozen chocolate and nuts in the refrigerator or even just on the shelves once I sell that freezer? And, when I relocate, should I refreeze the cocolate and nuts or leave them either in the refrigerator or tightly packed on a shelf?
Joy in Ct.
Alba
Hey, love your blog!
I was just checking the wedding cake posts and had a question for you. I am baking my own wedding cake (I know) and am looking for an easy to make frosting recipe that can be made without a food mixer, since I do not own one yet. So far I have tried cream cheese frosting but would ideally like something lighter? My wedding is in London in April, so no chance of it being too hot!!
Thanks!
Alba
Sherry Cascio
Dear Joy the Baker,
do you have a cut out cookie receipe that ater you bake and decorate the cookies they aren’t as hard as a rock the next day? Please help. I need to bake these on Monday the 20th of Dec. thanks for your Help, Sherry
Paula Newell
Hello Joy, I am looking for a pan dulce recipe for Cuerno con Azucar. There is a bakery in Los Angeles called La Mascota and they make the best pan dulce I have ever had. Unfortunately they are 3 hours away.I would love to be able3 to duplucate there bread. They are the most moist and light Cuerno con Azucar I have ever had, most are dry and hard. I can play with the recipe if I can get a basic recipe. Do you know one or a recipe book where I can get the recipe? Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Paula
Christine N.
I know I am totally late in asking a question, since your post was a couple of weeks ago! But, I just thought of a question this morning and thought to myself, “what better person to ask to than Joy the Baker?” Anyways, here’s my question: Do you have a good french macaroon recipe to share? :)
Lori S H.
Hi Joy!!! What is your favorite go to cookbook for recipe references? Also, I love your clothes! What’s your favorite store to find all of your cute clothes?
Stephanie
Hi Joy!
Are you having a good day today?
I noticed your site looks and loads nice and smooth on my iphone :D
Ping
Hi Joy, just wanted to let you know that I so so (x many times) admire you!!! Wish I could take photos and bake like you… Sigh, probably not too possible in the near future… But if I get to do an exchange in California like my boss promised I would in the next few years, could I come visit you?!?
joythebaker
ab.So.Lutely.
Ping
Woohoo! :D Thanks Joy!
Kristen
Also – do you have a super good hot chocolate recipe?
Kristen
Hey Joy – Can I use all purpose flour in recipes that call for bread flour, or do I need to doctor up the all purpose flour? Thanks!!
Kathy
Hey Joy!
I was just wondering if it is possible to bake a pumpkin cake w/pumpkin pie on top? I seen a recipe on a magazine, and cannot find it……..was I visually impaired or is this possible?
Thank you
Kathy
cierra
i have a small kitchen and i love to bake, but my roommate has a cat that also loves when i bake. how do you keep your cat out of the kitchen and off of your counter tops? just trying to avoid sharing cupcakes frosted with cat hair!
Linda
Is that your kitchen that you bake in or do you live with your parents? I like the decoration that looks like an outdoor garden, or is it?
joy the baker
that’s my parents’ kitchen… but good lord… i don’t live with them.
Jason
Californication is a great show. Yes or no?
Oh, and what is the best recipe you’ve tried regarding coconut cream pie.
joythebaker
californication is totally good and stupid and boy indulgent and full of boobs. yea. i like it.
i’m working on a coconut cream pie recipe right now. i’ll let you know what i come up with!
amy
I’m hosting a cookie exchange in a few weeks.
eek! what to bake? do I go with an old standby, or do I find something else? What would YOU bake?
Brandi
I recently made these for a bake sale. They turned out so well! I bet you’ll love them if you love peanut butter & banana sandwiches :)
http://twopeasandtheirpod.com/peanut-butter-banana-and-honey-cookies/
Kelsey
Dear Joy,
I heart you. You make me laugh on an otherwise blah day.
My question is: What do you think about this?
http://www.delish.com/food/recalls-reviews/cherpumple-thanksgiving-dessert-turducken?gt1=47001
Kelsey
Jessica
O_O You should totally submit that to http://www.thisiswhyyourefat.com/!
Kelsey
Haha, had never heard of that – just submitted it, thanks Jessica!
joythebaker
that’s the most disgusting thing i’ve ever seen. way to ruin dessert. JERKS!
Kaci
That thing is vomit-inducing.
Snow
what? no way! that pie cake craziness is awesome!
Snow
Those are just giant versions of these: http://bakeitinacake.com/recipes/pumpkinpiecupcakes
Brian0523
Joy – When a recipe calls for Brown Sugar, which am I supposed to use? Dark or Light Brown Sugar?
Uggg please answer….this question keeps me awake at night…..
joythebaker
i think most recipes are usually referring to light brown sugar. dark brown sugar will have just a bit more molasses in it for a more robust flavor.
Jenny
I have a sortof random question… your picture on this post triggered the fact that I LOOOVE Black and White cookies and want to make some. I went to print out your recipe plus the red velvet recipe for them and realized that you use buttermilk. The problem is that I can’t really have dairy. But I usually get by using lactaid milk in my recipes. What can I use as a substitute for buttermilk and still have them taste as good? Thanks so much!
joythebaker
i’ve never baked with lactaid so i’m not sure. maybe if you stirred a bit of cream of tartar into the lactaid it would work out. https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2009/10/the-best-buttermilk-substitutions/
try the cream of tartar substitution. i hope it works out for you!
Jenny
Great idea, thank you! I usually find a way around most things but hadn’t figured that one out. I love to bake and I’m not going to let that stop me :)
jennifer
you should do vinegar for one cup put one Tablespoon of vinegar it works for regular milk
Anna R
What is the worst baking-related injury you’ve recieved? burns? knife fights with Jill?? Just curious. :)
Jessica
Another late boy-related question if you plan to answer any more…
How/where do you meet guys? I feel like this is one of the Great Mysteries of being a single girl, but it doesn’t help that I’m super shy. :-\
joythebaker
hahaha! where do i meet boys? um….
through friends… or boys that are friends.
i did an internet dating site once. i don’t wanna talk about that.
Jessica
ha! yeah…steering wayyy clear of the dating sites.
I need more friends with guy friends, and I guess more guy friends. Thanks for the reply! :)
Liz B
Please say im not too late to ask a question??
Love, love, love your blog Joy! Truly, you are one for keeps! I love reading and mostly laughing out load at your posts, you are hilarious!
My question is, seriously what’s your boyfriends name? And has he put on any weight since you’ve got together? :)
When i first started dating my boyfriend i baked him all his favourite things – and im to blame apparently for his weight gain (sorry but its not all my fault after 4 year ;)
I still bake for him lots and still have to bake him the inevitable apple crumble/granola thing you said is the best!!
Erin
First off, I love this blog. I feel like we’re friends even though technically we’re not (can we remedy this?). Secondly, coffee or tea? Last, what’s your favorite book?
Betsy
Who do you think is going to win Top Chef Desserts?!
joythebaker
i really can’t get into that show. weird… huh?
alison
butter: generic or a specific brand? or some other criteria (organic/local/european/fat content/pretty packaging)?
Danielle
As it is the holiday season (finally!) I feel the need to make some wonderfully, deliciously, chocolaty fudge. But all I could find on your recipe list was peanut butter fudge…any good recipes to satisfy my fudge craving?
Robin
Hey Joy – I’m about to graduate with a BA in English and I have NO clue what I want to do with it. But I love baking, blog reading, and photography, and keep wishing I could make food blogging something profitable enough to live on. But I guess my question for you is – what kind of options do I have to grow in the baking world? I keep thinking about how I need a “big girl job” soon, but I’m so lost as to where to start. Any ideas?
Rena
Hey Joy! Can you recommend a good white cake and icing to go along with it? I’ve made your chocolate buttercream icing, and I LOVE it!
joythebaker
i’m a yellow cake girl. is that the same thing in your brain?
this recipe is absolutely perfect:
http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/07/best-birthday-cake/
Erica
Hello Joy!
I have been a huge fan of yours for quite some time! I try out a lot of your recipes and have never been disappointed! Chewy Chocolate chip cookies are a huge hit! I pretty much have the Single Lady pancake down (I am onto making variations of all sorts now)…no need to even look at the measurements…yes. I am veeerrrryyy single. I digress.
Do you throw on some music when you are in the kitchen? Or do you bake/ cook in the quiet? Do you sip on a glass of wine? If you are ever in NH please come by my house. If it’s in the winter we can have a winter party in my neighborhood – making snowmen or snow forts – then have hot toddy’s and cookies! Thanks for all that you do!
Rebecca W
I just have one question. Is it possible to make 8-10 pies in 12 hrs for Thanksgiving? I have 40 hungry people coming for dinner and another 20 coming later just for pie?
By the way you are so wonderful! I have read your blog for the last 18 months which have been wonderful and full of new baking adventures with many more to come.
joythebaker
that’s a lot of pie!!! what kind of pie are you making? how much room to you have in your oven?
pumpkin or sweet potato pies are easy to make in big batches. apple pies will take you much longer.
that’s a lot of baking! can i come over!?
Rebecca W
I have 3 ovens in the house so I could use 2 of them, I was planning on pumpkin and sweet potatoe like for liek 6 of them, 2 apple, 2 pecan, and maybe a couple of cream pies, coconut cream, banana cream, oh and maybe a tollhouse pie??? Any other ideas??
And yes you are certainly invited, the more the merrier that what happens when you have the biggest eating area, and almost everyone (we usually have 55-60 for dinner) wants to come!
Dannie
I figured u have too many Danielles commenting an decided to go with a nickname instead ;)
1.) You’ve made me wonder-what is it like in CA? Thinking about moving to the Sacramento area (I like carbs too much for LA lol)
2.)What did you name your kitty? I love animals and I will frequently look for pictures of him now lol
3.) What is your favorite thing to bake for yourself? You can list multiple things if you want, I know it’s hard ;)
4.) What is your favorite thing to cook from scratch? (savory, not sweet)
5.) You Rock and I’ glad I stumbled on your blog somehow someway ;)
joythebaker
i love california. i’ve only been to sacramento once.. it was ok. i’m definitely an la girl.
my kittens name is jules stevens monster kitty
i love to make boxed mac and cheese for myself.
you rock! i’m glad you’re here!
Carrie
Dearest Joy,
I love your blog much. Much, much! Your lovely wit and sarcasm are addicting. Oh yes, and that wonderful baking thing you do – absolutely amazing. Amazing!
Also, I think your penchant for bourbon is totally interesting. So much so that I, a non-bourbon drinker, would like to give it a whirl. What is your favorite bourbon of all time? How do you drink your bourbon?
Thanks!
rachel h.
do you think margaritas go well with a chick flick double feature?
Darcie
Hi, Joy – I love your site. It truly inspires me !
