I’ve been feeling pretty nostalgic lately.
I’ve been feeling like there are some really awesome recipes living on this blog that might suffer from a bit of neglect. It’s just the neglect of time, really. A few weeks ago I brought my Creamy Pumpkin Pie Bars back to life with the aggressive use of pecans and oat streusel.
This week I’m feeling out these Red Velvet Black and White Cookies. I first made these four years ago and I totally think it’s time for a re-do. Oh, and if you’re going to try and tell me that all things red velvet are soooo 2009… well, you might be right but I’m going to stick my fingers in my ears and hum loudly so I can’t hear you. Sorry.
These cookies are cakey tender, as festive as the day is long, and happily smeared with vanilla cream cheese frosting and dark chocolate glaze. I’m proud of how they’ve grown and who they’ve become as cookies…
I’m actually so proud that I took them to Ina Garten’s house, bamboozled her into being my friend, and took cellphone pictures to prove it (because we all know that if you didn’t Instagram it… it didn’t really happen). I’ll elaborate on this totally amazing nonsense in just a moment.
First things first: cookies.
These soft, cakey cookies start in this way… with a touch of cocoa powder, a smidge of red food coloring, and butter/egg/sugar/buttermilk/vanilla extract necessities.
Butter and sugar are beaten on medium speed until light and fluffy. Eggs are added. Vanilla and food coloring join the mix. Dry ingredients are added alternately with buttermilk. Classic preparation for many red velvet cakes… these just so happen to be red velvet in cookie form.
Cookie batter is dolloped by the heaping tablespoonful. Really though… it’s hard to get a uniform size heaping tablespoonful without the right tool. I use this #40 scooper. It’s a charmer. Also… I so totally want this set of portion scoopers so my cookies can inch closer and closer to size perfection.
Once cookies are baked through, they’re flipped on their heads.
One half of the cookie is frosted generously with cream cheese frosting (totally left over from the Orange Gingerbread Cake), and the other half is blessed with shiny chocolate glaze.
This is where good meets good meets great.
Not only are these cookies delicious, they’re actually really fun to make too… and I’m not just saying that because I ate three cookies while frosting twelve.
This cookie recipe is for you. Of course it’s for you.
It’s also a cookie recipe I shared with Ladies Home Journal for their December Cookie Swap with Ina Garten. You know… totally normal.
I’ve been watching Ina Garten on her show Barefoot Contessa for ages. I admire her ease and confidence in the kitchen. She makes me want to roast chicken and make dark chocolate ice cream and serve it in my white-rosed garden. She makes me want to pack brownies in a box and walk them across the way to my neighbor. Ina Garten is an icon in my brain and so it absolutely blew my mind when I got to stroll down a Hampton road to Ina’s house. (Her house!!!!!!!! I mean… come on!)
I joined a few other bloggers at Ina’s house for a good old-fashioned holiday cookie swap.
The only thing that made it not so old-fashioned was the fact that this holiday cookie swap took place in July, was styled by some amazing professionals, and every move was photographed by Quentin Bacon for Ladies Home Journal. I nabbed some of these behind-the-scenes shots.
Above, Zoe of Zoe Bakes prepares to pose with her cookies.
The photo shoot took place in Ina’s barn which is just across the lawn from her beautiful house. The barn (which is devoid of horses and pigs) is just flawless, super classic, and has the most beautiful light. Here, Quientin shoots Ina.
Every blogger made a cookie to share. Deb (from Smitten Kitchen) made Gooey Cinnamon Squares from her cookbook and I’m downright obsessed with this recipe. There are some really great cookie recipes from the swap if you’re needing some holiday inspiration!
Ina made Raspberry Crumble Bars which were just lovely. The buttery shortbread is divine.
In the foreground is a beautiful farm table with a generous amount of pink champagne.
In the center is a crazyamazingwhoa photographer, Quentin Bacon.
In the back of the photograph is Ina Garten’s kitchen set.
And… I can’t even deal.
