Top 25 Most-Loved Recipes from 2015 for Every Meal

As 2015 draws to a close, I’m filled with gratitude. My husband, children, and pets are healthy. Our home is in good shape, the kids are doing well in school, my husband enjoys his work, and I love what I do here. I’ve even turned in the manuscript for my first cookbook, which is a happy milestone. To have a little fun and reflect on the year, I checked my site analytics and pulled together the top twenty-five most-viewed posts on Foodie with Family for 2015. Below are the recipes that captured the most attention this year, counting down from 25 to 1.

Top 25 Recipes of 2015

Jellied Cranberry Sauce on www.foodiewithfamily.com

25: Jellied Cranberry Sauce {Canned or Refrigerated}

This tangy, classic cranberry sauce was especially popular at Thanksgiving, but people kept coming back for it year-round. If you enjoy cranberry sauce any time of year, we’re clearly kindred spirits.

30 minute Chickpea Tikka Masala- hearty, simple, pocketbook friendly, stick-to-your-ribs comfort food that just happens to be meat, dairy, and gluten free from foodiewithfamily.com

24: Chickpea Tikka Masala

Easy, healthy, fast, budget-friendly, and delicious—Chickpea Tikka Masala has all the qualities of a habit-forming weeknight favorite.

coffee-milkshake2

23: Coffee Milkshakes

Perfect for when you need to indulge and wake up at the same time. In short: life essentials.

Perfect Homemade Feta Cheese

22: Homemade Feta Cheese

Homemade feta is creamy, crumbly, salty, and wonderfully funky. It takes a little time, but it’s straightforward to make—and it stores in brine in the fridge for months. Once you try it, it’s hard to go back.

b Black Olive Penguins

21: Black Olive Penguins

Cute food makes eating vegetables more fun—these black olive penguins are adorable and perfect for parties or sneaking a veggie into a snack.

The Best Pan Pizza {super easy!} from foodiewithfamily.com

20: The Best Pan Pizza: How, Why, and What to Put on It!

This start-to-finish tutorial shows how to make a pan pizza that beats chain pies—ridiculously easy, with dough that spreads itself and results that make weeknight pizza feel special.

How to make Perfect, Flaky, Layered, Buttermilk Biscuits with www.foodiewithfamily.com

19: Perfect, Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits Tutorial

Readers rave about these biscuits—flaky, layered, and magical. The step-by-step tips help even those who have struggled with biscuits to get legendary results.

Easy, Fast Kimchi {Mak Kimchi} at www.foodiewithfamily.com

18: Easy, Fast Kimchi {Mak Kimchi}

This quick kimchi recipe brings the classic Korean side dish within reach for home cooks. It’s healthy, flavorful, and addictive—no wonder it was so popular.

Creamy Garlic Cauliflower Sauce at www.foodiewithfamily.com

17: Creamy Garlic Cauliflower Sauce

A dairy-light sauce that tastes rich and creamy—this cauliflower-based sauce delivers indulgent texture with fewer dairy calories, making it an easy weeknight upgrade.

Homemade Ovaltine Malted Milk Powder in chocolate or plain from foodiewithfamily.com

16: Homemade Ovaltine {Malted Milk Powder}

Malted milk is a nostalgic flavor for many. Making your own lets you control sweetness and ingredients—great for drinks, baking, and pantry projects.

Four layer Snickerdoodle Cake with Cinnamon Brown Sugar Buttercream

15: Snickerdoodle Cake with Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream

A beloved post since 2011, this cake translates the classic snickerdoodle cookie into a layered cake with cinnamon-brown-sugar frosting and a delightful sugar crunch.

Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher 2

14: Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher Clone {Starbucks Knockoff}

Bright, citrusy, and berry-forward, this homemade refresher delivers Starbucks-style flavor at a fraction of the cost—refreshing and vibrant.

Strawberry Basil Infused Vodka for cocktails, baking, and cooking from foodiewithfamily.com

13: Strawberry Basil Infused Vodka

Fragrant, simple, and impressive—this infused vodka elevates cocktails and can’t be bought ready-made. A small effort for big flavor.

Slow Cooker Peach Salsa Pork with roasted sweet potatoes #SlowCooker #Crockpot

12: Slow-Cooker Peach Salsa Pork Roast with Sweet Potatoes

Sweet, spicy peach salsa slow-cooked with tender pork on a bed of sweet potatoes—easy to prepare and beautiful to serve, with great flavor and balance.

Easy Salted Caramel Fudge with a hint of bourbon from foodiewithfamily.com

11: Easy Salted Caramel Fudge

Simple to make and swirled with salted caramel, this fudge is an indulgent, crowd-pleasing treat.

Fire Cider: Delicious Health Tonic and Homeopathic Remedy (and cooking ingredient, to boot!) foodiewithfamily.com

10: Fire Cider Health Tonic and Homeopathic Remedy

This spicy, infused raw apple cider vinegar tonic with honey has many fans. People use it as an immune-boosting shot and as a vibrant salad dressing. Whatever you call it, it’s bold, flavorful, and versatile.

Easiest Method to Cook a Butternut Squash: No knives needed! foodiewithfamily.com

9: World’s Easiest Way to Cook a Butternut Squash

A safe, simple method that avoids dangerous knife work—this technique is a lifesaver for anyone intimidated by large squashes. Toddler- and spouse-approved.

Coffee Jelly {the ultimate hostess gift} from foodiewithfamily.com

8: Coffee Jelly

If you love coffee, this coffee jelly is a fun twist—great on toast or ice cream. There are troubleshooting tips in the updated post and comments for anyone who encounters issues.

Homemade Claussen Knock-off Pickles from foodiewithfamily.com

7: Homemade Claussen Knock-off Pickles

These garlicky, crunchy refrigerator pickles deliver the satisfying snap of a Claussen-style pickle without any canning skills—no wonder they’re a fan favorite.

How I gave up shampoo and made my hair better!

6: Conditioner Only Washing: No Shampoo

Not a recipe, but clearly a popular post: lots of readers have found success ditching shampoo and using conditioner-only washing. The comment threads are full of enthusiastic converts.

Homemade Gyros: just like take-out from foodiewithfamily.com #greekfood #restaurantdiy

5: Homemade Gyro Meat and Gyros

Gyros at home—savory, garlicky, and satisfying. Clearly many readers love Greek food and enjoy recreating takeout favorites in their kitchens.

Like cowboy candy, Candied Jalapenos are sweet, spicy, and crunchy from foodiewithfamily.com

4: Candied Jalapenos

An enduring favorite since 2010, these sweet-and-spicy candied jalapenos (aka cowboy candy) keep showing up in round-ups and on snack tables. They’re addictive and versatile.

6 Ingredient 6 Minute Tomato Soup {made in a blender} from foodiewithfamily.com

3: Simple 6 Ingredient 6 Minute Tomato Soup from Scratch

Made entirely in the blender, this fresh tomato soup is fast and flavorful. It does require a powerful blender, but when you can make soup from scratch in minutes, it’s worth it.

Easy Bacon Pea Salad from foodiewithfamily.com

2: Easy Bacon Pea Salad

Bacon, peas, Cheddar, red onion, and a creamy dressing—this retro-yet-delicious salad is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

And the number one most popular post on Foodie with Family for 2015 is…

How to make perfectly crispy baked sweet potato fries in the oven every time. foodiewithfamily.com

1: Guaranteed Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Crispy baked sweet potato fries topped the list—readers value a reliable technique that turns floppy fries into crunchy perfection. Pair them with chipotle sauce and enjoy.

What would you like to see on the blog in 2016? I’m listening—right after I finish crunching these fries.