I have a baking question for you! Since I want to bake cinnamon rolls (a first for moi), this is something I think I need to know. Reputable baking/cooking sites on the net give conflicting info about this, so I wonder what you say. You can know you’re finished kneading when you stick two fingers into the dough and the dough. . .
A. springs back.
B. does not spring back.
Allie
Hi Joy,
Some of my best friends won’t be able to go home to spend Thanksgiving with their families this year (we’re finally “in the real world” where vacation time seems less prevalent than in college…), and I want to send them something homemade to brighten their holiday. Do you have any suggestions for Thanksgiving-themed/flavored treats that ship well? I can’t afford to overnight them, so they might be in the mail for a few days.
Thanks! Hope you find yourself in airports with free wifi and lots of open outlets!
M (notarevolution)
This isn’t so much a question but rather a request – can you please, please do more Bake Out! videos? I love love love them! (Also, making a separate tag for those entries would be very helpful.)
I love your blog and it’s one of the very first ones I check in my Google Reader each day. Thanks for doing what you do and bringing a bit of cheer to my life each time you post. :)
joythebaker
i do need a separate tag for that, don’t i!?
i don’t know if jill and i will be making any more… we’ll see!
denise
would you be my valentine?
joythebaker
can i decide in like… three months?
denise
sure! =) in the meantime, i’ll keep passing by, just to check you, i mean, your recipes, out ;).
sara
Hey Joy,
Can you make macaroons?? I would like to see how you would tackle them.
I’m working up the courage to make some :/
They are a mystery that scares and delights me just a bit.
joythebaker
i don’t wanna.
Pam
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?
joythebaker
i loved that show. so hard.
Jen
Joy,
Do you wish had many more kittens? Man I do.
Is it okay that I want to eat cookies everyday? For breakfast? Especially your pumpkin cookies?
Your blog is amazing, you are uber-creative and your blog has a great sense of humour. love it.
joythebaker
i’m good with just the one kitten. he’s enough of a maniac for me to handle right now.
and cookies for breakfast is a totally acceptable thing. especially if they’re pumpkin cookies. do it!
thanks for saying hi jen!
Baby Mama
Can you give me an idea for a good (and inspired) pumpkin dish? A friend is hosting a pumpkin cook-off and I’d love to bring something other than pumpkin bread. I need ideas!
joythebaker
maybe pumpkin pie bars?
https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2008/10/pumpkin-pie-bars/
Baby Mama
Amazing! I’m going to try them. Thanks Ms. Joy the baker.
Claire
Joy- you bake beautifully for so many people. If you had one person you wanted to bake/cook something for you, who would it be, and what would you want them to make you?
Claire
joythebaker
i’d want to make a cake for my aunt dede. she taught me how to bake… then she went to heaven. miss that lady.
Elizabeth
Is there really a big difference if you use salted butter instead of unsalted? Can you just not add the salt (usually it call for just a little bit) and call it even?
joythebaker
i try to keep it pretty precise when i’m baking. i always use unsalted butter and add salt as the recipe calls for. salted butter is too unpredictable for me.
Kathryn
What do you especially like to bake for the Holidays?
Now and into the next couple of months is my favorite time to bake. I go a little crazy I admit it. Can’t be helped. Cakes,pies breads and cookies,I can’t be stopped.
joythebaker
i love pie this time of year. i get in the kitchen with my family and we go pie crazy.
Kathryn
I Love Pie Too. What’s Your Favorite?
Kat
Getting ready for the holiday season and wondering if you have any tips or tricks for making truffles! I love making them (especially when the recipe requires Bailey’s or champagne….just saying……) – however, the ones I make generally taste good but look like a 7 year old made them. Help!
joythebaker
i suck at making truffles. do you have one of those special little ballers things?
clearly i have no idea what i’m talking about.
Elana
Favorite childhood cartoon?
And what’s your favorite thing about writing/maintaining your blog?
joythebaker
my favorite cartoon was Tom and Jerry. That poor cat.
and this blog is just amazing. i love that i get to bake things every day and share them with excited people. it feels like a blessing. pretty rad.
Kimmy B
Hi Joy!!!
You are the first food blog I’ve become addicted to. Previously I was a knitting blog addict. Now you’ve got me baking (and gaining!)
Here’s my question…
You bake constantly – what do you do with all you bake? You can’t possibly be consuming all those goodies!
joythebaker
i eat some of the goodies and i give the rest to friends and neighbors. there’s also a lot of goodness going on in my freezer.
Olivia
Hi joy,
I love red velvet cake so much. Am attempting to make it for a secomd time using you recipe (first attempt turned out prefect by the way). And because i enjoyed it so much the first time, i want to make sure this one lasts much longer than a couple of hours (i have a large family). I want to use 15″ x 11″ x 6″ rectangular cake pan this time. I was going to follow your recipe but i dont know what quantities i would need and how long to bake it for… Pls help.. Thanks
joythebaker
i dont know how long that pan will take to bake. perhaps you’ll one a half times the recipe and just keep a close eye on it in the oven.
Heather S.
Hi, Joy! My questions for you today are about Los Angeles. My boyfriend (who works in film) and I are getting serious about moving to L.A. from Philadelphia in the New Year. Should we move there? What neighborhoods do you recommend and which should we stay away from (we’re considering Echo Park and Silver Lake)? Are the traffic and smog as unbearable as people say? Any moving tips?
Thanks, Joy! I could really use some encouragement/advice from someone who knows what they’re talking about.
joythebaker
wait! did you write me an email!? you totally did. i haven’t responded yet but i keep meaning to.
i think we need to talk on the phone. that’ll be waaay easier than me typing all of my moving to la thoughts. let’s do this.
Heather S.
I did write you an email! Can we really talk on the phone?! That would be super great and so helpful. Really. (And I am sort of freaking out right now that you actually replied. Thank you!) Should I email you my number?
Anne
Joy, Darling – I’ve also dated a boy with longer hair than mine and it’s. . .well, it can be – kinda weird. No need to comment back! lol xoxo
joythebaker
i appreciate this comment very much.
Haley
First, I love your blog. No really, LOVE it. Yours was the first I found and I love reading about your latest adventures, almost more-so than learning about so many baking creations. Well, they might be on the same level. [Your peanut butter chocolate chip cookies? Oh my goodness.]
Question time. Who has inspired you most in baking?
What are your top three favorite cookbooks?
Thanks :)
PS. Please do more videos. I don’t like bananas or bread pudding but watching the video made me want to make it!
joythebaker
my tummy inspires me most. also… and the crazy combinations of things you can do with butter and sugar.
right now i love amanda hesser’s Essential NY Times Cookbook.
i also really like lara ferroni’s Doughnuts and i can’t wait to get my hands on the new Baked cookbook.
Colleen H.
Joy, love your website, spending time in the kitchen cooking and baking is my favorite things to do. I have left comments on your November give away page and both times after submitting my comment there is a message “your comment is awaiting moderation” right by my comment, not sure what I am doing wrong?
joythebaker
nothing is wrong. i just have to go through the comments to make sure you aren’t spam. all real person comments go through. not to worry!
Faricha
Love your site!!!! Here’s a question for you. I would like to make some of my recipes (banana bread and cinnamon rolls) into gifts by baking them in the little individual loaf pans. I am needing to know if I should reduce the oven heat or the baking time when I bake the litlle loaf pans? thank you so much for any advise!!!
joythebaker
you probably won’t reduce the oven temperature but you’ll definitely have to keep an eye on the time in the oven. it’ll be shorter… i just don’t know how much shorter without baking the recipe myself.
Holly
So, I had a few questions but I just realized I posted them on your Raspberry Lemonade Page. Oops! The one question I am dying to have answered is what is on your tivo/dvr. I have been a Joy the Baker fan for a long time, and I think we have the same high brow, sophisticated tastes in television :)
joythebaker
i’m totally not smart enough to figure out my dvr and i just got a tv a few weeks ago.
i watch such trashy tv… it’s silly. the real housewives of everywhere… rachel zoe… project runway… top chef… hells kitchen… the office… grey’s anatomy… and modern family… and east bound and down.
Holly
i made my boyfriend set mine up, or else i would have been a slave to network programming. i watch all the above except east bound and down. i will have to add to my list. thanks joy!!! love you. love the site.
Lauren G
I totally watched The Rock last night.
Do you ever get anxious when you don’t bake something for a day or three?
joythebaker
no… i just get a MAJOR sweet tooth.
and i’m obsessed with The Rock.
Jax
Am I too late? That’s not my question. My question is if you could only bake one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
joythebaker
kettle corn. and that’s not baked… it’s just delicious.
The Nerd
Who’s emmy was that behind you in your facebook picture???
joythebaker
hahhahaha! weirdo. that is my friend michael’s emmy. apparently i have friends with emmys. no biggie.
Libby
To explain, I’m graduating college one month from today, and have the well-what-the heck-am-I-going to-do-with-my-life-now-why-not-ask-Joy tinge of insanity that sort of goes hand in hand with that…
That said…any chance you are looking for full-time personal assistant/admirer/student sponge? Because that would be my dream job. I’d run to the real world for that :)
You were my first food blog I ever stumbled across, and continue to be as awe-inspired and amused as ever!
(PS have another picnic!)
joythebaker
congratulations on graduating! that’s totally a big deal.
i don’t exactly have the millions i need to hire a staff… but maybe sometime soon.
seriously.
Libby
*pinching self/swooning
ok!
but seriously.
(sorry to be the loser that replies unnecessarily to a reply)
Fran
What’s your favorite ‘real’ food to make? And I want to say – along with everyone else who has said this – I love love love your blog & think that you need to come to Philly so I can meet you! lol Oh – one more question – do you have a good recipe (or know of one) for good, hearty, crusty bread? Thanks! :)
joythebaker
my favorite real food to make is boxed macaroni and cheese. stupid…. right?
Amanda@EasyPeasyOrganic
Great idea! My own food blog was born this year (2010) – so I’m curious … how do you – personally – measure success?
joythebaker
i used to get 32 hits and 1 comment a day. that was a raging success to me. the rest is just gravy. seriously.
Liyana
JOY!
I absolutely adore your blog.
I’m currently a law student but I’ve realized that (sadly) this is not my passion.
Your blog has helped me realize this and has inspired me to one day open a bakery. Getting your emails is an absolute thrill! The pictures and stories…it makes it that much more interesting because behind every recipe you have a little story. My friends all hate me cause I’m making them fat but to me, its the ‘joy’ of baking that only matters.
Thank you so much
Liya
joythebaker
i’m so glad my little muffins and stories make a difference in your life. Craaaaazy!
Kathrin
as english is not my mother tongue, i was always wondering what the difference is between baking powder and cream of tartar. could you answer this??
joy, i love your blog, the mouthwatering pictures and the faboulous recipies! never ever stop!!! :)
joythebaker
cream of tartar is the acid ingredient in baking powder. cream of tartar does not make baked goods rise. it helps make baking powder a rising agent.