Beyond the immaculate barn, the pink champagne, the many many many cookies, it was such a sincere joy to spend some time and share some words with Ina and some dear blogger friends. We talked about the recipe testing process. We talked about how I package my baked goods like a spaz and need professional help. We talked about how we approach the kitchen. Ina has some really comforting and insightful things to say (which you can totally read here)… and then we drank champagne and took self-pics with my phone. Amazing grace!
Red Velvet Black and White Cookies
makes about 2 dozen cookies
inspired by Rachel Ray
For the Cookies:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup buttermilk
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/2 block (4 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (plus 1/2 scraped vanilla bean if desired)
For the Chocolate Glaze:
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (chips or coarsely chopped chunks)
1/4 cup light corn syrup
pinch of salt
Place a rack in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 3 to 5 minutes). Add egg and yolk and heat for one minute, scraping down the bowl as necessary. Stop the mixer, add the food coloring and vanilla extract and beat on medium speed until thoroughly incorporated.
Add half of the flour mixture and beat on low speed. Add all of the buttermilk in a slow stream. Add the remaining flour mixture and beat on low speed until no flour bits remain.
Spoon batter onto prepared baking sheet by the heaping tablespoonful. Keep the cookies spaced 2 inches apart. Bake cookies until dry on top and slightly firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the pan for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and allow to cool completely before frosting.
To frost the cookies, turn cookies bottom side up and gently wipe off any crumbs. Using two separate butter knives, cover half of each cookie with cream cheese frosting, and the other half with chocolate glaze. Allow cookies to set for about 3o minutes. Cookies are great individually wrapped or can be stored in an airtight container with a sheet of parchment paper separating any stacked layers. Cookies can be stored, wrapped or sealed, in the refrigerator for up to three days.
To make the Cream Cheese Frosting:
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, blend the cream cheese (yea… just the cream cheese) on medium speed. The cream cheese should be as soft and smooth as possible. Stop the mixer. Add the softened butter. Scraped down the sides of the bowl and beat the two together over medium speed until smooth and incorporated. Add one cup of powdered sugar. Blend until incorporated. Add vanilla extract (and bean, if using) and remaining cup of powdered sugar. Beat on medium high speed until frosting is smooth and silky.
To make the Chocolate Glaze:
In a heatproof bowl, combine butter and chocolate pieces. Set bowl over a pan of simmering water so that the water does not hit the bottom of the bowl. We’re creating a double-boiler. Stir until butter and chocolate are melted and smooth. Turn off heat and remove the bowl from the pan. Stir in corn syrup and pinch of salt. Set aside to cool slightly before glazing cookies.
Tammy Chu
Hi! These look wonderful and I was curious if the cookies are sweet enough to leave out the frosting. Thank you (:
Celeste McBride
I am way late at reading this post. I CANNOT believe you got to hang with Ina Garten. I love her and I am so jealous. I also totally love you and your blog. :-) On your next book tour please come visit Oklahoma.
Chloe
This recipe looks so good! I was wondering if the batter could be made a couple days in advance and put into the freezer or something? Thanks! PS this font is SO ADORABLE
joythebaker
Well I’ve never done it before, but I wouldn’t recommend making this batter in advance and putting it into the freezer.
Andi M
Wow! I too am an Ina Garten fan. I will be going to see her in York, PA this February. Your cookie swap day sounds perfect, I bet you could hardly sleep that night after a day like that. I came to your site looking for your brussle sprout, bacon and egg recipe. I will be back again.
Willow
Just curious: did you use non-alkalized cocoa?
joythebaker
I used Dutch process cocoa.
Ashley
I have been reading your blog for a little over a year, and I just wanted to say that I am so proud of you for following your dream. That takes a lot of courage and strength. You deserve every good fortune that comes your way! Happy New Year!
joythebaker
thank you for the love and kindness Ashley!
sally
I tried the recipe printed in Ladies’ Home Journal because the cookies looked delicious and I love red velvet. Well, they weren’t a big hit. They were so cakey and puffy (no matter how big or small I made them) and the cookie part was pretty tasteless. I thought the super-sweet frosting would make up for that, but it doesn’t. The recipe in the magazine was for a vanilla glaze, not a cream cheese frosting. Maybe that would help. All in all, I still love the look of these cookies, but wouldn’t make them again.
