Best of 2020

Here are the best recipes of 2020 including my own favorites and popular recipes from pervious years as well!

Can you believe it? 2020 is finally over! Granted, that doesn’t mean we get to leave all of 2020s attributes in the past, but thankfully we have more than one COVID vaccine available now and the light is beginning to shine at the end of the tunnel. 

It was a wild ride on The Spiffy Cookie this year as well. In anticipation of my 10th blogiversary this year, I had a blog redesign for the first time since I started! I continue to love how it looks and am working on improving it more every day to make browsing even easier. 

I also devoted a lot of time to taking new photos of old recipes and sprucing up the blog posts. I wish I had kept track of how many I did because I feel like I did almost as many as I shared new posts (which was 97 by the way). But I feel accomplished for updating so many old posts because that was one of my blogging goals last year for 2020. 

For 2021 I plan to continue to spiffy up old posts, but my new goal is to cook from my plethora of cookbooks more often. I have an entire book shelf full of just cookbooks and I cannot tell you the last time I used one. The plan is to keep the ones that have recipes I love, and donate those that I don’t see myself putting into the regular rotation. It is going to be tough!

But now lets talk a moment to reflect on the best posts on The Spiffy Cookie in 2020! I usually do two lists: one for google analytics top 10 and then my personal top 10. But this year I also added the best overall in 2020 regardless of when it was posted because a lot of oldies popped up!

BEST OF 2020 / ALL TIME BEST / MY TOP 10

BEST OF 2020 COUNTDOWN

Here are the top 10 recipes posted in 2020 as determined by Google analytics! You guys impressed me with some of these.

10. Mummy Baked Brie – This appetizer was in my brain for over a year and I was beyond thrilled with how it turned out! Of course you could easily make this for any holiday, just wrap it up regular without the strips.

9. Cranberry Pumpkin Sourdough Bread – This was my first venture into flavored bread beyond just adding herbs and it was a fantastic first attempt! Clearly you all agree. It helps that the cross section looks pretty too.

8. Coconut Lemon Bars – These were part of my Bakers Against Racism fundraiser benefitting the Columbus Urban League and one of the favorites in the batch (also included my chocolate chip cookies, berry lavender cupcakes, and BLM cut outs). I gotta say these were one of my favorites of the year as well!

7. Puppy Chow Cookies – I had the idea for these cookies on my list for over a year and man I regret waiting so long! Not only is puppy chow mixed into the cookie, but it is also coated in a chocolate-peanut butter mixture and powdered sugar too. They are rich and worth every bite.

6. Fluffernutter Sandwich Cookies – Did you enjoy fluffernutter sandwiches as a kid? Well these are the cookie version! Of course with that double layer these are not for the faint of heart but man are they good.

5. Cecamariti Pasta (served with Sugo Finto with Crispy Capers) – This may have been my most creation sourdough creation and I am tickled that you guys agreed. It was so easy to make (no special equipment required) and tastes even better in homemade sauce! I want to make them again with a brown butter sauce next.

4. Sourdough Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies – Yup, the third (and last) sourdough recipe on the list! I took my favorite chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe and modified it slightly to use some sourdough starter discard. The dark chocolate chips combined with the sourdough flavor was perfection.

3. Kolaczki Cookies – Would you believe that when I first prepared this list on 12/20 this recipe wasn’t even on the top 10? And now it’s #3! Who knew these would be so popular but clearly a lot of you made them for the holidays which makes me super happy to be a part of your festivities. 

2. Buckeye Milkshake – Who knew you guys would go crazy for such a simple little creation? I have to admit I was pretty excited by how these photos turned out so maybe you’re giving me credit for that as well by your views. But let’s be honest, who doesn’t want one? Which lead me to create a boozy hot chocolate version as well as a buckeye hot chocolate bomb!

1. Corona-Virus Sugar Cookies – This makes my scientist heart sing. Not only was I super proud of how good the cookies were, but I was glad to help disseminate information about COVID. I don’t for a second think I should be your only resource but working in Infectious Diseases as my day job I make a point to stay on top of knowing where to get the best information. I also had similar posts about soap versus hand sanitizer and then vaccine info mixed with my Chocolate Stout Pudding Shots.

ALL TIME BEST OF 2020

Normally I only share the best of posts shared in 2020, but there were so many old posts that consistently resurfaced this year that I thought it was worth showing them off as well! 

10. Eggplant Tofu in Garlic Sauce (2015) – I have a feeling this one was popular when everything was first shut down as is it a copycat of a popular dish at a restaurant in Phoenix, AZ. Which lead me to roundup a list of other copy cat recipes of favorites from across the country! But this recipe is truly delicious of its own merit and one I gladly have remade several times.

9. Lentil Taco Skillet (2018) – I love that this one is still trending because its one of my favorites too! We have made it several times and continues to be a go-to weekday meal option. We love servings it all kinds of ways! A taco bowl with avocado on top and chips on the side may be my favorite.