Kathrin
makes sense to me, thank you!!!
tammy
Joy,
It is a thrill and inspiration to visit your page, read what you and your ‘man’ have been up to. He’s adorable. Hope he’ll always bring you happiness and won’t get even when he’s pissed by filling your shoes with urine or something like that while you’re away. Aaaanyway, I have two questions. One…how do YOU make a really excellent glaze for cookies. Today I made cranberry and pistachio shortbread cookies with just a touch of orange zest in them. I wanted to enhance the orage a bit more with a glaze made from powdered sugar and orange juice. I probably just got a bit carried away with the freshly squeezed orange juice from one half of the zested orange, but my glaze was super runny and the more powdered sugar that I added to thicken it just made it taste overly sweet and kinda chemical in an way that I can’t quite describe or maybe even comprehend. Worst of all it was still insanely runny, too runny and I just gave up. What would you have done? Second question….what is your “man’s” name?
joythebaker
my man is currently pooping in random spots all over my house.
this is totally not ideal.
for glazes… you hardly need any liquid. Start of with just a bit and add more slowly. It’s easier to go from a super thick glaze to a thin glaze than the other way around.
thanks for saying hi!
Danielle
Hi Joy,
I don’t have a question right now but just wanted to say hi. I’ve just started a blog of my own and saw that one of your tips was to leave comments on other blogs…so here I am, leaving a comment! You make me want to bake more, which is pretty incredible because I want to bake a lot. My mum makes an awesome Neenish Tart which one day I’ll blog about, including the chickpea incident which was not so awesome. Alright, well I sound totally nuts so I’ll stop while I still have some semblance of sanity left.
Thanks for being a baker!
Danielle x
joythebaker
hiiiii lady!
alexis
Joy! first of all: you rock! i have been reading you for ages and adore your recipes, your stories and your photos. thanks for sharing! also, i think i’m in love with your cat. totally stoked you’re working on a cookbook too – YAY!
can you come to portland? we’ve got some pretty damn good food here. also, i have a stand mixer, so clearly there would be baking. and perhaps champagne, or maybe bourbon depending on the time of day. and, i have a bf with an english accent and it’s really fun to make him say things like ‘water bottle’ because apparently in ‘real english’ neither of those words have the letter ‘t’ in them.
yeah, so that was less a question than trying to bribe you to be my friend… but i’m sticking with it.
much love, and can’t wait for cranberry recipes and more kitten photos!!!
joythebaker
i will come to portland. i think that would be crazy fun times!
danielle
with all your loyal following, why don’t you open your own bakery/patisserie?
joythebaker
have you ever worked in a bakery? stupid hard work. crazy. i decided a few years ago that i would rather stay at home and raise my future kids that try to open a bakery. does that makes sense?
Tara
good answer, future mama!
Rike
:) I love your blog, too!
1. What do you do for a living?
2. Did you study that?
3. Why won’t you do any more video podcasts? (Please do it again. I loved it so much. I usually don’t like cooking shows, but you should definately have your own baking show. Listening to you is even better than reading your blog! You have such a great appeal. The video made me want to bake the cheescake-apple bars even more than all other of your recipes combined!)
Greetings from germany,
Rike :)
joythebaker
i write this blog, black things, take pictures and write for a living.
no… i don’t think there’s a college for blogging and such.
have you seem my Bake Out videos with Jill?
https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2010/09/apple-tarte-tatin/
Hannah
JOY!!!!!!!!!
1. I adore your blog, and I especially love your photography…it has been inspiring me to take lots of photographs of the fresh produce I buy from the farmer’s market.
2. I love to bake fruit-y pie with crumble topping. And then eat it all, specifically the crumble topping part. What is your favorite kind of pie?
3. I also love to make vegetable soup. What vegetable are you most passionate about? Personally, I am a hard-core fan of red peppers.
4. You rock my socks.
joythebaker
i’m obsessed with coconut cream pie and delicata squash. heck yes.
Erin
a healthy vegetarian week?
joythebaker
yea?
Erin
Can/Will you do a vegetarian week?
C.
Hello!
What is your favourite time of day?
What’s your ethnic background?
What is your favourite book?
BTW: I love this website! Thank you.
Juli G.
If there was one recipe on your blog that a person NEEDS to try…what is it?
Dimitra
Love that you’re doing this!
Question: I have a blog (barely) and am trying to get a blogroll going. A) can I link to your blog? and b) is there an unwritten rule to get permission from each blogger, or can I just go crazy with the links without contacting the respective bloggers? Thoughts.
Heidi
I’ve done several of your pancake recipes (and I LOVE them, by the way) and they always come out flat as a plate. What’s the secret for a fluffy pancake? Is it the temerature? the skillet? Am I over mixing the batter? Thanks!
Tina B
Thank you for your brown sugar recipe and I was inspired to buy persimmons at the Laguna Beach Farmer’s Market this Saturday. I have never eaten, much less bought one before, but plan to make your persimmon bread.
I love all of the questions; I’ve been following you for a few months now, since I saw your link posted on another food blogger’s site. Thank you for taking the time to educate us in a really fun way!
Ti
Lena
I’d just like to share with you that i have decided that my dream in life is to meet you, pet your kitten, then watch Mean Girls with you and quote it while we bake brownies. Is that weird? I sure hope not, because your kinda sorta one of my favorite people in the world… even though i’ve never met you.
Was this supposed to be a question? Was that a question?… sweet mother, i am confused.
–Lena
Candice
Joy! I am having so much fun reading the questions and your answers! I am in LOVE with your kettle corn- hard to stop making it!!! I love it that all the recipes on your site that I have tried have turned out great- i feel like I can trust you and I love your laid-back, happy “voice”. No question- just THANKS!
Tara
What’s your current “go to” shoe? Ya know, the one you wear most days.
Mon
How do you come up with your recipes and know what measurements to use etc? Or maybe the question should be, what inspires you? Or maybe you could answer both of them? hehe :)
The Prairie Hen
Dear Everwhere but There,
Wow! You have a lot of questons to answer, girl! I think I can dig in your archives to find the answer I’m looking for (the world’s most perfect bread recipe) so I’ll give you a break.
Love,
Home Sweeeeeeet Home in NE
jenn3250
Hey Joy!
Quick question: I tried making onion rings in buttermilk one time before and let the onions soak in the buttermilk for maybe 5 mins, well the buttermilk turned to yogurt consistency and I ended up having to wash it all off. Is this normal or did it happen when you did it? If not, do you have any idea what could have caused it?
PS: Your kitten is TOO cute!
Thanks so much for all of the hard work you do to maintain and update your blog everyday. I greatly appreciate it because you have provided our family with some AHHMAZING recipes.
Hope you have a great day!
Nan
I need a stellar recipe for black forest cake. Do you have one?
Katherine
Joy – I just moved to Seattle about 3 months ago… and I see you have made a few vacations up here. I was wondering what is your FAVORITE thing is Seattle? Additionally, what is your favorite place to eat?
Sue
Hey Joy! My oven has a little slant, causing cake batter to always be tipping slightly and baking without a straight top (not subtle). Any easy fixes?
EmLue
Is there a substitute for whole wheat pastry flour?
<3 your blog by the way! :)
Sharon A
I’m about to try making sourdough foccacia, what should I top it with?
What would be your choice of soup to have with this bread?
Judy
Dude, you’re awesome! So is little Stevie ;D
If I want to bake one loaf in two smaller pans, how should I adjust the baking time and/or temperature?
Ps. My boys love your Low-fat Oatmeal Banana Bread, thanks!
Alison
Hi again Joy – I already asked you something today – but I have a great idea for a blog post/video for you to do that would make me extremely happy!
I work next door to a cupcake shop and smell baking cupcakes all day. Every day. This is the cutest cupcake shop in the entire city of Seattle (it’s called Wink cupcakes). I want to learn how to pipe the frosting on the cupcakes like a pro and I think that you would be the perfect demonstrator. Can you show your faithful followers a thing or two about frosting cupcakes?
p.s. I am in love with your kitten. He is the cutest darn thing!!
Thanks Joy!
Maya
Joyyyy, I’ve been following your blog for like ever
and i’m loving the thought of your november give away.. i left a comment
:) please pick me
Oh and also…
Cookies or brownies?
Cakes or cookies?
Pink or blue?
Italy or LA?
New York or Milan?
Partys or gatherings?
skirts or jeans?
XXX
Meg
I’ve got one simple question for ya:
Favorite frosting?
I’m desperate. Thanks! :)
joythebaker
chocolate buttercream. for sure.
Erin
Why haven’t I won anything from your blog? I try all the time, and all the time, fail fail fail! :(
Katrina
Who do you think is the hottest male celebrity?
Ally T.
I want to know if you have a FABULOUS garlic cheese bread recipe. Appetizer style… I slice a baguette on the bias then butter it, garlic salt it(teeny bit), cheese it, salt it again, basil it, broil it. SOOO good, but I want to kick it up a few notches… Throwing in some mustard and a different cheese…. Ideas?
Stephanie
Love the blog–I check it every day when I first log into my computer at work with a cup of coffee and it never fails to make me laugh. So thank you for being a joyful part of my day! Question: What is your most embarassing moment?
Caroline
Hi Joy! I recently started a blog of my very own. You may or may not have been (are) a (huge) part of my inspiration. As in, JTB is on my Top 9 websites on my comp. Stop blushing, I know you’re flattered.
No doubt someone’s already asked you this question but there’s just no way I’m scrolling through 300+ comments to check and see. I love you, but not that much. So: what’s your favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner?! I’ve never loved Tgiving food, but there is one divine concoction my grandma makes. It’s what we call “the cheese dish”. It’s literally a combination of stale bread, milk, sugar and cheese. It’s bright orange. And it’s delicious. Mmmmm cheeeeeeese.
Safe travels!!
jenna
hi!
what advice would you give to an amateur (definitely had to look up how to spell that) who dreams of starting their own bakery? And with so many baking blogs how did you get yours to stand out and get recognition?
Mari-Leigh
Do you know of any good egg substitute in cake recipes? My son is allergic to eggs and I am so done with cakes falling apart, I am about to give up.
Fran
Have you tried using sprite or 7-Up? I have a friend who uses one of those with boxed cake mix (google it) for her daughter’s b-days. The cake didn’t fall apart.
Andrea S.
Do you have a convection oven and do you actually use it for baking cookies? I have a Viking Range w/convection (bake and true) and whenever I bake cookies in it they burn (or get super dark) on the edges. And if I try making more than one pan in the oven at the same time, one browns faster than the other. Suggestions?
Amber
Joy,
Would you ever have your own t.v. show on food network or something? I think it would be an excellent adventure, not to mention so much fun to watch!!
Carol
What is your FAVORITE holiday?
Mine is Halloween!
Meredith
which of the 3 back to the future movies would you watch first,knowing you’re bucking the storyline order?