Barb W.
Happy to have found your blog. I loved the article and pics.
Julie
Joy, I was so excited when I saw the Ladies Home Journal in our gym earlier this week, with Ina on the cover and the whole cookie exchange story listed. Only thing — when I was in the middle of running, I opened up the magazine and found that someone had torn out the whole dang article, including all the recipes! I guess I’m not the only Joy the Baker fan around these Southern Oregon parts! I shall have to hunt down my own copy, it seems!
JulieD
I remember seeing the picture of you and Ina on instagram!! Love and congrats on everything…what a great year!
Kena
Congrtaulations Joy!
I’m so happy for you and all your success. What amazing experience to meet Ina Garten. I love your blog and personality! Please keep up the awesome work. :)
moesha in mn
I am so completely jealous that you got to go to Ina Garten’s home. She makes me want to eat lobster rolls on the beach, of course followed by brownies in a box. And I love that she’s a wonderful cook but her husband’s favorite dish is simple roast chicken. :o)
Bree
OMG. I am so in love with her! So impressed you met her!
brandi
ohmygoodness i am DYING. I LOVE Ina. She’s one of the main reasons I started cooking in the first place. I want to be her neighbor.
Seanna Lea
I thought I recognized Deb in one of those shots. I have her cookbook (just picked it up this past week), and will be getting yours and attending your signing in Boston on Sunday!
Gingy
I read your blog b/c it makes me happy. I watch Ina Garten even the episodes I’ve already seen a million times b/c she makes me happy. Watching the two of you occupy the same air…I think my heart just exploded.
#livingthedream
Becca
Made two batches of these cookies tonight with hopes that they would bring me to another win at my sister’s annual cookie exchange, but I am sadly disappointed! These cookies are much like a typical pumpkin cookie–very cake-like. I was expecting them to be thinner & more crispy. The end result is, no doubt, delicious but not cookie exchange material in my opinion. Will be trying a different Joy recipe instead!! Any suggestions?
Jade Sheldon
Ahhhhh! I can’t even stand it! My husband and I always talk about how we wish Ina was our grandma. She is amazing! How exciting that you got to have this special time with her!
Live a Sweet Life
Very cool that you got to hang with Ina Garten. Plus, these cookies look delicious
Susan Zanandrea
Now I’m REALLY gonna brag that I know you.
I will be finding the magazine.
So happy for your success,
Susie Z
Sue Bartolotta
I just saw Ina Garten at the Riverside in Milwaukee last Thursday. She was funny, warm and charming. Can’t believe my two favorite food peeps are in the same photo! Just Crazy!!
Laura
Joy – I’ve been reading your blog for over a year and just wanted to say what a pleasure it is to read. needless to say the recipes always look divine, the pictures are so pro. how inspirational.
Laura x
http://www.cofffeetoastandlondon.com
Taylor
WHAAAAATT !!! aaaaawwweesome. Had to retype this like seven times cause my fingers were like .. whaat. You’re awesome. What fun.. Happy December.
Rachel
you’re just beautiful!
Sarah Kyle
These are gorgeous!
Jennie
Amazing! By the way, I love your blog and your enthusiastic approach to all things. You are energizing and fun … Thanks for the sneak peek into your visit at Ina’s … Not jealous or anything …. Nooooooooo …
Angie D in Ohio
I love Ina.! What a great opportunity to meet up with her. Every time I watch her program; I want to bake up a batch up something, invite my friends over and have a little party outside.
Now I’m off to the other link you posted. Thanks for sharing…
Ang
Lana
Wow! Looks like a lot of fun! I feel the same way about Ina. Love watching her ease in the kitchen. So happy for you!
Lori
So lucky you are. So happy for you!
