A First Look at The Bakehouse Texas

AOn December 6, Joy Wilson, better known as Joy the Baker, launches preorders for The Bakehouse Texas monthly pop-up at her new Belleville, Texas, location just outside Houston. Wilson has set up and hand-painted picnic tables in the backyard of her home and garage workshop “bake room.” On a monthly basis, she’ll offer seasonal Bakery Boxes with a rotating selection of pastries, breads, and baked goods. 

The baking badass says she loved hosting strangers who became friends in her time running The Bakehouse Nola, where she taught workshop-style classes. Now, she’s inviting customers to sit and relax while they enjoy her fresh baked goods. “It’s small-batch baking, a lot of the recipes from my website,” she says. She’ll host the first official event on December 20. Starting January 3, the pop-up will operate on the first Saturday of every month, the same day as the Belleville Market. 

“It’s a great day to visit Belleville because there’s so much going on at the town square, at the farmers market, and I want people to get to know this place,” Wilson says. “So having them come on market days is a great introduction to the city.”

She’s also excited for them to see the results of her expanded baking operation. “I have a big Rofco oven in the workshop. There is a dedicated bakery, freezer, refrigerator. There are speed racks—we’re running a small-scale bakery at this juncture. I love it.”

December’s Bakery Box menu features celebratory holiday treats with Wilson’s special spin, starting with her Christmas morning orange rolls, a cheffed-up riff on cinnamon rolls. “I love the flavors of orange and a hint of clove this time of year,” Wilson says. “These will be available frozen, unbaked, with directions for people to bake on Christmas morning with cream cheese spread.”

December’s other Bakery Box items include:

• Texas Bakehouse chocolate chip cookies—a stacked bakery-style cookie studded with Guittard chocolate that Wilson says will be included in every box
  
• Fresh cranberry galette with citrus and crumb topping
  
• Giant Linzer cookies
  
• Cheddar pecan crackers—“Pecans are everywhere this time of year in Texas,” Wilson says.
  
• Giant cheddar scallion scone with hot honey butter—“I like a savory element to my bakery boxes,” Wilson says. “I think at some point I want to do an entire focaccia box. And in January we’re doing all bagels and schmears.”
  
  

In November, Wilson ran a soft open with her chocolate chip cookie, lemon poppyseed kolache, Dad’s perfect sweet potato pie, and a chai-spiced apple fritter. “It went really well,” she says. “People hung out in the backyard, and it showed me lots of room for opportunity and growth.”

Reserve your box here with a preorder, or stop by on December 20 and see what’s available. Dress appropriately for the weather—all seating is outside; complimentary coffee will be provided. Wilson says her goal is to eventually include other local vendors and makers, from flowers to coffee and cocktails. And, she adds, feel free to bring your own beverages or a picnic basket to complete your spread.

“The intention is to get to know the community and bring the community together in this space,” she says, “and also bring people to Belleville, because I think it’s such a special community.

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