Angela @ diary of a deaf girl
What should I bake for my son’s teacher as a Christmas gift? Or I should I actually buy something? I’m torn.
Hannah @ Bake Five
what should I bake next? :D
Jen G.
I don’t know what Joy will tell you – but I made the Southern Strawberry cake this weekend for a birthday – it was a HUGE hit and not to mention super easy! Just a thought :)
Megan
I made that same southern strawberry cake into cupcakes and they were a huge hit for me too! And really, what’s better than pink cake?
Jen G
First of all can I just tell you how much I love your blog?? I love that you just put it all out there – good days, bad days, even the angry commenter – its all there. Not to mention I love, LOVE, your recipes. So good! So… I’ve noticed a ton of baking questions… I’m going to mix it up – favorite movie of all time? Like can not live without favorite movie :)
joythebaker
i love Hitchcock’s Vertigo. i cannot live without that movie.
ps. i’m totally glad you’re here.
Jen G
that totally made my day
ronnissweettooth
What is the kitty’s name?
joythebaker
Stevens Jules Pumpkin Crazybear Wilson
Deese
I just have to butt in here.
I love your kittens name!
My girlfriend and I have 5 and their names are Asparagus Mistoffelees (Gus), Eve Elle (because she is evil!), Lilith Lou, Edwin, and Gertrude Holiday.
And the poor dears all have the last name Schrock-Harms to boot.
Oh and to cement our status as Cat Ladies, we are planning to adopt 2 more in the next few months from our local no kill pet fostering program their first names will be Mabel and Theodore.
=^.^=
Michele
Hey Joy….on what shelf do you bake your cookies? Top, middle or bottom?
joythebaker
i bake my cookies in the upper third of the oven. spot on.
Shushmi
What other country would you most like to visit and why? And is there a place where you would like to go just for the food?
joythebaker
I want to go to Italy to drink wine and eat pizza and shop and eat gelato and drink more wine.
LaChelle @ SugarDuchess
I first bumped into your blog waaaay back in the day when you were introducing your pink hawaii cake and Obama cookies :) Following your blog was a big part of what inspired me to start my own blog two years ago. Good times.
My question is this: Twitter . . . Should I jump on the bandwagon, or is it just a waste of time? As a food blogger, what are the pros and cons of becoming a Twitter kool-aid-drinker?
joythebaker
oooh man! you’ve been here forever! thank you so much lachelle!
you know what? twitter has really worked for me. i don’t take it too seriously, but it really does help me drive traffic and stay connected with my blog friends. i’m down!
Alison
what’s the best thing to bake my teachers as a thank-you for writing my college recommendations?
joythebaker
s’mores brownies!
joythebaker
ps. yaaaay for college! go you!
jill
Alison,
HOW nice of you! I’ve written so many recommendation letters and not one student has ever baked a thank you! How sweet of you!
Classy.
:-)
Kocinera
Would you rather be a party guest or a party host?
Heels or flats?
Leprechauns or trolls?
Christian Bale or Rupert Friend?
Should I major in Business or Spanish?
Or should I even bother with college? Perhaps just run off with an Eastern European gypsy circus and train alpacas for the rest of my days?
joythebaker
party host
heels
leprechauns
bale
business
and no… definitely go to college. it’s fun.
joythebaker
wait. business major spanish minor.
Dawn
Do you sing while you bake?
joythebaker
not usually.
Lizzy
Hi joy! I’m just wondering~ how on earth do you control yourself from binging when you have such lovely foods in the house!? hahhaa!
joythebaker
who ever said i don’t binge?
Darcy
Can I pleaaaase win a November giveaway?? :) :)
Teeheeee
joythebaker
yes.
amanda
hey joy- your blog rocks my world! you are on sassy firecracker! do you have any great ideas for homemade holiday treats that are great as christmas gifts? im doing a completely homemade christmas and would love some fresh new ideas!
joythebaker
i like the homemade vanilla extract and the lavender vanilla bean sugar too.
https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2009/06/how-to-make-vanilla-extract/
and
https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2010/10/lavender-vanilla-sugar/
Andrea
I’m actually just really enjoying reading everyone’s questions. I’ve gathered that everyone wants to know your kitten’s name, wants to be your bff, wants to know how you stay thin (I feel like you’ve answered this question a billion times though. Exercise + giving away baked goods. Duh.), and wants your life. I can understand why. I’m completely content in my own life, but I do look forward to reading your blog every day, which is by far the best of all the food blogs I keep track of and the one I’m most likely to actually try recipes from. This is where I go when I have a craving and have no idea how to make whatever it is. So thanks!
CC
Do you a special method for greasing a bundt pan so the cake will release? No matter how careful I am my cakes always stick.
joythebaker
i feel like i spend about 15 minutes greasing every single inch of the bundt pan and then shaking all-purpose flour into it. that’ll help the cake release as well.
also! those fancy baking sprays work wonders!
Nicole
Hey Joy,
I just want to say I just stumbled on your blog about a month ago and I just absolutely love it.. I do have a question about heavy cream. What can you use to subsitute it in making carmel or other baked goods?
Thanks…
joythebaker
heavy cream instead of what? milk? buttermilk? orange juice? oil? i’m confused.
Aly
If you could bake only ONE thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
joythebaker
one thing? kettle corn.
maggie@vittlesandbits
oooh…. solid choice :)
Sarah
I’m thinking about starting a food blog and I have been wondering how copyright laws apply to recipes. Can I copy a recipe from a cookbook or a blog (no adaptions) if I cite the source or do I need special permission from the author or blogger? Do the same rules apply to an adaption of the recipe?
joythebaker
i’ve never had any trouble using a recipe and attributing it to an author and a cookbook with names and links and such. i also mention authors and cookbooks and links even if i adapt a recipe.
Ariele Friedman
I think I’ve been around here a while… XD Yeah I’m 18 and obsessed with baking. Sadly though, colleges don’t have kitchens in the dorms! Although I probably wouldn’t have time to cook since I’m an engineer.
Anywayyy, my questions.
1. Am I crazy that after I get my engineering degree I want to start a catering business or something to that point?
2. Do tell more about your boyfriend. Where’d you meet him? How long have you been dating? Blah blah blah, girl talk is fun. :P
PS. Your random blurb posts are hilarious.
PPS. Am I allowed to take your recipes and organize them into one-page word documents and make them pretty for personal use? XD
PPPS. You should try out this recipe some time: http://verylowflyingcat.blogspot.com/2009/11/cabbage-piroshki.html
But I suggest adding onions to the filling. :) It’s a traditional Russian dish that I personally love. There’s other amazing stuff like semi-sweet zharkoye which is like a sweet version of beef borgognone and if I find that recipe I’ll gladly pass it on. (My grandma wrote it down somewhere.)
PPPPS. Where would you suggest for me to take cooking classes? I don’t know where to look first. (I’m in Boston.)
PPPPPS. I’m having fun with these extra notes and before I forget, I love your giveaways! :D
Miriam
Next Sunday is my 35th birthday, my gift to myself is to take the day off of everything else, and to bake something for myself that I love. But I love so many things, and I love to bake but almost never get to do it, so what to bake? I was thinking of a dark intense chocolate mousse cake. Chocolate is vital, fruit is a possibility, I don’t know. But I would love to know if anything comes to your mind!
Layla Granata
Hi Joy!!
I have three questions…
I bake and sell decorated sugar cookies on the side for fun, but lately I’ve been having a tough time pricing them right to customers. I feel like when I get business I end up not making any profit, but when I price them so I can make some money, no one orders! Any tips for this? Also, where would you recommend buying large cheap quantities of sugar/flour?
Lastly, can you freeze already bakes sugar cookies that haven’t Bren frosted yet? What’s the best way to package and how long do they last?
Laura
Hey Joy,
I’m nearly seventeen & I adore your blog. Your writing makes me laugh and I use most of your recipes.
I’m heading out of high school this year & on to pastry school!
Just wondering what your absolute favorite thing to bake is?
Oh, Btw, your ‘best chocolate butter cream frosting’ really is the best! It goes on all of the cakes/cupcake I make :)
Laura <3
izzy
do you think it’s creepy that so many people find you so loveable and want to be your best friend, or do you kind of love it?
(obvi i do)
also, if you could be president of the united states, would you want to?
i might have to post some more questions later. i have had your ‘dear dude who dumped me’ letter stuck in my head all week, with that lovely picture of you, but i wished i had copy and pasted it to save it since now it is gone. …again, creepy? (or kind of sweet that so many of us feel the same way you do?)
Angela
Hi Joy
I love your website :)
Question: On a three day camping trip where you are miles from a fridge and have a chilly bin to keep food cold (or at least try) what would you bake for dessert each night that would keep that long out of the fridge?
lisa
Christmas is coming soon, and I really want to send baked goods to friends and family as gifts. Any ideas on the best ways to package and mail them and which goodies would do best with mailing? Thanks! Love love love your blog! I made the honey whole wheat bread with sunflower seeds a couple weeks ago and it was a-mazing!
Marissa
Hi Joy! I’m a first time commenter here but a long time reader. I’m getting ready to start my own blog very soon, and since you blog is such an inspiration to me, I was wondering: What is one think you wish you knew about blogging before you started?
Sam N
Another question… that’s the new kitten’s name? Do you have any other pets?
Claire
Hi Joy!
A question I’ve been thinking about a lot lately…let’s say I have a cake recipe, but want to make cupcakes instead. Is there a rule of thumb as to how long the cupcakes should bake in relationship to how long the cake would bake? Or I am stuck figuring this out on my own – is it going to vary by recipe?
Thanks, girl! Love the blog, as always.
Claire
Andrea
20 – 22 minutes, I’ve found.
Diane
Is it possible to make a pumpkin bar with the flavor of pumpkin pie, and the texture of a dense, chewy brownie?
I can’t tell you how many recipes I have tried this year, and none of them are dense enough. One source even went so far as to explain that it can’t be done, that pumpkin has too much water in it, and won’t ever make a dense and flat bar.
I refuse to admit defeat…any ideas?
Jessica
PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, Tell me how you bake and eat and bake and eat and don’t gain huge amounts of weight!? I need this information!
jill
Hi Joy!
Love reading your blog…have for a long time now. Here’s a question for you…what would you be doing if you weren’t a:
baker,
blog writer, or
biker?
:-)
Liana
Will you ever come to Hawai?i and do a demo or talk to people so I can stalk you?
snowpea
Will you tell us more about This Cute Boy You’re Dating? Does he like cakes and cookies? Or is he more a savoury kind of fellow?
Jessica
What advice would you give to a 19 yr old with a passion for photography, a passion for food, who has no love life, and is trying to make a difference (by the way, this is me).