Whitney @ The Newlywed Chefs
Oh my goodness, you and Ina are totally BFF now! How fun.
OlenAmazing
Im all for free…in fact…if it’s free, it’s for me and I’ll take 3!! So… you could imagine my surprise when I got a lovely surprise in the form of a cookbook from Costco when I was exiting the day before Thanksgiving! As I flipped through on the ride home…low & behold it was your face starring right back at me saying please make this trifle! And I will! Thanks for ingredients from my favorite store!! Keep those surprises coming!!
Chineka (savorthebaking)
These cookies look delicious and anything red velvet is a winner in my book. Ina Garten is wonderful. The holiday swap with bloggers at Ina Gartens house must have been wonderful !!
Connie the Cookie Monster
i am totally not jealous that u met ina garten ;)
norma diaz
just discovered your blog, and i love it!
these look so delicious even though i’m not much of a red velvet fan.
Marcie @ FlavortheMoments
First, — you are SO lucky you got to meet Ina. Secondly, — Ina is SO lucky she got to meet you. Thirdly, you read my mind! Finally, a red velvet cookie that is homemade — not from a cake mix. It was on my list of things to accomplish and now I don’t have to do it because you beat me to it. Thank you, and congratulations on a cookie well done.
judith
OMG!!! You have arrive! Next step, your own show!
Jessica @ Sunny Side Up
I am sooooo jealous!! What an amazing thing to be a part of! Love it! And the cookies are totally genius!
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen
That looks like so much fun! And I love that you have a picture of you taking a picture of yourself, but it’s not the usual bathroom self-portrait…
Jerrell
Ina Garten is my hero! That is so exciting! I have to pick up a copy of the magazine.
And those cookies look amazing. I’m definitely making them for my family holiday party next week!
Byn
i know we are supposed to channel our jealous feelings into positive inspiration or whatever, but it’s just impossible in this scenario. i love ina so much!
Annie @ Annie's City Kitchen
My brain can.not.compute what it would be like to be in Ina Garten’s HOME. Words escape me. You just lived my dream.
Shut Up & Cook
I remember the first time I discovered Red Velvet cake. I was probably too old to be discovering it for the first time, but that’s what happens when you grow up in a small town and your mother believes that “snacks” are raisins and carrot sticks. I thought it was spectacular. Turning it into a cookie is just brilliant. Love it!
Becca - Cookie Jar Treats
Wow, those cookies look fantastic. I was thinking you were going to sandwich them, kind of like a whoopie pie, but only like that new york black and white cookie only red velvet…. now I’m hungry and in the mood to bake, thanks Joy :P
erinn johnson
Are you serious, you got to meet Ina? I am so so jealous. I have been an Ina fan ever since her first cookbook came out.
You are one lucky girl!
Kristy
If I took a picture of Ina and me on my phone, it’d end up as my phone background. Serious.
anna
these cookies of yours have been on my to bake list for ages! this should scoot them up a bit. i got fired from a baking job for getting the line between chocolate and vanilla just a bit wavy on black and whites though, so i’m a little scarred. congratulations on the very fun looking blogger get together/photo shoot!
Stephanie
You (Joy), Deb, and Ina in one room???!! I just hope she asked you, “How easy is that?”
Teresa Raines
How freakin’ fabulous!!! Congratulations. I can’t wait to see the recipes… I don’t bake, but I love recipes.
Laura@potpourri
Red velvet is still cool….what great cookies!
Trevor Sis. Boom.
Did Ina ask about me?
reem
1. these cookies like amazing!! red velvet anything is just so yum yum yum
2. akdhfhkdjfkdjfkjdlfjsflksfjlsjslfjsljfsljf YOU MET INA!!!
(i’m spazzing mostly because you and Ina are the reason i can actually cook/bake so seriously thanks)
Leslie
Did Ina, at any point, say, “How bad could that be?” I love it when she says that. Did you meet Geoffrey?!?!!?
Carrie
Can’t believe you got to meet Ina. The two of you have been my baking and cooking inspiration for years. Neat to see the two of you together :).
