I cook with root beer, sometimes I even add it to the food. Root beer finds its way into breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert in this root beer recipe roundup.

In honor of today being National Root Beer Day I am rounding up all of the root beer recipes I have created (21 as of 6/17/26). Somehow I had yet to compile a root beer recipe roundup despite having roundup posts for other favorites like Cheetos. Although to be honest there are plenty of other roundups I could do as there are several recipes I go back to over and over with new variations. After doing this since 2010 it’s worth highlighting older recipes now and then that you may have not known about!

I have been obsessed with root beer since the mid 90s and started collecting the bottles in which they come, but I didn’t start rating them until 2014 on my root beer page. I have tried over 300 different kinds! And just like wine, when picking a root beer to cook or bake with, make sure it’s one you like because those same flavors will be incorporated into the food. Trust me, I’ve made that mistake when trying to use up bottles of types I didn’t particularly enjoy.

Cast Iron Root Beer Baked Beans – I didn’t think I could love bakes beans more than I already did but then I added root beer and bacon and sure enough these are now my favorite way to eat baked beans.

Cherry-Root Beer BBQ Ribs – many of my slow cooker pulled BBQ meats are cooked in root beer so it just made sense to make a BBQ sauce with it too.

Chocolate Root Beer Bundt Cake – This was the first dessert I made with root beer and I was forever changed after realizing how well chocolate pairs with root beer.

Easy Apple Dumplings – Normally these are make with a lemon-lime soda or ginger ale but why not root beer? Slightly different spice aromatics but just as delicious.

Hard Root Beer Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting – If chocolate pairs with root beer then it shouldn’t be too much of a stretch to throw peanut butter in the mix as well. It’s hard to hate a brownie in any form.

Hard Root Beer Burgers with Blue Cheese and Crispy Onions – This is still one of the best burgers I’ve ever made. It was such a wonderful journey of flavors and texture.

Irish Cream Root Beer Float – Hard root beer float but make it even boozier with a little bit of Irish cream.

No-Bake S’mores Root Beer Float Dessert Lasagna – I am not normally a fan of root beer floats but apparently I am obsessed in a partially solid form because this dessert lasagna was incredible.

No-Churn Root Beer Float Golden Oreo Ice Cream – Another example of how root beer floats are better as semi-solid desserts. I don’t think you can find the root beer Oreos anymore but Golden Oreos will suffice.

Root Beer Cake Brownies – Remember the trend of making “healthier” cakes with a can of pop? Well make it root beer but in a brownie mix. Turned out to be more cake-like consistency than brownies but still tastes like brownie.

Root Beer Chocolate Chip Cookies – My favorite use of root beer reduction is in these chocolate chip cookies. It’s two of my loves in one!

Root Beer Float Brownie Cupcakes – These adorable brownies look and taste just like a root beer float, but better.

Root Beer Glazed Ham – Even your holiday ham is better glazed with root beer.

Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches – The recipe that started it all. This was the first time I ever cooked with root beer and is one of my most remade recipes at home.

Root Beer Sloppy Joes – A slightly sweeter version of the classic from a can and not that much more effort.

Root Beer Sticky Buns – Will it sticky bun? It sure will! Is there anything root beer can’t do?

Root Beer Pancakes – Who says you can’t have root beer for breakfast, especially when they are in pancake form?

RumChata Root Beer Float – Hard root beer float but make it with RumChata for a little extra creamy twist.

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Burrito Bowls – My tried and true pulled BBQ but served in a bowl of goodness that I could eat on repeat.

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Tacos – Need more pulled meat ideas? Try it in these BBQ tacos.

Slow Cooker Loaded BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos – If BBQ pulled pork can be on a taco why not nachos? I’m shocked I haven’t put root beer BBQ on a pizza yet (well now it has to happen).

What were the best bites of 2025? Ranked by views and my own personal favorites here is the list of the best recipes I made this year.

According to Google Analytics, it is time to count down the top 10 of the 47 new recipes posted this year (46 as of posting this but I have one more tomorrow). Of course I also added my personal top 10 because traffic does not always agree with my favorites. I also updated 24 old recipes but I decided to not make a top 10 list from those as I did for the Best Recipes of 2024 since that would be about half of them. I updated quite a bit more last year so I felt the need to give them more of the spotlight.