Chelsea
What is the best advice you would give someone who is looking to make a career in the baking field. Would you recommend going to a school to pick up some skills? What kind of place is the best to work in for the first time? Do you think that it is possible to make a comfortable living being a baker? Anything like that! :)
Laurel Mac
Do you ever have trouble drinking lots of water like all of the smart people say to? This is one of my biggest nutrition hurdles and the fact is- I just love drinking coffee and chocolate milk and that is about it. Sometimes v8 because I love salty things. My boyfriend said he was disappointed in my water drinking abilities :/ This may seem like a teensy tiny problem compared to, well, everything, but don’t worry ! I understand that. However, if I run a lot everyday (which I do, because I like, have to, because I have to keep getting this track scholarship) but don’t drink water, things fall apart! Like Chinua Achebe’s THINGS FALL APART. That was a sad book. How can I drink more h20??
Andrea
Have you tried Nuun tablets? They make water fizzy and supply electrolytes like gatorade but aren’t sugary.
Celina
What is freaking me out is that I have been coming here so long that I know some of the answers to these questions.
Everyone asks how you stay thin while baking for a living but I started losing weight when I first found your blog, considered giving up the blog, couldn’t do it, and still have managed to lose about 40 lbs since early spring. You have great healthy recipes (or at least healthier) and everything with lots of butter and sugar, I make sure I share and/or give away completely.
So…does this boy you are seeing really have potential?
joythebaker
Potential? Yes. Ps. I’m so glad you’ve been here for so long. That means a lot to me.
lauren
hi joy!
would you ever consider doing a cookbook? i would LOVE to do something like you’re doing. sadly, i’m too busy in school to be a teacher. :)
joythebaker
I’m working on a cookbook exactly now.
Lindsey
What do you do with all the food you make? Do you tell your friends to take it and then never give it to them and end up eating it all yourself (like *a friend* of mine does.)?
Thanks!
Guilty Mcguilterson
Seisha
ALSO, I want to ask… do you know of any fruit cake recipes that are bearable to the tastebuds?
I am supposed to make one for christmas with the fam but I cant bring myself to do the same old thing…
I need a revision!
joythebaker
edible fruitcake? ooooh man. i don’t have a recipe for this off the top of my head. i’m scared.
Cindy
Are you a football fan? Go Chargers.
joythebaker
I don’t get football. Why do they blow the whistle so much?
Veronica
I was just wondering…and I’m getting personal here but you said ANYTHING, right?….so ARE you dating right now? I have this weird thing about wanting to see you happily hitched. I think maybe just b/c I like you and it would make me happy that you are happy. Would that make you happy? Do you want kids? See, you take away all boudaries and I immediately forge past them. Regrets? :)
joythebaker
Totally fine Veronica! I am dating right now. And I’m totally happy and I feel like my life is good. I think I’ll have some kiddos sometime later. I’m not in a huge hurry. All is well.
EmLue
I already added a different question but… having established there are no boundaries in this line of questioning… What does your bf look like?
Sarah
My comment about yeast rolls got erased I guess….just was wondering if you knew of a recipe that had shortening, milk, yeast, and flour in it But NO EGG and NO butter….. Trying to find something close to my grandmother’s recipe….
The rolls she made were very dense and moist…..not light and fluffy. I would love some help
joythebaker
i don’t have a recipe like this off the top of my head… but i’ll keep it in mind, for sure!
Seisha
Dear Joy,
So i have an excellent flourless pie crust recipe ill share with you at just the right time. Its so good.
AND….
Who is your favorite non cook book author or what is your favorite book…. ?
Do you like Yerba Mate?
linda
hey joy,
great blog…fun & sassy…& delish recipes!
is a book in the works/ future….recipes & your thoughts on life & random things?
:)
joythebaker
a book is totally in my future. yes. correct. it’s happening.
Sarah
I am on a majorly tight budget right now. Any ideas for cheap sweets?
joythebaker
vegan things are cheaper because you don’t have to buy eggs and milk and butter. right?
https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2010/08/vegan-peach-berry-cobblers/
Linzy @ sandwichcookiesandcakes.com
1. I love love love your blog, I only dream of blog super status like yours and wish and hope mine will someday take off…do you have any pearls of wisdom?
2. Can we have a baking party? I live in LA as well and would love to have a virtual baking party, wouldn’t that be a fun segment of posts?
3. Travel safe cant wait to read your cranberry recipes!!! I heart your blog :)
joythebaker
Linzy! I would absolutely love to have a baking party. Let’s discuss!
Linzy @ sandwichcookiesandcakes.com
Sounds wonderful, lets definitely discuss baking part-ay! Hope your travels are going well!
Hayley
My husband is military and I have been thinking about starting to bake cookies and mail to our troops that are deployed. Do you know of a good way to package the cookies?
Thanks,
Hayley
http://www.iskrafamily.blogspot.com
http://www.remmadesigns.blogspot.com
Alena
I am not Joy, obviously, and I hope she doesn’t mind me jumping n here. When I mail edible packages to my cousins and friends in the service I send them wrapped in wax or parchment paper inside a tin or tupperware I don’t care about. I’ve found this works best.
joythebaker
you’re rad alena!
Ariele Friedman
I also found that placing a piece of bread into whatever you’re sending helps keep the other foods moist.
lucy
How does one start the career of joythebaker? Do you bake? Read cookbooks? Both?
joythebaker
all you have to do to start the joy the baker career is be obsessed with baking and taking pictures and kittens and boys. totally easy.
schlachtplatte
Will you travel to Berlin?/When will you travel to Berlin? There’s lots of things to discover here!
joythebaker
i would LOVE to go to berlin. that’s in germany. i’m kinda smart.
katie
do you have an extra bedroom in your house?
can i move in!?
:)
joythebaker
I don’t. But I like afternoon guests. For sure.
Lindsey Jackson
Joy,
Now that it’s winterish I add Bailey’s to my coffee and hot chocolate, no matter what time of the day. It’s awesome. But what else could I do with Bailey’s?
Happy traveling! :)
joythebaker
hm. coffee and hot chocolate… sounds like you’re set.
you can also make a bailey’s frosting for cakes. and a bailey’s glaze for cupcakes.
Cindy
Who would win in a cage match – you or Annie from Annie’s Eats?
;)
joythebaker
Seriously? Duuuh. I fight dirty.
Karan
Will Angie marry Robert even though Robert has been in a coma for 5 months? When will Rachel acknowlege that her unborn baby is the son of Father Joe’s younger more nefarious brother? Will Kate ever regain her memory? When will Jake confess his love for Angie? Who burned Max’s dream house to the ground and when will Max, Robert and Rachel discover that they are the love children of Father Joe and Kate?
Jen
Which song are you currently wearing out on your iPod?
joythebaker
kanye. west. duuuuuuh!!!!
lea
Hi Joy!
How did you learn how to bake? Did you go to culinary school or get any other “professional” training or are you self-taught? I dream of retiring early to bake wedding cakes for people who spend way too much money on weddings. I’ve never made a wedding cake. Am I crazy? (No need to answer that last question).
Thanks!
joythebaker
have you read this? this might answer some of your questions:
https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/about-the-baker/
wanna make wedding cakes? i started by decorating and stacking giant, round wedding cake pans. it was totally great practice.
Joanna
You have an amazing website.Your recipes are precise.And you share from your heart.Thank you so much.
joythebaker
heart you.
Irene
Have you ever baked with tea as a flavoring agent? I’ve been wanting to try something with either chamomile or earl grey. Any suggestions?
joythebaker
i’ve been wanting to make something with chamomile too. i’m thinking of making chamomile and honey cupcakes.
did you see my matcha lemon pound cake?
https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2010/09/lemon-and-matcha-marble-pound-cake/
Irene
I look forward to the cupcake recipe. Right now I’m toying with a chocolate/earl-grey cake w/ grand mariner frosting.
Randi
I just happened to stumble across your comment, and you reminded me of a recipe I’ve been meaning to try. Thought you might appreciate it, too: http://www.eatmedelicious.com/2008/03/earl-grey-white-chocolate-chunk-muffins.html
Amie
I’m working on my Christmas list and want to ask for some good cook/baking books. What are some of your favorites?
joythebaker
i love amanda hesser’s Essential New York Times Cookbook.
i also really want to get my hands on the new Baked cookbook.
bakerella’s cakepops book is darling too.
Jen G
The new Baked cookbook – amazing! totally digging it right now
Mallory
Joy,
Your blog is lovely. Your recipes are always super reliable. How do you bake for a living and not develop a profound hatred for it?
-Mallory
joythebaker
i just love what i do. that’s all. i super super love it.
and when i don’t. i go on vacation and read a book.
Rose R
I have a bag of fresh cranberries that I need to do something with, any ideas?
Also, do you have a good recipe for scones?
joythebaker
oh man! i’m baking with cranberries all next week. sauces. pies. muffins. breads. i’ll have soooo many recipes for you next week!
Amalia
can I go and live with you? I think We’ll have a blast baking and talking about george clooney,
joythebaker
do you like kittens?
My Kids Mom
Do you have a good recipe for pizza sauce? I’ve taught my kids to make the dough, but then eating homemade dough with store bought sauce… it seems wrong.
Will I ever get the courage to make pie crust again? I tried the vodka recipe. Should have just drunk the vodka. Am aiming to try the one in your sweet potato recipe, but still scared. I’ve made a lot of disasters.
joythebaker
you know…. i don’t have a pizza sauce recipe. that’s a great suggestion! thank you.
and man! sweating ove ra pie crust that turns to disaster is just the worst. have you tried the no-roll pie crust?
https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2009/11/dads-perfect-sweet-potato-pie/
jennie
i have been thinking about starting a blog and baking for profit. am i crazy?
joythebaker
no. you’re totally not crazy. get on it!
Rebecca
Can you make fudge? And record it with Jill, she is fun. Can you please? I suck at fudge. I made your apple tarte tatin that you made with Jill, except I used pineapple instead because my fiance loves pineapple. It was hella sweet but hella good.
joythebaker
pineapple!? that’s pretty amazing! work it out girl…
i’ll totally make fudge this holiday season! juuuust for you. yes!
Shannon
First… thank you for writing a blog that ‘reads’ just like I talk!
On to the actual question… every baker/chef/semi pro I know has a favorite guilty pleasure grocery store item or recipe they would die if their colleagues knew about. (Mine is totally a recipe from my great aunt for coffee cake… yellow box mix, instant pudding, sour cream and some real ingredient goodness)… What’s yours?
joythebaker
let’s see. i secretly LOVE boxed brownie mix. i seriously love them so hard.
also… my favorite chocolate buttercream recipe has ovaltine in it. is that guilty?
Shannon
Ohhh, that’s my 2nd favorite – box mix brownies that are just a little underbaked. Mmmm! And Ovaltine? I’m intrigued.
joythebaker
https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2008/06/the-best-chocolate-buttercream-frosting/
here it is!