Katya
This seems completely unreal. You are one lucky lady, but I will be freaking out the same way when I meet you next weekend in Boston. I cannot wait!! This is so lovely!
megan
I am sooo jealous!!! Ina is my idol!! She makes everything look so effortless and elegant, she has great friends and an amazing house. Great post, Joy!
mallory brooks
girrrrl. INA is a dreamboat of a cookin’ lady. like you said, an icon!
love that you got to be with her– and in the hamptons no less. yall both bring your sugar to tennessee! please?!
brianne
Joy, that is SO awesome. i can’t even deal with the photos of Ina’s kitchen. it is amazing. so glad you had that opportunity. you look absolutely stunning in the photos.
Amber
Please tell me you know where the glass candlesticks came from!! Love them!!!
Sarah
Wow. That is truly amazing. For some reason I didn’t think that regular humans could actually get to Ina’s House – like it existed in another dimension or something. Comforting to know it really is there. Amazing work Joy.
Lee
You and Ina looked so cute together. Did you ever pinch yourself in the middle of it or imagine it was some goofy dream!?!
Congrats!!
Briel K.
That’s so fun that you got to meet Ina! What a neat opportunity! You look really pretty by the way. Love the pink sweater and your eye makeup!
Brooke
This is a real life g-chat session I just had with my sister after I read this post. Real life….
me: ummmmm btw did you see joy the bakers last post
Leahana: no not yet. i saw the subject though
me: she met INA GARTEN
omg
so jealous
that would be my heaven
Leahana: OMG lol your lifelong dream
me: joy and ina in the same place!
Leahana: hahaha
me: i can’t even deal
Mellybrown
OMG, INA!!!! She is so cute.
BUT…… did you get to meet Geoffrey????
Nattie
Oh my goodness, that sounds amazing!
Natalya @ Ruff House Art
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
Oh yeah these look amazing! Sounds like a fun day you had and love the photos!
Elena @ Randomly Happy
I love everything about this post. Like you, i’ve always loved me a bit of ina, but also was thinking that you remind of ina too – making cooking all casual and relaxed. so kudos to you too (and those delicious red velvet b&w cookies). seriously, your brain must be a fun place to be.
x Elena @ Randomly Happy
Molly
Yum! These look awesome. By the way, you look absolutely gorgeous in those photos!!
The Cuisinerd
Next time can you put me in your pocket so I can come with you?! Also – send cookies asap.
addie | culicurious
Great recipe! Looks like your day at Ina’s house was fab. :)
Holly
What an amazing and BEAUTIFUL experience for you! Joy, you have definitely MADE it! What a great feeling of accomplishment you must feel every day.
Anne
I’ve always dreamt of going to Ina’s house and cooking with her, she’s just so lovely and genuine with the people she surrounds herself with! I had a funny feeling you were having more fun than we expected when you traveled up to Maine- I’m so overjoyed to know that you got to visit the Contessa herself :)
Tori
Joy! what an amazing day, it lookes like it was a truly magical cookie celebration :)
while I do LOVE red velvet, would it totally ruin the cookies if there was no red food dye?
thank you for being an inspiration!
Laurie {Simply Scratch}
GAH! I’m so totally jealous! If it was me I’d be all nervous and sweaty and then I’d probably dump a tray of cookies on Ina’s floor! What a fun day and those cookies look amazing Joy! Love this post :)
Katie @ Blonde Ambition
I. am. so. jealous!!!!
i was just home sick yesterday, watching barefoot contessa, and feeling so much better because of it. how is she so amazing?!
Vivien
That is amazing! I adore Ina and you are one of my favorite bloggers. That is so awesome you guys got to meet and share your creations :)
anne
OMG INA GARTEN! Joy, this is fantastic. Congratulations, my friend! What an incredible opportunity to get to spend time with amazing individuals such as these. As always, I love reading about your adventures through life. You’re doing amazing things, and inspiring loads of people. Well done! Bravo! Cheers! And other corny exclamations.
