Chocolate, pancakes & cookies – oh my! Here are the Top Recipes of 2016 on Just So Tasty.
Can you believe the year is already ending? Whether you’re celebrating or quietly stunned, 2017 is almost here. Looking back, 2016 felt low-key for me: lots of chocolate, cozy sweatpants, and experimenting with headstands in yoga for a fresh perspective. I also traveled to Montreal, Seattle, and Banff, and began learning golf — which has been great for patience.
This was the first full calendar year for Just So Tasty, and I loved getting to know readers and sharing kitchen experiments. Thank you for joining me—every visit made my year brighter.
We made plenty of treats together, and in 2017 you can expect:
- More yeast baking
- Candy making
- Pie experiments
- Chocolate tastings
- And more easy, one-bowl recipes—clearly a favorite
I’m especially excited to perfect pies and make sticky buns. Now, here are the top 10 recipes from 2016 on Just So Tasty. Enjoy the best of the year.
10. Chocolate Chip Pancakes
I love chocolate for breakfast, and these Chocolate Chip Pancakes are the ultimate weekend comfort. Super fluffy, made with buttermilk, and studded with mini chocolate chips for the perfect chocolate-to-batter ratio.
9. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bread
This one-bowl bread is moist and packed with peanut butter flavor and chocolate chips. Quick to make and irresistibly tender.
8. Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Blondies
I first shared these around Valentine’s Day and fell for the dark chocolate chunks and nutty depth from browned butter. If you want something like a brownie but different, these blondies are perfect—one bowl, no mixer.
7. Old-Fashioned Cake Doughnuts
These were the first deep-fried doughnuts on the blog. The buttermilk and nutmeg create an old-fashioned cake doughnut reminiscent of Grandma’s kitchen.
6. Raspberry Coffee Cake
A Mother’s Day favorite, this moist coffee cake layers fresh raspberries with a crunchy streusel and a vanilla glaze—cake for breakfast never disappoints.
5. Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies
My first red velvet creation on the blog proved popular. These soft, slightly cocoa-flavored cookies with melty white chocolate chips are perfect for holiday gatherings.
4. Pumpkin Spice Cookies
A fall standout that made the top five for the year. They’re soft, chewy, and reminiscent of snickerdoodles but infused with pumpkin and warming spices.
3. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
These large, soft, and chewy oatmeal cookies are full of texture—old-fashioned oats, cinnamon, vanilla, walnuts, and plenty of chocolate chips make them bakery-worthy.
2. Blueberry Crumble Bars
These springtime bars feature a buttery shortbread base, a layer of juicy blueberries, and a crumbly topping—the base even doubles as the crumble.
1. The Best French Toast
The top recipe of 2016 is French Toast. It’s simple comfort food—fluffy, buttery slices with golden edges and a warming touch of cinnamon. I shared my tips for achieving perfectly tender, flavorful French toast every time.
What were your favorite recipes of 2016? A few of my personal favorites from the year include:
- White Chocolate Cheesecake with Raspberry Coulis
- Toffee Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Cream Cheese Brownies
(Clearly I have a soft spot for chocolate.)
