Hi, I'm Jessica Morone, the recipe developer, home-taught baker, and food photographer behind Jess Loves Baking. I grew up in Northern New Jersey in a family with Italian, Irish, German, and English roots, where food was always at the center of every gathering. Baking became my happy place early on, and by the time I was in high school, I knew it was more than a hobby. I just didn't realize it would eventually become my career.
A Self-Taught Baker With a Lifelong Love of the Craft
I never attended culinary school. Instead, I learned through years of practice, curiosity, trial and error, and a few memorable kitchen disasters that taught me more than any textbook ever could. Baking has always been the creative outlet I returned to no matter what else was happening in my life.
Even while earning my MBA and working in the legal field, I kept baking constantly. I made every birthday cake at my law firm and brought in homemade treats every week. Eventually, friends and coworkers encouraged me to share my recipes more widely, and that spark grew into the blog you see today.
Along the way, I even won a few state fair baking competitions. Those little ribbons will always hold a very special place in my heart.
Turning a Passion Into a Full-Time Career
When I was furloughed during COVID, I used the unexpected pause to sharpen my food photography skills and pour more energy into recipe creation. That season changed everything. What once felt like a dream suddenly became a sustainable career built around the thing I love most: baking and sharing recipes that make people feel confident in their own kitchens.
Today, along with running Jess Loves Baking, I also work as a food writer and recipe developer for websites like Mashed.com and TastingTable.com, where I continue honing my craft through research, testing, writing, and photography.
Life in Northern New Jersey
I still live in Northern NJ with my two dogs, who supervise every recipe development session from a very safe distance. When I'm not in the kitchen, you can usually find me testing a new baking idea, photographing something delicious, or enjoying time with my pups.
What I Hope You'll Feel When You Bake With Me
My biggest hope is that when you make one of my recipes, you feel capable, excited, and proud of the result, whether it's your first batch of cookies or your hundredth cake. Baking should feel joyful, not stressful, and I love creating recipes that help you build confidence one bake at a time.
Thank you for being here. I'm so glad we get to bake together.