I’m Janaya, the face (and hands) behind all the food you see here! I’m 20 and currently live in San Antonio, Texas where I balance being a full time student with my passion — baking.

Since I was little, I loved being in the kitchen. You would likely find me sitting on the counter taste testing dinner as my mom worked around me or watching my older brother decorate cakes late into the night.

I didn’t shy away from getting my hands in the mix either. While my family lived in Greece I regularly made gnocchi or spanakopita with our Greek friends who were kind and patient enough to teach me how to make my first meals.

However, making food didn’t become my full time hobby until my older brother moved out. He was our personal pastry chef which made him the top chef in our house. Without him being in the kitchen regularly meant no sweets. I NEEDED sweets.

I started small by baking bundt cakes, most of which ended up in the trash. I never let forgetting to put the sugar or baking powder in my baked goods stop me (which I still occasionally do).

I never could have imagined that the 11 year old girl crying over putting too much salt in her chocolate cake would be here. If I went back and time and told her “Food Network will give you an interview” or “You’re going to get to display a cake for an event” she would have thought I was crazy.

Putting heart into my work is so important to me. I love what I do, and I hope each of you can feel that love through every picture I post.

Happy baking!

💕Janaya
The Little Brown Baker