8. DIY Painters Tape Accent Wall (2015) – Seems a lot of people were looking for DIY house decor ideas while stuck inside this year! I still have yet to redo this in our current home but every time I see it I try to think of where I want to do it. Hopefully sometime soon!

7. Living with Unnatural Hair Color: the truth & how to keep it vibrant (2017) – Apparently being stuck at home also meant it was time to try out some unnatural hair color! I myself switched from purple to green but I actually had that planned before the shut down – my hair appointment was within a day or two of everything shutting down and I had to wait months before they reopened.

6. Peanut Butter Fudge Cake (2013) – This recipe actually is a guest post but it has been pulling traffic ever since. Sadly I have yet to try it myself (2021 goals) but it gets great reviews! What’s not to love about a peanut butter fudge cake? 

5. Guacamole Seasoning (2012) – Whenever I make guacamole, I am asked for the recipe. It’s really as simple as adding my homemade seasoning and then a little tomato. Bonus points if you add fresh red onion, lime, and jalapeno too.

4. Cake Batter Rice Krispie Treats (2017) – Such a simple treat and yet so freaking good! It never ceases to amaze me how much rice treats are always a hit. No complaints here, they are so easy to make!

3. Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas (2011) – This recipe has routinely been in the top all time best recipe posts year after year. I’ve made a healthier, stuffed acorn squash version and although I loved it just as much, this one still reigns supreme!

2. Sourdough Blueberry Muffins (2015) – I can thank the internet explosion of sourdough starters for this one as well. This recipe was the most visited out of any sourdough recipe on my blog, even the newer ones I posted in response to this surge. If your starter is still alive and kicking check out my sourdough roundup featuring recipes from other bloggers too!

1. My Favorite Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies (2013) – No surprise here! This cookie recipe has been the #1 recipe on my blog since the moment I first shared it. I have updated the photos ones already but honestly don’t think I captured them in all their glory so don’t be surprised if you see even newer ones soon. After all, they are my own #1 recipe of all time too and I definitely made my share of these in 2020.

MY 2020 TOP 10

While I agree with most of the precious two lists, here are some others that I loved that didn’t make the analytics top 10 for 2020.

10. Vegan Macaroni & Cheese – This one made the list not because it’s my favorite macaroni and cheese I’ve ever made, but because it’s pretty damn close to my go-to macaroni and cheese recipe but it’s magically vegan! I impressed even myself with this one.

9. Giant Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookie for One – Because 2020 requires monster sized cookies that serve one. But you could also break it up into 4 if you’re into that. I’ve made versions of this before (Reese’s pieces, chocolate pomegranate, peanut butter snickerdoodle) but this one might be my favorite.

8. Chopped BBQ Ranch Salad with Cheetos – You know Doritos salad? On pandemic grocery shopping trip I impulse bought a bad of Cheetos and made myself feel better about emotional eating most of the bag by using them as croutons on salad. Perfect for those healthy lifestyle resolutions haha.

7. Naked Chocolate Cake with Mixed Berry Ginger Frosting – This cake was delicious and all, but honestly what I am most proud of is my patience for decorating it. I am not normally patient enough to decorate cakes (which is why you rarely see me post them). But naked cakes are my jam. This cake also inspired my berry lavender cupcakes.

6. Rosemary Sea Salt Sourdough Bagels – the aromatics from these bagels is enough to make you want a candle of it. Now image eating this delicious thing! Loved elevating my breakfast sandwiches with these. Since there’s only 2 of us we stashed these away in the freezer to enjoy for awhile!

5. Buckeye Macaron Cake – This cake has fueled my desire to make more like it (watch out 2021) but I am not sure if I can ever top this one. 

4. Beet Gnocchi with Arugula Basil Pesto – The visual appeal of this dish alone is enough to make me fall in love. But thankfully is taste just as good as it looks!

3. Everything Breakfast Pizza – Bob rolls his eyes at a lot of my pizza creations, but this was not one of them. It may be one of his favorites I have ever made! We ate a lot of pizza in 2020…

2. Gingered Pear Crisp Galette with Whipped Mascarpone – I had a hard time picking between this and my more recent cranberry pear slab pie, but I decided to pick this one because I still have dreams about that whipped mascarpone. I should have topped the slab pie with it as well and then the decision would have been even more difficult.

1. Pesto Chicken Lasagna – If you thought regular lasagna was good, this pesto chicken version is the summer version. Inspired by our trip to Italy last year and an instant obsessive favorite. I am weak for fresh pesto, what can I say.

See the top recipes from other years:

1. Best of 2022
2. Best of 2021
3. Best of 2019
4. Best of 2018
5. Best of 2017
6. Best of 2016
7. Best of 2015
8. Best of 2014
9. Best of 2013
10. Best of 2012
11. Best of 2011

Did you make this recipe? I want to see! Tag @THESPIFFYCOOKIE on Instagram and hashtag it #THESPIFFYCOOKIE