About Joy the Baker

About Joy the Baker

Hi, I’m Joy Wilson, but most people on the internet know me as Joy the Baker, a self-taught baker, cookbook author, and storyteller who has been writing recipes and real-life reflections since 2008. What started as a little corner of the internet for me to share cookies and the occasional heartbreak has grown into a beloved baking community, a few cookbooks, a pop-up bakery, and a life that’s equal parts sugar, butter, and small-town Texas sun. In addition to all I share here on this site, you can also find me cooking on Instagram and adding more personal weekly writing over on Substack.

From Los Angeles to New Orleans to Small-Town Texas

I started Joy the Baker in a tiny Los Angeles kitchen with a few bowls, a tiny sink, no dishwasher, and a whole lot of curiosity. In 2014, I moved to New Orleans, where the humid air, powdered sugar, and brass bands taught me that baking and storytelling are acts of love and resilience. I spent a decade there building The Bakehouse New Orleans in a double shotgun house in the Bywater. That space was a warm kitchen classroom where I hosted workshops and baked side by side with readers who became friends.

In 2022, I traded the festive streets of New Orleans for a Victorian house in Bellville, Texas (built in 1888, full of creaks, charm, and good ghosts). There, I’ve been slowly creating The Bakehouse Texas, a small-town pop-up bakery and gathering place where I bake for my neighbors and anyone passing through the tiny town. It’s where the coffee’s always on, and the scent of browned butter seems to settle into the walls.

On Thanksgiving Day 2024, I married my husband Will in a surprise wedding on our front porch, surrounded by family, friends, and too many pies to count. It was the most Joy-the-Baker way to do it – intimate, homemade, and a little bit messy in the best way.

What You’ll Find Here

Joy the Baker is where you’ll find approachable, seasonal baking recipes with plenty of personality.  It’s also where I share stories from life in small-town Texas, essays about love and change, and The Bakehouse Almanac which is a monthly round-up lists that hopefulls makes us feel like we’re catching up over coffee.

Every recipe you see here is tested, retested, and written with real home kitchens in mind. Some recipes come together quickly; others take weeks (or months) of tinkering.  I test recipes the way you’ll make them: in a regular oven, with standard equipment, and ingredients you can actually find. If a recipe feels intuitive and forgiving, that’s not an accident, friend! It’s the result of thoughtful testing and a lot of notes scribbled on scraps of paper.

I believe baking is more than mixing sugar and flour, it’s a way to make the world a little softer. You’ll find classic desserts with a twist, weekend project bakes, and the occasional savory comfort dish (because sometimes we can’t live on cookies alone, though I’ve tried).

I regularly update popular recipes over time, using reader feedback and what I’ve learned along the way, with clearer instructions, better tips, and improved techniques and my hope is that the posts you find here reflect what’s working in real home kitchens right now.

Who These Recipes Are For

My recipes are written primarily for beginner to intermediate bakers; people who want clear instructions, practical tips, and the confidence to try something new without feeling overwhelmed. That said, experienced bakers will find plenty to love here too, especially when it comes to flavor, technique, and seasonal inspiration.

Sponsored Content

When a post is sponsored, it’s always clearly labeled, and I only partner with brands I genuinely use and trust in my own kitchen.

Credentials and Work

I’ve spent nearly two decades baking professionally — in restaurant kitchens, as a recipe developer, and as a teacher. Over the years, I’ve led hundreds of hands-on baking workshops, helping home bakers build confidence with everything from pie dough to laminated pastry.  Along the way, I’ve published three cookbooks — Joy the Baker Cookbook, Homemade Decadence, and Over Easy — with my newest project, a children’s book called The Life-Changing Magic of Baking, written with my dad Cliff.  My work has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Food & Wine, Saveur, The Kitchn, and Tasting Table, and appeared in a magazine onto itself called Joy the Baker Magazine!

I’ve partnered with brands I love and use in my own kitchen, including Williams Sonoma, Lodge Cast Iron, Zatarain’s, Duke’s Mayo, Guittard Chocolate, and Rodelle Vanilla, to create approachable recipes and joyful content that encourage y’all to preheat your ovens with confidence.

About This Site

Since 2008, Joy the Baker has grown from a one-woman blog into a community of millions of home bakers around the world. It’s a space built on approachability, honesty, and connection. Whether you’re here for the ultimate chocolate cake, a nostalgic banana bread from your childhood, or a few words that make you feel seen, welcome! There’s room for you here!

Contact & Collaborate

Want to reach out?
I love hearing from readers, editors, and brands who share my passion for good food, good stories, and creative collaboration.

For partnerships, media inquiries, or press:

Contact my agent Megan Brown at megan@underscoretalent.com or my publicist Juliana Pesavento at juliana@middlenamecommunications.com 

For Bakehouse Texas pop-up updates and class information follow along @thebakehousetexas and @joythebaker.