Molly Baz facts for kids

Molly Baz (born May 9, 1988) is an American cook, recipe developer, and food writer. She is known for her fun approach to cooking and creating delicious recipes. Molly used to be a senior food editor at Bon Appétit magazine. She also appeared often in videos on the magazine's YouTube channel. She left Bon Appétit in 2020. Molly has written two popular cookbooks, Cook This Book (2021) and More Is More (2023). Both books became New York Times Best Sellers, meaning many people bought them.

Early Life and Education

Molly Baz was born on May 9, 1988, in Rhinebeck, New York. She went to Poughkeepsie Day School and finished in 2006. After that, she studied art history at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. She graduated from college in 2010.

Molly found her passion for cooking while studying abroad in Florence, Italy. During her last year at Skidmore, she and a friend started hosting special dinners. They cooked meals using fresh, local ingredients. These dinners were open to the community in Saratoga Springs.

Molly's Cooking Career

Starting Out in Cooking (2008–2014)

Molly wanted to become a chef but did not go to culinary school. Instead, she worked as a line cook in restaurants. She cooked in places in Boston and New York City from 2008 to 2014.

In 2011, she took a break and went on a road trip with her father. They traveled through the southern United States. They visited many barbecue restaurants to learn from expert barbecue cooks. In 2013, while in New York, Molly also helped start a catering company called Rustic Supper.

Time at Bon Appétit (2015–2020)

Molly Baz started working for Condé Nast in 2015. She first tested recipes for Epicurious. Later, she moved to Bon Appétit magazine. By 2018, she was a Senior Associate Food Editor there.

From 2016, Bon Appétit started making more videos. Molly became a popular presenter on their YouTube channel. She appeared with other staff members like Andy Baraghani and Sohla El-Waylly. One popular video series was called Making Perfect. In this series, Molly and others from the Bon Appétit test kitchen tried to cook "perfect" versions of meals. This included dishes like pizza or a Thanksgiving dinner. Fans on YouTube really liked Molly. They praised her for being easy to relate to and for explaining recipes very well.

In 2019, Molly also gave cooking demonstrations. She did this at the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival in San Francisco.

In 2020, some employees raised concerns about fairness at Bon Appétit. After this, Molly announced she would no longer appear in the magazine's videos. She then left the publication in October 2020.

After Bon Appétit (2020–Present)

In November 2020, Molly started her own online cooking club called Recipe Club. She offered weekly recipes and other content through a subscription service. This allowed her to keep creating recipes.

In December 2020, Molly and her former Bon Appétit colleague Carla Lalli Music started a live video series. It was called You Got Snack'd and streamed on Instagram Live.

Molly published her first cookbook, Cook This Book, on April 20, 2021. It was a big success and became a New York Times Best Seller. Many food websites named it one of the best cookbooks of 2021. Reviewers said the book was a great way to learn cooking basics. They also noted its unique style and fun language.

In 2022, Molly was a guest judge on the streaming show The Julia Child Challenge. This show was created by the Food Network.

Molly's second cookbook, More Is More, came out in October 2023. Reviewers recommended the book for both beginners and experienced cooks. They said it offered clear instructions and bold flavors. In 2024, Molly was featured in an advertisement for lactation cookies. Later that year, she also partnered with the cereal brand Special K. She also launched her own flavored mayonnaise brand called "Ayoh."

Personal Life

Molly Baz and her husband, Ben Willett, moved from New York City to Altadena, California in 2020. Altadena is a suburb near Los Angeles, California. Their son was born in 2024. Their home was unfortunately destroyed during the January 2025 Southern California wildfires.