Lori N
Hi Joy! I’m always looking for peanut-free, tree-nut free, sesame-free and egg-free cookies & desserts. (I’ve got a kid who’s allergic to those ingredients, can’t ya tell? *grin*) Have any recipes that come to mind?
And, since you’re in airports — do you have a favorite airport activity?
Have a great day!
joythebaker
the iphone is my favorite airport activity.
peanut tree sesame egg free cookies. um. can i think about that? how about pumpkin cookies? https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2008/10/pumpkin-cookies-revisited/
Alison
Hi Joy. I have two questions:
1. Now that your blog is such an amazing success, what’s next?
2. I have been loving the November giveaways – any chance you could compile a section on your website with a list of all of the giveaways for the many of us who won’t win to be able to purchase on our own?
Thanks for the daily entertainment, Joy! Love your sense of humor.
izzy
OOH! i totally second that. (ie i second number two!!)
joythebaker
Hi Alison!
I’m never giving this blog up. I love it here too much. But!! I am working on a cookbook. That’s pretty rad.
And yes! I’ll have a whole list of the the November giveaway participants up every week for you!
Alison
Good luck with the cookbook! I know it’ll be a success.
Next time you’re up in Seattle I hope you have a party… with cupcakes! :)
Heather G.
First…how are you so freakin’ cool that everyone who reads you wants to be your new BFF (including me of course)!?
Second…who is your favorite person to cook/bake with? And why?
andrea
we have a problem in our home… my daughter is allergic to all things corn & soy… which puts pretty much all pre made baked goods (and mixes) out of the question for us – so can you recommend a great frosting recipe ( that a six year old will think is yummy) that doesn’t ask for “confectioners” sugar? Confectioners sugar has corn starch in it. I have made it with tapioca starch but some how it doesn’t taste the same…
Lisa
Hay JtB –
I am really liking this question answer thing…totally great idea. kudos.
Do you ever eat fast food? If so, where and what?
Have you ever cooked/baked for a celebrity? Have you ever met a celebrity? (George Clooney…ahhhh)
What is your best recipe for chocolate cake WITHOUT coffee as an ingredient?
What is your cat’s name? He’s friggin adorable!
When is your birthday, what is your sign?
Have a sweet day!
-Lisa aka the Blissful baker
Colleen Sullivan
Who takes your pictures for you? I am usually cooking alone in the kitchen when no one is home. Do you use a tripod? What camera do you use??
Kathryn
What’s your favorite dish for brunch?
Or do you prefer lunch?
Amy @DYKTMP?
Any plans on coming down to San Diego?
Traci
Ashlee stole my cause I think we could be bffs. Basically, I just want to sit in your kitchen while you bake. Is that weird? I busted out three full creations while my friend sat in my kitchen the other day. It was glorious.
Sam N
Someone said Joy is pronounced “Goike”….. but how to you pronounce Goike?
Holly Norton
OK. This is not a question. I think you are totally cool and beautiful. Wish I could meet you and hang out for a bit, but that’s not gonna happen since I live in Texas!
Rebekah
Can I intern with you? I’m qualified in a number of great things (taste-testing is one of them).
Amy
Joy, I love the blog, the food, and you and your Mom’s hand made aprons! They’re so cute, I’ve been wondering since you first posted about them what on earth I can do to get one?!
Robin
Should I move to LA or Portland or Seattle?
Mallory
I love to bake,
but every time I do I am left with a giant batch of some sort of somethin that prevents me from fitting into my favorite jeans.
How do you do it? how do you surround yourself with sugar and butter but not turn into sugar and butter? because lets be real here, if it is in front of me- I am eating it.
janie la pierre
Joy, nothing crazy here………I can’t seem to find the right pumpkin scone recipe! Help…….
Stacie
Do you ever use a boxed cake mix and if so, do you add anything to make it a bit better?
I’m wanting to give up on cakes from scratch b/c they end up to be a lot more dry then the boxed version…
charliee
Where are you coming home from?
Is the boy you’re dating’s hair longer than yours?
tj
…I am working on embarking on a “Save Our Barn” campaign starting next Spring where I will jar up my killer cole slaw dressing and sell my much requested choc. chip oatmeal cookies and have the proceeds from the sales go to help our slowly-sinking 100+ year old barn. I am not exactly the most confident, go get ’em kinda gal but I wanna make a go of it… Any advice?
…Thanks Joy!
…Blessin’s… :o)
Somaya
Firstly, you’re too cool.
Secondly, will I be able to buy your book outside of the US?
Thirdly, what does “jag älskar dig Joy!” mean?
Liana
That means “I love you Joy!” (in Swedish)
Somaya
Google translate or a fellow Swedish Joy-lover?
Emily Elizabeth
a) What is a good substitute for corn syrup?
b) Where did you learn to do your baking?
c) How much fun is it when you make something amazing, give it to someone you love, and watch how happy you make them (that’s my favorite part of baking).
Thank you for all the fun recipes and delicious things you’ve inspired me to bake!
Scarletta
What is your absolute favorite thing to put in your face (baking-wise)?
Who is your favorite Golden Girl?
Can we please be best friends too?
Kelsey
Can I work for you? Or with you? Or something?
But seriously.
Elizabeth
I’m really enjoying the creativity of the Joythebaker-ians.
How did you decide to start the Joy the baker blog? Have you ever had a desk job?
And the big one…
How important is having a drivers license to living in California on a scale of 10 to 1?
Rebecca
I’m think I read somewhere that you were an English major in college, and now you do this. I’m a freshman in college…English major…and I pretty much want to be you. In a non creepy way, haha. I’m thinking about starting a blog about baking during college…what do you think? Any tips on how to get started, and how it make it so people actually want to read it?
Megan
Think you’d ever come to Detroit?
If you did, I totally throw a baking brunch party extravaganza. Just sayin’.
Because you love champagne with breakfast, right?
joythebaker
i will come. we will brunch. we will champagne.
Megan
This makes me super happy.
Heather
Joy – you read my mind. I may move back to Los Angeles due to my job, and I’m dreading it. I lived there during college, and didn’t find much that I liked about it. If I move back, what area would you recommend living in, where the people are real, the people are real friendly, and there’s plenty to do?
Stephanie
What did you name the sweet little fuzzy cat-person?
joythebaker
Stevens. Jules. Pumpkin. Crazytown. i call him all of these things.
Lindsay
Is the first one after Cat Stevens? That is what we named a cat once, but just ended up calling him Cat. We also had a cat named Cat Power, also just called Cat.
Sarah
This is fun!
1. When a recipe calls for baking soda and baking powder but you only have one of them can you slash how do you replace one with the other?
2. What is your favorite kind of cookie?
joythebaker
when it comes to baking soda and baking powder… you can’t really replace one with the other. you need both. you just do.
my favorite cookie is the Black and White Cookie. Yum.
Astrid
Hi Joy! Thank you for giving me a hug yesterday. I was so excited to meet you! Here is a question:
If you were told that you could never bake or even cook for another day in your life, what would be the last meal or treat you make? And then what would you do with the rest of your life?
joythebaker
why would someone tell me that i can bake anymore!? that would be so weird. daaaang.
i’d make brownies. then i’d eat them all. then i’d marry a man that i love and make lots of babies. and i secretly cook on the side. because i’d have to. duh.
ps. so good to meet you! you sparkle.
jonquil
what is your favorite mixing bowl? mine is a large metal one just right for tossing salad, whipping up frosting, doubled cake batter, &/or serving popcorn.
Tammie Perry
Ok, so why are you sitting in Tracy’s parents house eating chicarones at midnight… besides the obvious that chicharones are delish? Sry but you made me curious…haha.
I’m pretty new to your blog but I LOVE it. I’ve tried a few of your recipes and have liked them all. How did you get your blog to become so popular? I know you have great recipes but was there something specific you did to promote your blog?
joythebaker
because i’m in san francisco visiting tracy and i just found a bag of chicarrones. and i’m not hungry but i can’t stop.
Diana
If you could bake anything for anyone who ever existed, what would it be and for whom?
What is your favorite recipe?
What is your favorite season?
joythebaker
cupcakes for jesus.
i love recipes for coffee cake.
i hella heart summertime.
Amy @DYKTMP?
hella… <3 How NorCal of you!
Tiffany
‘cupcakes for jesus’ should totally be a rock band.
Janet
I hear Joy is actually pronounced “Goike.” Is this really true?
joythebaker
totally true.
Mollie
Do you have any awesome gluten free and vegan recipes?
joythebaker
i have a very small vegan section in my recipe index… and i totally suck at gluten free baking right now. working on it!
Ellen!
those bacon peanut butter cookies are gluten free…. :)
ting
if you could have any superpower, but only just ONE, what would it be?
joythebaker
invisible flight.
marse
isnt that 2? Lol
Gen
Hello! I am a great fan of your site, because it is a comforting and yummy place to be.
What advice would you give me to improve my blog?
Do you like French food? What’s your favorite foreign dish?
joythebaker
to improve your blog? consistent creative authentic content. and a lot of commenting on other people’s blogs.
i do like french food… especially bread and pastry. oh gawd.
Leah
When do you do most of your baking? Late at night/weekends?
joythebaker
everyday in the mornings.
Leah
Becuz of lighting for your photos…or cuz this is your “day job?”
Pat
Sadly, since I am a resident of Washington State, I do not know the Washington state Bird; where I live I would say it is the Seagull or Crow. Love your blog and am going to use it s lot the next couple months for Christmas gifts. Thanks!
joythebaker
thanks so much!
Phoo-d
As a result of sitting through too many high school state history classes I can tell you that the Washington State bird is a Willow Goldfinch (very cute yellow bird). Now if only I could remember important things like phone numbers and birthdays…!
Rachel
BUT did you know that Seattle has a bird too? Great Blue Heron. True story.
Debbie
Where can I find the the three greatest chocolate chip cookie recipes on your site. I made the first one and when I went back to find the other two to compare, I couldn’t find them. Help! I have a whole cast of judges ready to chow down!
joythebaker
here you go.
https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2008/07/the-chocolate-chip-cookie-debate-part-1/
https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2008/07/the-chocolate-chip-cookie-debate-part-2/
https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2008/07/the-chocolate-chip-cookie-debate-part-3/
https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2008/07/the-chocolate-chip-cookie-debate-forth-and-final-edition/
Krissa
How do you substitute sucanant for sugar? Honey for sugar? Can you use brown sugar if you don’t have white on hand? What are the ratios for all of these?
What exactly do baking soda and baking powder do?
And someone else asked this above…but, what is/are your favorite kitchen tools?
Do you have any advice on what types of pots/pans to get?
joythebaker
oh my god.
too many hard questions.
please hold.
Rachel
I’ve found this site helpful for ingredient substitutions
http://www.joyofbaking.com/IngredientSubstitution.html
Joy
white sugar or brown sugar? And how old were you when you started loving to bake?
joythebaker
brown sugar. 7.
HollyS
Reeses or Kit-Kat?