Best Recipes of 2025

Most visited recipes

10. Turkey Wellington with Cranberry Sauce (11/20/25) – I am thrilled that this recipe made the top ten when it was posted just a little over a month ago. I should really do a ranking based on views/days active because I think this one would be in the top 3. This turkey wellington really was a fun one to make and perfect for more than just the holidays.

9. Baklava Cinnamon Rolls (4/21/25) – These for sure would have made my top 10. Baklava cinnamon tolls are proof that you don’t have to make cinnamon rolls from scratch to have some fun. Definitely something I will make over and over.

8. Lavender Apricot Thumbprint Cookies (8/27/25) –

7. Basil Strawberries and Cream Cookies (3/24/25) – I’m glad the internet stuck with me for these sweet and savory basil strawberry cookies. I am a huge fan of mixing herbs into desserts and these were another win.

6. Pitcher Paloma Cocktail Recipe (5/12/25) – I may have only taken one measly photo for this recipe but evidently that’s all it took. I don’t normally like grapefruit but this paloma cocktail was surprisingly delicious.

5. Peanut Butter Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars (1/10/25) – For last season’s CFP I made a different buckeye-inspired variation of the competing team each game. Cleary these Ohio pecan pie bars were winners in more than one way!

4. Banana Pudding Rice Krispie Treats (5/16/25) – Whatever flavor rice krispie treat I make they always seem to do well, both online and in real life. They might not be as creamy as real banana pudding but just like my banana pudding cookies (#5 last year) they certainly taste like it.

3. Potato Leek Soup (4/15/25) – This was another one of my absolute favorites. It’s hard not to love a creamy potato soup as it is but the addition of leeks made this even better.

2. Christmas Cookie Brownies (12/3/25) – Talk about ending the year right – these had less than a month and rocketed right to the second highest spot on the list. I guess when you combine 3 great things into one dessert the people show up.

1. Italian Sushi (6/5/25) – This is my kind of sushi! As someone who has never loved seafood, this Italian version of sushi is far superior. Seafood lovers may disagree but they can’t deny these are quite tasty in their own right!

My Favorite 2025 Recipes

10. Skull Gnocchi (10/13/25) – I had a hard time deciding between this and the skull lava cakes but ultimately went with these spooky gnocchi to even out all the sweets in my list. Just a classic potato gnocchi but better because they are shaped to look like skulls.

9. Seven Layer Cheesecake Bars (7/30/25) – My seven layer brownies came in #6 on the most visited list in 2024 so I had to make another version in cheesecake form. Next time I want to make them with a brownie bottom to combine both into one!

8. Matcha White Hot Cocoa Mix (12/21/25) – Love at first sip, this white hot cocoa is flavored with real matcha powder for a festive and delicious holiday treat. I know some people don’t like matcha but if you do you will love this.

7. Tahini Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies (12/1/25) – It should be no surprise that my favorite chewy chocolate chip cookies made with dark chocolate and a little bit of tahini would be in my top 10 for 2025. Did I mention I like playing with savory ingredients in baking? :-P

6. No-Bake Buckeye Pie (11/29/25) – Peanut Butter Pie is one of my all-time favorite desserts and this buckeye version was the star of the three pies served at Thanksgiving this year. Even my pumpkin pie loving father said this one was his favorite.

5. Herbed Biscuits and Gravy Casserole (2/12/25) – I love biscuits and gravy but so rarely order it or make it myself. This casserole version was the perfect way to make a comforting meal for a group without much fuss.

4. Peach Panzanella Salad (9/8/25) – I may have fresh basil pesto made from my garden frozen in my freezer, but peach season needs to return so I can make this again. It was like summer in a salad.

3. Browned Butter Carrot Cake Scones (3/28/25) – It might have just been a vehicle for the brown butter cream cheese frosting on top, but these carrot cake scones were phenomenal. I look forward to making them again next spring.

2. Mexican Street Corn Deviled Eggs (6/11/25) – After my Mexican street corn pizza came in #9 for views last year I thought for sure the deviled egg version would also do well but it didn’t make the top 10 cut off. Thankfully I was obsessed with these and even ate the excess filling straight up.

1. Pomegranate Pear Tart (2/16/25) – Funny story about this recipe being my favorite of the year is that I had made it for a friend’s birthday and kind of winged it a bit and figured I could tinker with it more later to get it right and take photos with a real camera… But I got it right the first time and ended up using my phone photos! I think about remaking this one often.

