John Kanell

John Kanell is a two-time New York Times Best Selling Author, cooking & baking expert and founder of Preppy Kitchen, his digital food and family-focused brand that empowers and inspires those who enjoy cooking no matter the skill level. Kanell founded the site Preppy Kitchen in 2015 and channeled its almost-immediate success into an enormous platform with a combined following of over 8 million. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from UCLA, John spent over a decade teaching middle school math and science before turning his attention to creating content in the kitchen.

In 2022, Kanell released his first ever cookbook, Preppy Kitchen: Recipes for Seasonal Dishesand Simple Pleasures and joined The New York Times, USA Today and AP News Best Seller Lists upon publication. In 2024, Kanell released his next cookbook bestseller – Preppy Kitchen Super Easy, which also instantly joined the lists of recognition upon release. Preppy Kitchen is a nationally renowned cooking and baking destination, having been featured by outlets as The Drew Barrymore Show, The Today Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Good Morning America, Home & Family, PEOPLE, Vogue, ELLE Décor, Better Homes & Gardens, and more; John has appeared as a guest judge on Food Network’s Chopped: Sweets & Disney’s Magic-Bakeoff. John uses his decades of homegrown experience to provide fans of Preppy Kitchen with the knowledge and resources they need to create incredible recipes, whether they are an experienced chef or just picking up an apron for the first time.