I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I’m a sucker for end-of-year recaps. I love the chance to look back and reflect on what the year has brought and plan for what’s to come.
Which means, of course, I love looking back on what’s been most popular on the blog this year. This year, everyone was all about the sweets – not a single savory recipe made this year’s top 10! That’s a first for me, but it’s also reflective of the year around here.
Yesterday, I shared the most popular recipes from 2011. Today, I’m sharing my favorites.
They’re in no particular order – I couldn’t actually pick a favorite – but these are all dishes we loved and have made again and again.
Oh, how I love this dip. It’s creamy and cheesy and includes bacon. If you’re looking for something to make for New Year’s Eve or the Super Bowl, this is a great option.
I made this for Branny Boil’s Over Charity Souper Bowl and it’s since become one of my favorite soups. Branny’s just announced the 2012 Souper Bowl, for anyone interested in participating!
A little taste of summer you can make any time of the year. These are a total guilty pleasure.
I’m a big fan of junk food – and a bigger fan of healthier alternatives. These are baked, not fried, but still amazingly good.
These were part of my summer burger kick. I was lukewarm on the idea of turkey burgers before – these totally changed my mind. They’re moist, fresh-tasting and fantastic.
This year was our first full summer in the house – and thus, our first full summer with a grill. We made good use of it, cooking outside nearly every night. This was one of our grilling favorites.
Not your typical cheesecake – this one is much lighter. It’s from a cookbook we picked up on our honeymoon in Hawaii and a great reminder of our time there.
Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
I’ve made a lot of chocolate chip cookies, but these are by far the best. It’s officially my go-to recipe.
This is a great summer pie – perfect for strawberry season. It has minimal ingredients and it a real crowd pleaser.
These are so simple but so good. They’re a great go-to for busy days.
What were the best things you made in 2011?
End of the year recaps are a guilty pleasure for me. I love looking back and re-discovering things I’d enjoyed earlier in the year so I wanted to include a wrap-up of sorts here too.
Today, I’m sharing the recipes that were most popular on the blog this year.
There are several recipes on this blog that we’ve tried, loved and never made again. This isn’t one of them – we make it regularly. It’s also become one of my Mom’s favorites.
A no-fuss dessert that tastes amazing. Venting the lid at the end makes the topping nice and crispy, and keeping it warm in the slow cooker makes it perfect for a party or get together.
8. Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
Packed with carrots, bananas and wheat flour, these are a great, healthy muffin.
We tried this recipe as part of a recipe swap and really enjoyed it. It’s become one of our go-to meals to bring to family and friends who need another meal in their freezer.
Start with refrigerated crescent rolls and you’ll have these mini cinnamon rolls in no time. The small size makes them perfect for a brunch spread.
5. Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
These are quite the indulgence, but they’re so much fun. What can be better than two awesome cookies melded together?
4. Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies
These start with boxed brownie mix, which makes for a quick dessert in a pinch. They’re fantastic and look more impressive than the effort they require.
I baked these instead of frying them to make a more-healthy version of one of our restaurant favorites.
This is a super simple recipe that we’ve been enjoying for a few years. It’s perfect to toss in the crockpot before work on a chilly morning. It was featured in an article on Republic of Bacon earlier this year, which has added to the recipe’s popularity.
1. Chocolate Jack Daniel’s Cupcakes
I whipped these up for my brother’s going-away party and they quickly became the most popular recipe on the blog. They’re moist, chocolately and have a good kick of Jack to them so it’s easy to see why they’re a favorite!
Tomorrow, I’ll share my personal favorites from the year.