See the top recipes from other years:

1. Best of 2024
2. Best of 2023
3. Best of 2022
4. Best of 2021
5. Best of 2020
6. Best of 2019
7. Best of 2018
8. Best of 2017
9. Best of 2016
10. Best of 2015
11. Best of 2014
12. Best of 2013
13. Best of 2012
14. Best of 2011

It’s the final countdown of the best recipes in 2024! Whether determined by pageviews or personal favorites this recipe list features some of the top creations of the year.

Since 2020, every year has come with a variety of challenges, heart break, and yet also fond memories. My relationship with my blog has ebbed and flowed during that time and I fluctuate in and out of inspiration. I will be unmotivated for months and then suddenly pump out a slew of new content. As a result I only shared 48 new posts which means a little less than half are highlighted here between listing the top 10 posts by visits vs my favorites. But this year I also highlighted favorites from the 36 other recipes I updated this year, most of which were originally from 2012 and 2013.

BEST RECIPES OF 2024

MOST VISITED IN 2024

I am always surprised every year what recipes fall in the top 10 base solely on pageviews. Not that I don’t agree that they are delicious, but it’s hard to predict what Google will favor even when you follow their ever-changing-rules. But then sometimes I don’t follow them at all and things still trickle to the top – so who knows!

10. Blueberry Corn Cookies (7/22/24) – Adapted from my chewy sweet corn cookies, these blueberry corn cookies were like a blueberry corn muffin in cookie form. Buttery and sweet, with bursts of fresh blueberries.

9. Mexican Street Corn Pizza (8/7/24) – I’ve not made as many unique pizzas lately, but this one was definitely a stand out. The fresh corn is key.

8. Ghost Halloween Cinnamon Rolls (10/17/24) – More of a tutorial than a recipe, these ghost cinnamon rolls are perfect for Halloween morning, or anytime you need some cute spooky vibes in your life.

7. BBQ Cheetos Meatloaf (3/5/24) – Why use breadcrumbs when you can use Cheetos crumbs to make meatloaf? Over the years I have found many ways to turn this former meatloaf-hater into a lover.

6. 7 Layer Brownies (6/5/24) – The classic 7 layer bars but with a brownie base instead of graham cracker. Yes they are as good as they sound.

5. Banana Pudding Cookies (5/22/24) – A packet of vanilla pudding, pulverized freeze-dried banana chips, and crushed vanilla wafers are all packed in these white chocolate chip cookies that taste just like classic banana pudding.

4. Pomegranate Molasses Cookies (9/4/24) – I am obsessed with pomegranate molasses and you will be too if you’re not already after trying these cookies. Tangy, sweet, and spiced.

3. Dragon Fruit Lemonade with Honey (2/22/24) – Homemade lemonade is amazing, but add the vibrant color of dragon fruit and you’ve created something even more special.

2. Banana Pudding Cheesecake (6/14/24) – Metrics-wise, this and the #1 recipe below won the top two spots by a landslide. Clearly a banana pudding inspired recipe is the way to your heart as it’s the second to make the list.

1. Cast Iron Pork Tenderloin (3/25/24) – And the most popular recipe I shared in 2024 without question is this simple and delicious pork tenderloin cooked in just one cast iron skillet. Seems to me that after you’ve enjoyed this for dinner, you need to serve the #2 recipe for dessert. Not a bad idea if you ask me.

MY FAVORITE 2024 RECIPES

Looking through my list of favorites that didn’t make the cutoff by pageviews, there was a lot of love in October. Probably because I was feeling the inspiration of Halloween extra hard this year.

10. Skull Sloppy Joe Bombs (10/16/24) – This may not have been the most exciting recipe taste-wise (not that I don’t love sloppy joe), but the real excitement for this dish was the execution. It was the first time baking with my skull pan and I was immediately obsessed.

9. Pork Chops and Stuffing Bake (10/23/24) – It may be nostalgia, but usually when I share a recipe that my mom gave me, it makes my list if it hadn’t already by pageviews. There’s just something about those retro recipes that grabs onto your heart.

8. Roasted Carrots with Vietnamese Sauce (8/5/24) – Technically I didn’t make this year in 2024, but I never got around to posting it until this year so it still counts! Carrots as a side dish really don’t get enough love but this one will change your mind.

7. Tangerine Rosemary Olive Oil Cake (6/23/24) – I predicted this would make my top 10 when I posted it, and sure enough it did! Oil cakes are almost always better than the alternative and the combination of sweet tangerines and fresh rosemary is magical.

