What recipes got you through the year? We published hundreds and hundreds—and these are the ones that made the biggest splash with our community. The ones that got dinner on the table when only takeout felt possible. The ones that made a bad day, or week, or month, a little sweeter. Lucky for us, there is lots of comfort to be found here, a great thing for the winter ahead. Let me know your favorites from 2021 in the comments below, especially if they didn’t make the list.
21. No-Churn Chocolate Ice Cream
Ice cream that’s scoopable straight from the freezer, thanks to booze. Try Kahlúa for a cozy coffee backdrop, or Cointreau for something citrusy.
20. Meltaway Chocolate Chip Cookies
A newfangled chocolate chip cookie, thanks to science. Custard powder and confectioners’ sugar yield an extra-tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
19. 3-Ingredient Bacon Biscuits
Next time you make bacon, make these biscuits, too. They hinge on rendered, chilled bacon fat, which delivers a fluffy-tender texture and smoky-rich flavor.
18. Black & White Pound Cake
A good reason to buy black cocoa, which Sohla El-Waylly explains as “an extra-Dutched cocoa powder that makes everything taste like Oreos.”
17. Stir-Fried Udon With Bacon, Parmesan & Gochujang
“This udon is so incredibly delicious, I think I'll make it every week since it was simple to put together,” writes one Food52er. Good idea.
16. Buttery Balsamic Chicken
This rich, tangy Big Little Recipe calls for just chicken breasts, balsamic vinegar, and, of course, lots of butter.
15. Cider-Braised Chicken With Apples, Onions & Thyme
More chicken, please. From Melina Hammer, this cozy supper would love to be served with a warm baguette or mountain of mashed potatoes.
14. Grandma Potatoes
Generously olive-oiled, with a paprika-rosemary crust, these potatoes have been in my family for 72 years. (That’s even longer than I’ve been in my family.)
13. Perfectly Pillowy King Arthur Cinnamon Rolls From Their Baking Company
If you’ve never made cinnamon rolls, start here. Unlike others, these stay good for days (not that I expect you'll have them around that long).
12. The Only Roasted Cauliflower I Want
Rebecca Firkser is technically Food52’s assigning editor, but she also goes by Cauliflower Whisperer. Picture: fresh garlic, chile flakes, golden raisins, and just enough vinegar.
11. Fried Egg Salad From Ideas in Food
An egg salad that takes less time than boiling an egg—because you don’t need to boil an egg. The mix-ins are up to you. Tell me, what would you add?
10. Kiwi & Feta Salad From Nadiya Hussain
The only salad-salad on the list (no disrespect to the egg salad above). From Time to Eat: Delicious Meals for Busy Lives, here’s your permission to never peel a kiwi again.
9. One-Bowl Blueberry Buckle
One bowl, and only a few ingredients to boot. From Vallery Lomas’ cookbook Life Is What You Bake It, this cake works with fresh or frozen blueberries.
8. 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
No measuring cups or spoons needed. All you need is a jar of peanut butter, a jar of jam, and a couple eggs.
7. Bless This Pickle Sandwich
A lunch for when you don’t have time to make lunch. “I could eat this every day!!!!” writes one reviewer. And me too.
6. Go-To Vanilla Pound Cake
A fluffy, tender pound cake you can count on. Use this as a starting point for playing around—lots of tips and tricks from Sohla right here.
5. Tomato Soup With a Whole Head of Garlic
This savory, satisfying soup is easily vegan, depending on the milk or cream you add. Try coconut milk for some fruity sweetness.
4. Orange-Cardamom Olive Oil Cake
Another winner from Carolina Gelen. This would make a knockout dessert after that tomato soup, or served for a sweet brunch with coffee.
3. Jiffy Corn Casserole
The real-deal, original Jiffy Corn Casserole recipe, which first appeared in the 1960s as a recipe tear-off sheet in retail grocery stores.
2. Double Chocolate Weed Brownies
These cannabutter-infused brownies come by way of edibles expert Vanessa Lavorato. “Best brownies we've ever had. 10/10,” says one Food52er.
1. Cardamom Cake From Niloufer Ichaporia King
A cake takes the cake. In My Bombay Kitchen, King calls this recipe “one of the most precious gifts I’ve ever received in my life.” And now we can all say the same.
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Written by: Emma Laperruque
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