Blue or Red?
50’s or 60’s?
What is your favorite family heirloom and what is the story behind it?
joythebaker
reeses. blue. sixties. my grandfather’s green trunk that came off of his 1917 model T car.
Juli G.
How do you like your TOMS shoes? Do you think they are still wearable in the winter cold?
joythebaker
i LOVE my toms and i don’t know what winter cold is.
Marie
Salted butter, or unsalted?
PS: that B/W cookie looks DELICIOUS!! I think I may have to try out that recipe!
joythebaker
salted butter on toast. unsalted butter in baking.
Jennifer
How can I use my baking/cooking skills to make new friends?
joythebaker
make chocolate bundt cake and share.
Ashlee
Can we be best friends?
I’m a former real baker, now blogging baker, and need a baking friend!
How do YOU keep YOUR cat’s hair out of the recipes? I think it’s inevitable.
joythebaker
i think we can try to be best friends… for sure.
i sometimes lock my cat in my bedroom. he hates it. so hard.
Michael
Cancel or allow?
joythebaker
allow. DUH!
JennEJenn
A question, any question? I’m inquisitive so this sounds like fun! Q1: Should I move to Los Angeles? Q2: What do you love about Los Angeles? Q3: Why so much down time in the airport? Q4: Will you ever do your rooftop picnic again? Q5: How can I take a better photo?
I know it’s more than one question but this extra hour has given me some unexpected down time and I am a procrastinator. :)
joythebaker
maybe you should move to la. the beach is here… it’s amazing.
i’m at the airport because i’m going home from not being home.
rooftop picnic? maybe as a book tour.. sure!
better photo? use more light. always more light.
Whit
What is your “go-to” recipe for vanilla and chocolate cupcakes (or cakes) and what frosting do you find that both tastes good and stays on the cakes?
joythebaker
i’m in love with this cake and frosting situation: https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2008/06/the-best-chocolate-buttercream-frosting/
Whit
When asked how I feel about your answer (and I could be all the time…) I cant’ think of a better word than “flattered.” Thanks for taking the time to answer this one ’cause I’ve tried many a frosting recipe that just wasn’t “the one.”
Erin O.
Have you always loved to bake? When you were in college did you know that deep down you really wanted to be a baker?
joythebaker
i have always loved to bake. when i was in college i was working as a baker… so. yea.
Colleen Marie
Ahhh I’m a South Dakotan living where the Buffalo roam the Southern Hills.. would you like to be carved into Mt. Rushmore ?
joythebaker
no way. that would be weird.
bdaiss
Well, if you at least come visit us out here in the Hills, know that the capital is Pierre – pronounced Peer, not like the French Pee-air. And I’ll buy you an ice cream cone here at Rushmore.
Kimberly
How do you stay inspired? Do you have days when you just don’t have a clue what to cook/bake? What do you do then?
xx
Glenda
Who is your favorite food blogger?
What are you cooking for Thanksgiving this year?
Have you ever been to New Orleans?
– If not, would you like to come and visit and cook in my kitchen??? :)
Kellee
What is your favorite coffee flavored food? And what’s your favorite coffee creamer flavor? (Even if it’s not a flavor that actually exists, what do you think would be the most delicious thing to put in your coffee?)
Hope questions are entertaining you in the airport! :)
Sushi Girl
How many cookbooks you got in yer new crib? ;)
*love*
Betsy
I am a finalist in a chocolate chip cookie contest and have to bake 1000 chocolate chip cookies…What suggestions and recommendations do you have?
Where do you find inspiration for your recipes?
I live at a high-altitude and have noticed that there are no real high-altitude baking blogs. Do you have suggestions for starting your own blog? Besides being as wonderful as you, how do recruit followers?
mafhamed
Why is pink my favorite color?
manda
what is your very favorite food?
Lauren
Whats your middle name?
Becky Back
Will you be watching the premier of Conan O’Brien’s new show on TBS tomorrow (11/8/10) @ 11/10pm CST? :)
Sushi Girl
Have you ever met Pioneer Woman? (Isn’t she hilarious?!) :D
*love*
AK
What is your favorite quote? :)
Elizabeth
You bake some of the most beautiful most delicious desserts I have ever seen. Why are you not the size of a small island?
How much time, per day/week do you work on your blog? Do you stratigize beforehand or does it flow when it flows?
Lynne Piil
What would be your top five list of ingredients that one must have on hand at all times?
PS….love your blog :)
Nicole @ The Dirty Oven
When is the next time you are going to visit your sister in Seattle and can I come along so I can see my little sister as well?
Carrie
How do you make muffins, cupcakes and breads egg-free? I love your vegan pumpkin bread recipe, but I just cannot figure out how to tweak my other recipes (except for cookies) so that they still rise but are completely egg-free…
(I have a 4-year-old boy who is allergic to eggs but loves him some muffins) :~)
Aimee C.
What is the first thing that you will make when you come back to your lonely kitchen? (Assuming that your appliances haven’t left you for someone else.)
Jen
Why can’t I get my pizza crust to double in size? I have used a handfull of recipes, and yet I can’t seem to make it do anything but stay the same size. I have run out to buy new jar yeast, so I know it can’t be that.
Dotty
I’m thinking about starting a baking blog. What advice do you have for me? How can I get people to find it?
Thanks Joy!
Sarah
I just love your blog! I teacher creative writing and I refer to it often as an example of great writing.
Two questions:
1. How are you not 500 lbs? (Seriously!)
2. What is a delicious, easy-to-package, easy-to-make-in-bulk treat to drop in my neighbor’s mailboxes this holiday season?
Thanks! Happy travels!
Vanessa
Should peanut butter be salty or sweet?
Do ducks dream?
Why is American Idol still on the tv?
Lindsay
Do you have another job besides blogging or do you have a sugar daddy? How can you afford to live on blogging in LA?
Irene
Are you always as optimistic as your blog transmit or do you have dark days as well?
Katie
I am currently eating apple zucchini bread with Betty Crocker vanilla frosting spread over it for breakfast. Healthy, I know. What would you say is the maximum amount of times one could safely melt the frosting then put it back in the fridge (have done so about 3 times so far Iwould say)?
Aurora
Hi! I’m kinda new here( though I’ve made three of your recipes a while ago) so I feel a little presumptuous asking this, but are you going to be giving away baked goods for your November giveaway? The reason I ask is cause I’m at college and I have no access to a kitchen/baking utensils/money to buy ingredients( basically anything needed to bake) and I think something you baked would really motivate me to study for my upcoming finals, haha:))
Thank you so much for the most fantabulous food blog everrrrrr.
Pat
Which Christmas cookie do you most like to bake?
Anne
Who is your favorite band/musician? Also, I baked my own birthday cake this year (Mocha Rum Cake found here on your site) and whenever I tell people that’s what I did, they instantly go into ‘oohh poor you’ mode. I try to explain, no actually it was fun and my choice, but they don’t get it. What would you say?
Cali
Why are you so awesome? :)
But really, what’s your favorite piece of kitchen equipment?
Carrie Sautter
What is your favorite cooking and baking *aroma*? And yes, I can tell this one is making you think ;)
Andrea
Off the top of your head, does bread need to rise in a metal or glass bowl if the recipe calls for it? Can you use ceramic instead? My mom made bread growing up and she religiously used a brown and blue ceramic bowl. I’m a little scared of bread making so I’m just getting my ducks in a row. I suppose I could ask my mom, now that I think about it.
Chiara
Which do you prefer, Beauty and the Beast or The Lion King?
the blissful baker
how often do you create your own recipes? and how?
jomamma
How often do you make ‘flop’ recipes? You know… where they just don’t work out and you have to dump it in the trash or out the back door.
nikki
do you give baked goods away as gifts? if so, what packaging would you recommend?
ashley
Every year for Christmas my husband and I write down the things that we must do in order for Christmas to be a “success”…what would your top three be?
Hollie
If you were a pastry blender lost in my house, where would you be? Also, is there any foolproof way of making sure a pre-baked crust stays intact and doesn’t let the pecan pie filling ooze under and around it? No matter what I try, there is always a weak spot in the crust’s defense somewhere. Thanks!
Heidi
What is the most complicated, long and drawn out bread recipe you know? And if you don’t know any(or don’t want to share) I’ll be disappointed, but I’ll be happy with any yeast bread recipe. I’m on a serious bread making kick right now and “quick” or “easy” or even “done in 90 minutes!” just will not cut it for me right now! :D I want to put some effort into it!
Beth
If you had a gluten intolerance, what kind of substitute for regular flour would you use and why? Also, how do you stay in such good shape when you’re baking up so many yummies on a daily basis?!
kate
I imagine you peruse quite a few food blogs, as I do, and bookmark recipes/things to try/adaptations, etc. how do you keep track of it all without your head exploding?
Alexandra
Damn the time change! My kids are up waaaaaaaay too early this morning and I have to make them something for breakfast right now. What would be a good, quick, delicious, time-change breakfast?
P.S. I don’t have much in the house; it’s grocery shopping day today.
Amara
What do you eat for breakfast, and do you have coffee with that?
Vicki B
If you were yeast phobic and really wanted to bake bread, which recipe would you start with? And if your house was always cold with no sunny windows and an electric stove, how would you make a warm place for the dough to raise? When you have kids, what will be the first thing you teach them to bake?
Hayley
What homemade desserts would you serve for a surf monkey themed first birthday party? :)
And what was your biggest baking disaster?
Tammy
How do all of you food bloggers (that I read) not gain a bunch of weight? I have my own specialty cake biz, and when testing recipes I feel like I gain 10 pounds just looking at ganache.
Amy
What is the best chocolate ever?
Ernestine
Does everyone in LA have this hippy, down to earth, cool, rad kinda personality or is it just you? I think it’s cool.
Shannon
What is the brand/shade of nail polish you’re wearing in the picture at the top of this post?
Happywhennothungry
What is your secret to the perfect buttercream? I always have issues with my frostings. Thanks!
thea
hello! soooo have you heard of pw (pioneer woman) and if you do you like her??
andddddd!
how many and what languages can you speak?
and how in the world can you finish replying to all these comments?! good luck! :)
elisa
would love to know how to make my own “cake mix” that I can create as christmas gifts so the recipients only need to add butter or oil, eggs, and some sort of liquid like milk or water. Have you done this? I tried, the version below, but would like a chocolate one too!! :o)
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
16 tablespoons butter (2 sticks), cut into 1/2-inch pieces and chilled
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Process sugar, flours (or flour and cornstarch if making the substitution for the cake flour), milk powder, baking powder, and salt in a food processor for 15 seconds to combine. Add butter and vanilla and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal (you want this much finer than, say, a pie crust). Freeze the dry mixture in a zipper-lock bag for up to 2 months or use immediately.
To make the cake, adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour your pan of choice (see the note above the recipe).