6. Buckeye Sugar Cream Pie (11/23/24) – Even though I only got one bite of this pie, I knew it was a winner because my husband proceeded to eat the entire thing by himself within 3 days. That’s what I get for leaving town for the weekend and telling him anything in the fridge was free game.

5. Sally’s Worms Wort Nightmare Before Christmas Soup (Green Curry Soup) (10/18/24) – From the first time I had this at a local dinner event prepared by Fetty’s Street Food to making it myself after he generously shared the recipe, this green curry soup is incredible. If you are lucky enough to be able to find freshly made green curry paste, it will make all the difference in this otherwise simply soup.

4. Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Salad (11/9/24) – Strawberry pretzel salad, but make it peanut butter and chocolate. We may never know why things like this recipe are called salads but who am I to argue?

3. Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies (10/3/24) – Pistachio butter is already one of my favorite things, despite the cost, but holy crap that blob of it in the center of these cookies is insane. Sweet salty goodness.

2. Peanut Butter Oreo Banana Pudding (12/21/24) – More banana pudding! This time laced with yet again more peanut butter and chocolate because it’s clearly one of my all time favorite combinations. If at first you don’t think they belong in banana pudding, you obviously have not tried this.

1. Blood Orange Curd Tart (3/22/24) – This tart truly tastes as good as it looks. I was so proud of this recipe and how it turned out on so many levels.

FAVORITE RECIPE REDOS IN 2024

I don’t normally do a redo highlight, but I’ve been updating posts almost as often as sharing new ones so it felt like I should change that. While I did take the effort to individually search for the stats on each recipe I updated in 2024, I don’t agree with the rankings. So while I listed the top 10 for both pageviews and my personal favorites of new recipes in 2024, for the redo recipes I am only going to list my personal top 10 of the 36 updated this year.

10. Cocoa Brownies with Brown Butter and Walnuts (posted 2/3/2011, updated 11/21/24) – didn’t make the top list in 2011 but I also used to post WAY more frequently so there was some serious competition in the early years. It was a toss up between these and my Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies (posted 5/2/2012, updated 1/31/24), so maybe next time I need to combine the two into one.

9. Caramelized Chicken with Jalapeno Cream (posted 2/15/2012, updated 9/19/24) – This made the Best of 2012 list too so you know you have to try this one.

8. Skillet Lasagna (posted 1/22/2014, updated 6/6/4) – This recipe will always be one of my favorites from growing up. It also was the #6 top redo recipe of 2024 based on pageviews.

7. Corn Spoon Bread (posted 9/16/2014, updated 7/31/24) – My updated photos may not have actually been much of an improvement due to not originally intending to take photos of it, but even so this remains one of my favorite recipes ever.

6. Cinnamon Roll Rice Krispies Treats (posted 8/7/2012, updated 8/1/24) – Rice Krispie Treats are already had to deny, but roll them up with a cinnamon sugar filling like a cinnamon roll and they are nearly impossible to resist.

5. Homemade Garbage Plates (posted 5/16/2013, updated 7/28/24) – Not only did we make this for Bob’s 40th birthday, but it was also on the Best of 2013 list and the top redo recipe of 2024 by pageviews!

4. Gnocchi with Goat Cheese and Spinach (posted 12/6/2010, updated 2/27/24) – This recipe has lived in my heart since the first day I made it. Incredibly indulgent so I don’t make it often but dang it’s worth it. Also hit #2 for pageviews of the recipes I redid in 2024.

3. White Cheddar and Arugula Pesto Mac & Cheese (posted 11/28/2012, updated 11/18/24) – This recipe did not get enough love back in 2012 and honestly didn’t in 2024 either. Maybe I am weak for all things pesto and mac & cheese but this has some serious comfort food vibes with some elevated flavors.

2. Nutella-Stuffed Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (posted 4/26/2013, updated 2/4/24) – It shouldn’t be a surprise that after I pronounced my love for the pistachio-stuffed cookies that my redo of a Nutella-stuffed cookie would also make the list.

1. Spam Tacos (posted 7/23/2014, updated 2024) – This was the most heavily updated recipe of the year and it went from being just good to amazing. Spam haters can’t even deny how good these tacos are.

