Today we’d like to introduce you to Jocelyn Adams.
Hi Jocelyn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
At an early age, I loved visiting Mississippi to watch my grandmother, or “big mama” Maggie, as my family affectionately calls her, bake. Big Mama bakes cakes that have her neighbors lined up around the block, waiting for a taste. She not only invents (yes, she developed all of her recipes) the most delicious melt-in-your-mouth desserts I’ve ever tasted, but she also infuses them with so much love. After baking cakes for people at my job, they started calling me “Baby Cakes,” and a friend suggested I start a blog. In 2012, I began the Grandbabycakes Blog, which took off. With millions of visitors yearly, it has become a source for all things Southern and Soul Food.
Short Bio:
Jocelyn Delk Adams, a multifaceted culinary personality, is the driving force behind the celebrated cookbooks “Grandbaby Cakes” and “Everyday Grand” and the beloved food platform Grandbaby-Cakes.com. With a modern twist, Jocelyn reimagines her family’s cherished generational recipes, particularly those passed down by her grandmother, while preserving their timeless essence. Beyond her culinary creations, Jocelyn’s presence shines as the co-host of the Cooking Channel and Discovery Plus hit, “Stab That Cake,” and as a judge on shows like “Magic Bake Off” on Disney Channel and Disney Plus, as well as Food Network’s acclaimed series “Santa’s Baking Blizzard” and “Beat Bobby Flay.” Her vibrant journey extends to a variety of shows, including OWN Network’s “Food Fantasies,” Cooking Channel’s iconic “Unique Sweets,” and TODAY Show’s dynamic “TODAY ALL-STARS.” Jocelyn’s remarkable influence is showcased through appearances on major platforms, including The Today Show and Good Morning America, where she regularly shares her culinary expertise. Her enchanting presence graces shows like The Rachael Ray Show, Food Network’s “The Kitchen,” and renowned publications such as Food and Wine Magazine, Essence Magazine, Bon Appétit, and more. Jocelyn’s delectable creations extended to a line of exclusive cakes available through Williams Sonoma, with nationwide shipping until 2023. Jocelyn continues to inspire new generations of cooking enthusiasts and create lasting family traditions through her culinary innovations.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It could have been a smoother road. There have been lots of rejections and pivots on this path. From my first cookbook deal falling through to numerous unsuccessful television show pilots, I have found myself back at square one multiple times.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Jocelyn Delk Adams is the founder, author, national television personality, and brand ambassador behind the award-winning cookbook Grandbaby Cakes and the food website Grandbaby-Cakes.com, which gives her family’s, particularly her grandmother’s, cherished generational recipes her modern spin while preserving their original charm and spirit. Jocelyn is the co-host of the Cooking Channel and Discovery Plus game show Stab That Cake. She’s also a judge on Disney Channel and Disney Plus’ Magic Bake Off, Food Network’s popular series “Santa’s Baking Blizzard” and “Beat Bobby Flay,” and a cast member of such shows as “Food Fantasies” on OWN Network, Cooking Channel’s longest running most popular shows, “Unique Sweets” and TODAY Show’s “TODAY ALL-STARS.”
In addition to being a regular on the TODAY Show and Good Morning America, she is regularly featured on The Rachael Ray Show, Food Network’s “The Kitchen,” Dr. Oz, Tamron Hall, The Cooking Channel, People Magazine, ABC World News Now, Food and Wine Magazine, Parents Magazine, Hallmark Channel, Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, O (The Oprah) Magazine, The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS, Essence Magazine, Huffington Post, Bon Appetit, Southern Living Magazine, and many others
Jocelyn also has a line of cakes exclusively from Williams Sonoma that ship nationwide. She gave a TED Talk in 2017 about Brand Authenticity and has been a top brand ambassador and writer for several top brands such as Coca-Cola, Land O’ Lakes, Audi, Dole, James Beard Foundation, Pillsbury, State Farm, HomeGoods, McCormick and many more. Jocelyn’s new cookbook, Everyday Grand, published in March 2023, has been featured on Live with Kelly and Ryan, Good Morning America, Today Show, People Magazine, the Sherri Show, and on a billboard as one of Amazon’s Best Books of 2023. Jocelyn’s first cookbook, Grandbaby Cakes, was released in September 2015 and was featured as a top fall cookbook by People Magazine, Vanity Fair, Yahoo!, and Epicurious. It also won the Gourmand World Award 2016 for Best Blogger Cookbook USA and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award 2016- Outstanding Literary Instructional Work. Jocelyn also contributed to the 2017 Eater’s Cookbook of the Year, Feed the Resistance. Her next cookbook, Everyday Grand, will be released in spring 2023. Jocelyn hopes Grandbaby Cakes will continue to deliver inspired recipes shaped by the past but reinvented for the present, encouraging new generations of cooking enthusiasts to learn how to cook and bake and create new family memories for years to come.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I’m fairly new to Dallas since I’m originally from Chicago. I love how friendly Dallas is. The people are incredibly warm and inviting. It is also a great city to raise kids in. I would love to see the city expand more for the foodies here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://grandbaby-cakes.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandbabycakes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandbabyCakes
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrandbabyCake
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/grandbabycakes
Image Credits
Brittany Connerly, Ali Stone, Marrica Evans