With an electric mixer, beat the prepared cake mix, 1 1/4 cups warm water and 2 large room-temperature eggs until the mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape the batter into the prepared cake pan(s) and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25-27 minutes for two 9-inch layer cakes
Jeanie
What is the secret or secrets to a soft chewy cookie????????????
ellie
who is your favorite celebrity (if u have one :) )
ANDDDD (cause i’m ‘so’ cool that i thought of another ques)
do u like airplane food? if not, how do ya deal??
p.s. do ya like sushi? Have Fun Traveling!!!!! :D
Sheila
Joy,
Thank you for once again opening yourself to us, your fans… I have many questions for you, some have been listed already but a few that have not, I will limit myself to 2.
1) I need a recipe for something that is protein packed, portable and maybe a few veggies thrown in for good measure. I own a 14 year old boy, I can not keep him fed and I am always on the hunt for new health-ish food.
2) What, other than food, is your passion?
Please keep doing what you are doing, you are fantastic!
Sheila
Amy
WHY have we never met.. like for real and face to face.. I think we would be great mom/daughter kind of friends.. me the mom.. YOU the daughter.. we could bake and YOU could like the spatula.. what would we bake first?!?!?
Leslie
hi joy!
right now, if you could choose to be at a restaurant with anyone in the world, which restaurant would it be, who would you be with and what would you order?
can i ask another? ok, i’m gonna anyways! :)
what’s the strangest thing you’ve eaten for dinner?
xoxox,
leslie
Shauna
1. What’s your favorite kind of cheese?
2. How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? :)
Victoria (District Chocoholic)
Oh I have one. What are your favorite kinds (brands and their specific formulas) of chocolate to use in different kinds of recipes? Do you have a standby bittersweet and a standby unsweetened? Or do you had different preferences for cookies vs. cakes, etc?
homegrown countrygirl
Joy,
Did a boy ever break your heart? How did you recover?
Amy
I was inspired to make my own vanilla extract from the post I saw on your blog. It’s awesome. But I’m wondering…after I use up all the extract, can I do anything else with the vanilla beans?
Shauna
Super awesome question!! I also have a bajillion vanilla beans leftover from the many batches of vanilla extract I’m making for Xmas presents (bought in bulk on Amazon), so I’m plotting what else I’m going to make with them. I know that Joy says you can keep using the vanilla beans by just adding more bourbon/rum/etc to the bottle, but I don’t know when you need to eventually just throw the little beans out. As for my leftover unused beans, I’m definitely planning more vanilla bean frosting, ice cream and cookies. Whee! :)
Steph
How about vanilla sugar?? :)
laurie
favorite thing to bake up at midnight?
Reesa
ooh, fun! I’m gonna cheat and ask you two.
1. Do you think it’s worth the wait? You know, “it”. In general.
2. Why do my cream cheese frostings always turn out so runny? I like the stiff ones that you can really pile on. Suggestions?
Estela @ Weekly Bite
What’s your favorite thing to eat/drink when watching bad reality tv. (think Real Housewives) :)
Kimberly
my question is, how can i learn to not let the stress of my job spill over into the rest of my life?
Lucia
If you came to Italy, would you spend some time baking cookies with me? :-)
Ashley in NC
I just broke up with my boyfriend in August and am having a terribly difficult time moving on and an even more difficult time actually dating (just the word makes me break out in hives.) My question, all knowing Joy the Baker, is am I ever going to meet the right person and get married and have a little family????
Also, do you have any recipes that help you get over a break up? Baking is my therapy.
Adrienne
This is fun!
What was the worst gift you’ve ever received?
Cindy
Oppps–I mean scone not sconce!!! It’s very early here and I’m on DST–we switched over to regular time last night……….
Cindy
#1–How Mr. Kitten come into your life?
#2–What is your best sconce recipe???
Thank YOU!
Lauren
My go-to questions: what’s your favorite book? What’s the best restaurant meal you’ve ever had?
Alice
I have a good one that has tickled me for a while. How come you can bake and eat all these carbs and not get fat. : ))
xxx
Tora
Have you ever eaten raisins straight out of the box?
akinaj
Baking with flavoured balsamico vinegar – good or bad idea?
I’ve just come home from a Christmas baking, decorating and everything else seasonal and handmade fair/exhibition, and bought a bottle of truly amazing cranberry balsamico vinegar. I know it will be amazing on ice cream or panna cotta, but should I attempt to bake with it?
Rebecca
Here is a baking question: when I make cookies and freeze (unbaked) some of the dough, when I bake them later they are perfect and awesome. I have tried to do the same thing with biscuits – make and shape the dough and them freeze them, unbaked, for later, but then when I bake the ones that had been frozen they come out horrible – they no not rise properly, and are dense pucks of meh. This has happened with a couple different biscuit recipes I have tried. Is there a method to freeze unbaked biscuits so that they are as awesome as freshly baked, or am I better off baking them completely in the first place, freezing them baked, and then throwing them in the toaster oven to bring them back to life?
I am a southern gal: I need egg biscuits on the weekend!
selina
I am trying to decide between two boys, one whose been around for a long time and one who is shiny and new i feel that somehow cookies might help me decide. what would you recommend? also once i have picked i would like to take the chosen one cake, any ideas? it could be like a strange gameshow instead of getting something lame like a rose or a key, the winner gets cake! and me of course ;)
Sarah
Hey Joy-
I know that you get like 1,000 questions a day….but I have this ridiculous task I have taken upon myself to make my grandmother’s yeast rolls for Thanksgiving this year (she passed away in March)…..There is no recipe that she left—all we know for sure is that there is the following ingredients: shortening, milk, yeast, lil sugar, flour…..there is NO butter and NO egg in them….. I was wondering if you knew of any recipes that incorporated this???? I cannot find anything online or in any cookbooks—im on attempt number 3 this week and I need to get them done by thanksgiving! I remember that they were pretty dense and moist—-def. not light and fluffy.
If you can help me out I would appreciate it so much. I know you are busy.
-Sarah
Jennifer L.
Hey, I found this recipe; I wonder if it is similar?
http://www.food.com/recipe/sweet-yeast-rolls-114556
Sarah
Ill try it out—thanks you so much!
Genne
First off, LOVE YOUR BLOG. It’s my warm cup of tea and a book when I don’t have the time to sit down and make my tea and read a book. :)
Wanted to ask, what would you bake for a big family gathering that would feed a lot but would also be something enjoyed by different age groups? Thanks!
Carol
what are chiccarones?
yasmin
Hi Joy
I luv smell of baked bread & wd love to be an ace at it, but I tried twice & both times it was a disaster & that after I attended a workshop for it. Isn’t there an easier way to do it then use yeast?? & knead it & knead it?????
Mrs. M.
Do you have a job? (Besides baking, blogging, and entertaining us?) I’ll assume you went to college. What was your major?
Sheri
I’m not far from LA could you give places and times to see you cooking in action?
Mary
Do you have any recipes for apple and squash empanadas?
Wei-Wei
Oh, and also: in Ask Joy the Baker Part One, you mentioned a podcast – how did I miss this, and where can I find it?!
Stephanie
Haha, your kitten’s name would be my first question, too. Also: Do you always read all the comments you get? Do you look at the blogs of your commentators?
Wei-Wei
What’s your favourite savoury baked good? How long have you been baking? Does baking as a hobby cost you a lot of money? Also, what do you think about using weights?
Paulette
What’s your favorite holiday, favorite cookie, favorite color, besides baking what would you like to do or be right now. Phew thats enough questions. LOL Paulette
kangli
coolcoolcool! erm, can I ask about your teen life?
What were you like? I know you mentioned somewhere that you were kinda rebellious, but what were your ambitions? Like, did you ever once thought that you will be blogging now, and your stuff being read by lotsa people?
Summer
THis is exciting coz i have questions for ya …lods of them!!!
Hope ur happy to find me here:-)
Joy oh Joy, am here with questions galore!!
Regarding this post here:-
https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2009/09/how-to-make-cake-flour/comment-page-3/#comment-98410
Am thrilled to find this post jus the day i was thinking to make my own cake flour!!
Ur the best!!
Now resourcing , can u pleasssseee,pinky promissee please, help me with where online i’ll find the above used cornstarch, ie Kingsfords Cornstarch, aint in the US but i can manage with any source online that might have it!!
Other thing is LOVE ur red measuring cup, is it ceramic?wat brand?
And will i find it online?
love the measuring spoon too and would be so grateful for that info too!!
Thannnksss a ton lods and looking foward to hear from ya!
Happy sunshine day!!
Huggies for ya
Aikko
Hi Joy! Will you come to the Philippines for a visit? Let’s bake a cake together!
Julien Slate
If you had to fill only one role for the people you love, what role would it be?
P.S. No cheating and saying “baker” because that’s just too darn easy.
Tara
Does your blog cost you much to run? Do you ever have people tell you it’s silly to have a blog?
val
where are you going? :)
joythebaker
home!
Silvia
Did you ever bake something, decide you did not like it at all but posted it anyway?
What would you like to bake but have not tried yet?
What’s your favourite colour? And your favourite book?
Are you sure your readers are not too nosy?
Tegan
Where is the furtherest you have ever traveled?
Where is one place you would LOVE to travel to?
Natasha
how do you go about creating your own recipes? are you ever scared that what you make is going to be completely inedible (i think that happens to me…i would be more adventurous with food, but i’m always afraid of making something terrible!)?
what can you use graham crackers for besides cheesecake crust and eating plain?
what’s your favorite salty baked good?
what’s your most favorite thing about living in LA? least favorite?
Sabina Sophia
Was it difficult to walk away from a life with a ‘normal’ stable job to go into something as uncertain as baking ? (I can’t find the guts to do it – though in all cases I don’t have the cooking level to do it. Yet.)
Oh, and lighter question : If you could have lived in a different era, different country, which one would it be ? :)
Joe @ Eden Kitchen
What is your favourite Christmas cookie recipe?
Melissa L
If you’d had to choose what would your very last dessert be?
girl japan
OMGOSH.. my questions came out ….lol sorry… hope it made sense.
girl japan
This is fun!!!
I’m sick of all the stereotype of what Japanese people think American food is… what can if retort can I give next time I’m asked… American food to me, is a melting pot of cultures… but how can I answer that with a slam dunk?
If I may, ask two?
What is the best Thanksgiving Stuffing recipe?
katie
have you ever made some big elaborate cake or other dessert, got incredibly frustrated and threw it away? (i did this once with a three tier cake covered in fondant.. worst mistake ever!)
what’s your favorite recipe on your site?
uhmmmm.. who do you most look up to, as a food blogger?
if you could meet any famous chef in history for dinner, who would it be and what would you bring?
Jessica @ bake me away!
Ok! What is kitteh’s name??
Julia
If your kitten had a favorite baked good, what would it be?
And, if I may ask two questions….
What song would you sing at karaoke?