See the top recipes from other years:

1. Best of 2023
2. Best of 2022
3. Best of 2021
4. Best of 2020
5. Best of 2019
6. Best of 2018
7. Best of 2017
8. Best of 2016
9. Best of 2015
10. Best of 2014
11. Best of 2013
12. Best of 2012
13. Best of 2011

Today is a day for nerds to proclaim, May the Fourth be with you! Celebrate the stories from a galaxy far far away with this round up of May the Fourth Be with You Recipes.

It’s a good thing I enjoy Star Wars because I share a birthday with it! While it’s not the actually birth-day of the franchise, you cannot deny the perfect pun it provides. Although I think May 6th should be the Revenge of the Sixth instead of May 5th as Revenge of the Fifth, but I digress…

In the spirit of this holiday, I decided to round up a list of recipes from all across the internet. While most of them are sweets, there are a few savory options and a couple beverages which you can make with or without alcohol.

Baby Yoda Cocktail by The Spiffy Cookie – Complete with a little burlap robe, blueberry eyes and lime wedge ears, this baby yoda cocktail is simple to make and even cuter to drink. I’ve also seen a baby yoda cocktail with kiwis and black olives,

Baby Yoda Cookies by Thrifty Jinxy – The secret to making baby yoda cookies? Cut the head off of an angel cookie cutter – ha!

Baby Yoda Deviled Eggs by Three Olives Branch – Deviled eggs don’t get any better than this. With the white as his pod, snap peas for ears, and peppercorns for eyes, it’s almost too cute to eat.

Baked Lightsaber Churros by The Spiffy Cookie – Changing a regular churro into a lightsaber is as simple as adding colored sanding sugar to the cinnamon-sugar coating.

Blueberry Cinnamon Roll Turkey Burgers by The Spiffy Cookie – While these burgers aren’t as on-theme, they were originally posted on May 4, 2020 with cinnamon rolls as buns inspired by Princess Leia’s iconic hairstyle.

Blue Milk by Magical Adventure Guide – This blue milk is a copycat recipe for the one seen at Disney, inspired by the unusually colored beverage Luke drinks on Tatooine. This version is a rich tropical adventure. If needed, there is also a recipe for dairy-free blue milk.

Blue Milk Smoothie by The Spiffy Cookie – Enjoy blue milk for breakfast with this Greek yogurt,, banana, and honey based smoothie. Add a little whipped cream and pop rocks on top for an extra boost.

Chewbacca Rice Krispie Treats by Three Olives Branch – What’s better than chocolate rice crispy treats? Ones decorated to look like Chewbacca! Proof that gingerbread men cookie cutters aren’t just for the winter holidays.

Darth Vader Cupcakes by Dancing Through the Rain – Comes to the dark side, we have cupcakes. With an edible topper and silver dusted frosting.

Ham, Egg & Cheese Pancake Sandwiches by The Spiffy Cookie – Don’t just buy Star Wars pancakes from the grocery store, turn them into a breakfast pancake sandwich.

Jawa Cookies (Double Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies) by The Spiffy Cookie – Chocolate thumbprint cookies are simply that until you add two yellow sprinkles to make them look like jawas!

R2D2 Cookies by Cutefetti – These R2D2 cookies are easy for anyone to make! Using homemade or store bought cookies topped with white, blue and black icing.

Red Velvet Chocolate Mousse Millennium Falcon by Cupcake Savvy Kitchen – If you have a Millennium Falcon mold, now is the time to use it to make this red velvet mousse. Who knew a space ship could be so delicious?

Star Wars Decorated Oreos by Creative Cynchronicity – Turn those beloved sandwich cookies into Chewbacca and Princess Leia heads with simple ingredients.

Star Wars Hot Chocolate by Thrifty Jinxy – Take a trip to the dark side by using dark chocolate in this hot chocolate. Maybe add some blue food coloring to the whipped cream on top, too.

Star Wars Imperial Popcorn by Homemade Heather – Add pretzels, blue M&Ms, silver coated candy balls, peanuts, and black licorice goodies to popcorn and coat them in a marshmallow mixture similar to rice crispy treats for your next Star Wars movie night.

Star Wars Landscape Cookies by The Decorated Cookie – These cookies are so easy to make and yet so creative! Decorated to look like Dagobah, Hoth, Tatooine, and of course space.

Star Wars Rebel Alliance Chocolate Strawberry Sandwich Cookies by The Spiffy Cookie – Just like the rebel alliance, sometimes you have to adapt. In this case it was using an unexpectedly small cookie cutter to make something just as delicious as originally planned.