Erin @ The Food Doctors
I am so jealous! What a beautiful party, and Ina is absolutely my hero.
Alexandra
can i please be friends with you and Ina? My life would be complete, thanks :]
fabiola@notjustbaked
So super awesome, congrats!
Lawyer Loves Lunch
Oh my gosh, how very cool! Ina Garten actually ate your cookies?! I would’ve died :) (but I would’ve taken some cookies first) :)
Dawn
wow, i love everything about this post. love that you were out in East Hampton (my town!) with Ina (my idol!) and seriously love these cookies. what a trifecta of amazingness.
MELBA @ OUTATHYME
Look at you, so pretty in pink. And Ina, confident, classy, beautiful. What an honor.
And the cookies….amazing! Your black & white cookies will be on my Christmas cookie table for sure! I cant wait to pickup a copy of the LHJ so I can get all of the cookie recipes.
Love to you Joy, you never cease to inspire me!
Courtney @ I Am A Mess!
What a neat experience! You totally have to make Joy the Baker ribbon though…because how can you not do what Ina says?!
Anila
WOW! This is SO MAJOR! I’m so excited and happy for you, Joy! This must have been such a wonderful experience!
Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen
Two of my favorite food ladies together! This looks like it was such a fun day, and your hair looks super gorgeous in these pics!
Melody
Congratulations, Joy! I know Ina was honored to meet you and have you in her stunning house! You’re both people I always wish I knew in person because of your down to earth mannerisms and great smiles.
Grubarazzi (@Grubarazzi)
This is just so friggen awesome! I am beyond words!
Lauren (PB&G)
black and white cookies.. mmmmmmm..
Aimee @ Simple Bites
What the what??! TOO much fun. Off to check out those recipes…
Brandi
So absolutely amazing! I was just telling my sister last night that I want to move to the Hamptons and become Ina’s best friend:)
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure and Health
what a great way to spend a day- delicious cookies and amazing people. I love the simplicity of Ina. And whoever thinks red velvet is so 2009, I choose not to be friends with them :P
My Kids Mom
I just don’t get the red part. Why not have the honest cookie flavor without food coloring?
Jessica L.
Oh dear lord. I would die. Like possibly literally die. Ina is amazing. (And so are you, obvs, if they invited you to meet her!!)
Claudia from Idiot's Kitchen
Nice!!!!! Sweet!!! Woohoo!!!! Good for you!!! (Cookies look great too!)
Jenn
I am so jealous, I could die. I don’t even want to meet her, I want to BE her!
So fabulous. I’m going to make those cookies and pretend. <3
Jamie @ green beans & grapefruit
What a surreal experience. Isn’t east hampton just beautiful too?! Sounds like the perfect day!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
love red velvet. love that you met ina!
Celia
Barefoot Contessa was the first cooking show I watched that inspired me to try things… like make my own salad dressing – haha! How amazing that you got to hang out with her!
Mandie @ Oh So Decadent
I can’t believe that you had the opportunity to meet queen Ina! She has been my cooking idol for as long as I can remember. That must have been such a wonderful experience :). And I’m sure she couldn’t help but fall in love with these cookies, they look divine!
Pam
What the heck? Totally amazing but well deserved, congrats. Ha, it made me teary eyed.
Julia {The Roasted Root}
Joy, you should be very proud of yourself! What an honor to be a part of the cookie swap with so many wonderful bakers and bloggers. This is evidence of how your hard work has paid off. Seems like you all had a wonderful time and I bet those red velvet cookies are delicious!
Lucia
You look gorgeous, Joy.
mary @ B&Gjournals
i absolutely LOVE ina. love barefoot contessa so much. how completely awesome that you got to spend time with her and your cookies look so very amazing. looking forward to trying them myself!
Robin
I just wanted to tell you that I was so excited when I saw your new blog post in my inbox. Even though I’m gluten intolerant, I just love your writing style. It’s so joyful and real (if that makes sense) and you make me want to keep baking, even though it can be hard to adapt recipes to be GF. And you got to make cookies for Ina?! So totally awesome :)
Diana
A cookie swap with Ina Garten in her home in the Hamptons, what an experience!! I’ll have these red velvet cookies a try, the last ones I made weren’t much of a hit, hopefully these will be!