Star Wars Snack Mix by The Decorated Cookie – This is the cutest snack mix I have ever seen, complete with little pretzel light sabers, yoda heads, chewie heads, and storm trooper marshmallows.

Star Wars Sugar Cookies by The Monday Box – With just sugar cookie dough, chocolate sugar cookie dough, and some food coloring you can make all these adorable character sugar cookies.

Tatooine Sunset Drink by Magical Adventure Guide – This copycat recipe from Disney is basically a fruity Arnold Palmer. Enjoy as is or spike it with your favorite alcohol.

Wookiee Pies (White Chocolate Cinnamon Cookie Sandwiches) by The Spiffy Cookie – Made with Cinnamon Toast cereal and filled with cream cheese frosting, these wookiee pies feel like a wookiee hug for your stomach.

Wookiee Cookies Gingerbread by Homemade Heather – Just like the rice crispy treats earlier, these wookiee cookies are made by using a gingerbread man cookie cutter and gingerbread cookie dough.

After a year of deliciousness, it’s time to countdown more than the seconds until the next year. Let’s look back at the top 10 best recipes of 2023.

As we close out another year, it’s time to reflect on the best bites of 2023. While I only posted 46 recipes new recipe this year, I did some significant work updating old recipes. I could have figured out how many and seen if any of those trended this year, but that was more work than I cared to do as I write this on the eve of my flight to LA.

So as usual, I am sharing only the top 10 recipe that were posted in 2023. Any favorite recipes that did not make the top 10 according to Google, were added to my own personal list following the first. Sometimes Google just doesn’t know what’s up. Does it have taste buds? Not yet, at least. Who knows what AI has in store…

BEST RECIPES OF 2023

10. Reese’s Heart Peanut Butter Cup Cookie Bars (2/8/23) – Make life easy with a sheet of cookie bars topped with a festive peanut butter cup. You could make these for any holiday.

9. Baklava Thumbprint Cookies (12/8/23) – These cookies were one of my personal favorites as well, but I am still impressed that they jumped to #9 after being posted less than a month ago. Not far behind them in slot 13 were the oatmeal cranberry walnut cookies which we also posted in early December.

8. Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese (10/30/23) – This also would have made my favorites list if it wasn’t already here. I am not sure if it was made extra delicious by making my own roasted tomatoes but dang was it good.

7. Mini Peanut Butter Cup Brownies (1/30/23) – Your favorite nostalgic cookie cup, but make it in a brownie. Heck you could do the same thing for #10 up there and bake these in a pan instead.

6. Lemon Poppy Seed Cheesecake Muffins (7/24/23) – Another of my favorites (clearly you guys have good taste). These are a mash up of two of my favorite things, moist lemon poppyseed muffins and cheesecake.

5. Blue Poop Challenge Muffins (2/12/23)- I’ve been seriously slacking on my #ScienceSundays posts this year and clearly I need to get with it because either you really like the blue poop trend, or you like science. I am hoping the latter.

4. Mom’s Frito Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing (1/16/23) – The nostalgic recipes always seem to be winners. Clearly my mom wasn’t the only one who made dishes like this based on the comments I received. I love that we have shared food memories… but I made need to make a Cheetos version of this hahaha.

3. Chocolate Covered Cheetos (3/5/23) – Polarizing, but clearly popular, this sweet and savory snack is best eaten immediately. Heck why bother waiting to let the chocolate harder, just eat it like fondue.

2. Cheetos Pie (5/1/23) – Evidently you are here for my Cheetos adventures and I appreciate you for it! This was just another moment where I took a recipe that uses another chip and used Cheetos instead. This is the way.

1. Peanut Butter Marshmallow Fluff Cookies (7/17/23) – AKA Fluffernutter cookies. What’s not to love about this nostalgic treat in cookie form? These were definitely one of my favorite cookies of the year as well.

MY FAVORITE RECIPES OF 2023

10. Shaved Asparagus Ricotta Pizza (7/14/23) – Once again I upset my husband for making “weird” pizza but at the same time make him enjoy it. I haven’t experimented as much lately with pizza toppings but this was definitely a new favorite.

9. Double Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies (5/4/23) – Shocking that I would put an all chocolate recipe in my top 10, but the texture differential between the cookie and the filling did it for me. Afterall, I did post these on my birthday (which yes it Star Wars Day) so I also made a version in the same post that look like little Jawas.