Sarah
INA GARTEN! almost fell off my seat when I saw the photo:) awesomeness….soooo jealous;)
Shannon
Any cookie that’s good enough for you to bring to Ina’s house (my entertaining idol!) is good enough for me!
christin
I almost cried just now when I saw that you met Ina. Omg. I am BEYOND jealous. Also, I need to make these cookies.
Katie @ OhShineOn
I heard about this event through Cara at Channeling Contessa… It sounded like such an amazing event. I only hope I can reach that caliber some day :) Woah, dream big, right? Totes.
joythebaker
I love Clara of Channeling Contessa. She’s so wonderful!
Karine keldany
This is an amazing post Joy. I also love Ina. Really fond of her show. It always made me daydream. Is she as fun in real life as on tv?
These cookies sound and look delicious. Great idea for christmas. Thank you for sharing.
robyn
fab. tonight i am baking creamy pumpkin bars (in the oven now) and your red velvet (chrstmas cpcakes). these look fab too for another time!
Elizabeth
This post made me so happy for you!!!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie
I loved your pumpkin mini black and white cookies so I know these have to be good too
Rachel (Two Healthy Plates)
I can’t believe you got to meet Ina – at her house! That’s amazing. Cookies sound great too =)
Gretta
Congratulations this is totally exciting! I love the food world and blogosphere, it’s so amazing.
Tiffany
i know i commented on instagram already but– Sweet Lord, Ina Garten? That’s just bananas in the best possible way.
joythebaker
totally bananas.
Lindsay @ The Live-In Kitchen
How fun! That is a dream team if I ever saw one. I couldn’t help laughing at your type of ‘ear’ as ‘hear.’ That is what my one year old calls his ears!
joythebaker
gosh… i’m so good at typos.
Kelsey
Joy- I’m so excited for you!!! It’s such a wonderful feeling to get to meet someone you admire like that! Blessings indeed…
eliza
Wow, what an amazing experience, Joy.
Emily H
OMG, Ina Garten rules!! I’m really excited for you, that is so awesome you got to meet her and do that photoshoot/cookie swap with her and some other awesome bloggers!! So cool.
Rachel P.
Wow, I cannot think of an article more suited for me!!!! my favorite blogger, my favorite Food Network Star AND baking. It’s too much!!! What an amazing experience that must have been.
Sarah
What! You, Deb, and Ina all being there makes me so so jealous!
amy
I’m busting! This is so amazing. Ina’s house??? And THE BARN OF MY DREAMS?! How did you keep this quiet?!
Abby@ The Frosted Vegan
Oh. my. goodness! I just love everything about this entire post!! The people, the cookies, the beautiful set! AH! I want to be Ina’s maj.Totes
ileana
That is amazing! p.s. love that pink sweater you wore for the occasion!
Beth
Joy, if you say Red Velvet is still in, then it is. For me, you set the trends. And if you served them to Ina Garten, then who can question you?
Loved this post.
<3
Beth
Laura (Blogging Over Thyme)
Wow! This sounds like the most amazing experience ever. When I scrolled down and suddenly saw Ina Garten, I was like “WHAAA?!”, haha. She, too, makes me want to cook lovely dinner parties, grab fresh herbs from the garden, and be very neighborly :)
And Deb from Smitten Kitchen was there?! Man, I’m so jealous!
Liza in Ann Arbor
A dream come true I’m sure! Who doesn’t love Ina? So cool.
Vicki B
WOW!!!
Julianne of Kitchen Constellations
Ina Garten seems like a really sweet and funny lady. So neat that you got to meet her! My sisters and I once hoped to find her while in the Hampton area. We were convinced she would have us over for lunch if she met us… totally normal and not creepy…
Ginny
Yeah. So I open up my copy of Ladies Home Journal and bam – there’s Joy! With cookies! And, I open up the free cookbook I got at Castco and bam – there’s Joy! With a trifle! And a danish!
You are just everywhere, girl. So. Proud. Not like I had anything to do with your success, but I feel like your a great friend since I’ve been reading your blog forever :)
Elizabeth@ Food Ramblings
time with Ina…definitely no big deal :) cookies look awesome!
Abby
That is such an amazing experience. Lucky you! I’ll be checking out a copy of LHJ just to find out more.
katie mazur
You are one lucky duck!!! I have been watching Ina as well for ages and would give anything to be at that cookie swap!
Very cool,
You’re awesome,
I mean it.
:)
Jessica
How amazing for you! A dream come true :). The cookies if course look AMAZE!! …but even more than that is you…your sense if humor, your willingness to be totally REAL on this blog… Love it! I’m a fairly-new reader…also a baker…I’m a singer too…and a mom to 3 awesome kids. Been thinking about blogging myself…an you inspire. Thanks!! It would be awesome to meet YOU someday…oh, and Ina too! ;). Blessings!
Kalie
Hi Joy! When I saw this feature in LHJ, I was so happy for you. And for me. The recipes all look so yummy. Yay for you meeting Ina!
Mallory
Joy, you met Ina. Like, The Ina Garten. How freaking awesome!
MEGAN
Can’t believe you got to be a part of such an awesome cookie swap! Ina is so breezy on TV and I bet she was even more so in person! You’re one lucky girl!
xoxo
Megan
<a href="http://www.arayofsunblog.com"<a ray of sun
KCF
Quick question–how long do the cookies keep and do they need to be refrigerated because of the cream cheese frosting?
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
ahhhhh so jealous! Looks like you had an awesome time. And these cookies look lovely too.
Diane, A Broad
Honestly, can I live your life right now? Awesometown post.
Ana Rocha
Ina is totally my idol! And Deb from Smitten Kitchen? And you? What a party! New life goal is to get invited to the next one of these!
Sara {Home is Where the Cookies Are}
Oh my gosh! So awesome! I have her cookbooks and your cookbook side by side on my shelf. What a thrilling adventure! And the cookies look like they might cause an addiction problem ;)
perfectingdeliciousness
Ina is awesome!
Kathryn
Wowzer, this looks like the best day ever!
~amy~
What a fantastic post…awesome recipe and fab pics!
Carina
these cookies look devine and would love to spend some time with other amazing food bloggers too!
Cheryl C
wow lovely pics of you and Ina – we get her shows in England and I have all her books as well as yours of course.
The cookies look amazing – another recipe for me make this weekend – my Niece will love them
One of my favourite blog posts as well :)))
Stephanie @ Steph Loves Cake
These are right up my alley and now I know what to attempt for my xmas cookie swap, thank you. I love that you are so well known yourself but still got starry eyed when you met Ina.
meagan
Black and white, and red all over!
I love it!!
Jayne
Ina Garten’s kitchen?!? Whoa! You’re up there now Joy. Like really up there. PS: you look really pretty in that pink cardi and updo. So sweet and ladylike. Plus, this cookies totally match you. Classy and pretty.
daniela
I really adore your blog, the way you write and your love for food. But honestly, why do you have to tell (and show!) us what kind of phone you have?
joythebaker
it’s just a phone… it’s no big deal.
Margherita
I like the red touch you brought to these NYC’s cookies. I guess it takes an LA girl to do it!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
This is my favorite post I think you’ve ever written! First the cookies look great, but let’s get onto the fact that you were at Ina’s house!! And you have all the pics to prove it. And Joy I don’t think I’ve ever seen you hae such genuine, true, JOY on your face as I do in these pics posing with Ina. She is my superhero and what I wouldn’t give to meet her one day…and like eat cookies, be behind the scenes of a LHJ photoshoot (omg!) and wash it all down with champagne in the company of other bloggers. No words.
Amazing! Congrats! And thank you for this gift of a post!!
Gretta
touche!