8. Almond Blood Orange Shortbread Cookies (3/23/23) – Watch out Ted Lasso, these shortbread and legit. Although these are jazzed up with blood orange I bet even the plain jane version would rival his.

7. Carrot Gnocchi with Candied Hazelnuts (12/1/23) – While I don’t particularly love these photos, the flavor profile of this entire meal was exceptional. I especially love using the whole carrot from the gnocchi to the pesto.

6. Pork Bulgogi Rice Bowls (9/27/23) – I could eat this meal on repeat. Not only is it easy to make but it’s packed with flavor which sometimes is lacking on a weeknight when you are not particularly motivated.

5. Lime, Mint, Rosemary, and Lavender Sugar Cookies (6/7/23)- These were not particularly optimized for SEO with a name like that but I couldn’t leave out any flavor component! There’s a lot going on here but they balance each other out so well. But I couldn’t decide if I preferred them coated with regular or turbinado sugar.

4. Frozen Coconut Mojitos (3/24/23) – An ode to my trip to Belize where I fell in love with this beverage. I could try these on repeat, with or without alcohol doesn’t matter to me.

3. Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake (10/9/23) – This was a hit for my taste buds and all those that were lucky enough to try it. SO much so that I have already made it again! It’s almost silly how easy it is to make with how put together it looks.

2. Cheetos Street Corn (9/19/23) – Not gonna lie, I am a little shocked that the other two Cheetos recipes made the list above but not this one, because honestly this one was my favorite. Elote was meant to be coated in Cheetle dust. I considered adding my Cheetos Chocolate Chip Cookies as well, but they were almost too subtle.

1. Chai Tiramisu (9/20/32) – I do not like coffee, but when I finally realized I could make tiramisu with Chai I had to try it and was immediately in love. It may not be traditional but what’s the fun in that?

See the top recipes from other years:

1. Best of 2024
2. Best of 2022
3. Best of 2021
4. Best of 2020
5. Best of 2019
6. Best of 2018
7. Best of 2017
8. Best of 2016
9. Best of 2015
10. Best of 2014
11. Best of 2013
12. Best of 2012
13. Best of 2011

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

This cheesy roundup of Cheetos recipes will have you thinking of Cheetos beyond a simple snack that turns your fingers orange. Which will you try first?

In honor of the 75th birthday of Cheetos, I rounded up a cheesy list of recipes with Cheetos on the ingredient list!

If you thought this list was all-inclusive, think again. I still have more in the works! But for now enjoy all of the Cheetos recipes I have shared thus far along with some others from my bloggers friends who are also brave enough to play with Cheetos in the kitchen!

Are Cheetos gluten free?

Yes – so if the recipe has no other gluten-laden ingredients then the whole recipe is gluten-free safe!

APPLE PIE WITH CHEETOS CRUMBLE TOPPING – If Cheddar cheese can go on top of apple pie, then it’s not any weirder to put Cheetos in the crumble topping.

BBQ CHEETOS MEATLOAF – Why use breadcrumbs when you can used crushed Cheetos? Slathered in BBQ sauce, this BBQ Cheetos meatloaf is pure comfort.

CARAMELIZED CHEETOS – These sound crazy but they actually taste like Cracker Jack. Who knew crunchy Cheetos could be even crunchier.

CHEESE DOODLE SUSHI – If you’ve ever made sushi at home with a crispy puffed rice exterior you may as well go ahead and roll it in crushed up Cheetos, amiright?

CHEESY CHEETOS SNACK MIX – Why do all the other snacks get to join the party snack mix but not Cheetos? It’s time to change that.

CHEETOS CHEDDAR ARANCINI – Italian’s may scoff at this abomination but I think arancini stuffed with cheddar cheese and coated in Cheetos dust tastes so very right. Of all my Cheetos recipes, this one might be my favorite.

CHEETOS CHEDDAR BEER BREAD – Make your cheddar beer bread even cheesier by adding a Cheetos crust.

CHEETOS CHEESEBURGERS – Do you sometimes add a little bit of bread crumbs to your burgers? Well I used crushed up Cheetos to make these cheeseburgers extra cheesy.

CHEETOS CHEESY POTATOES – All I did was take the classic cheesy potato casserole (aka funeral potatoes) and substitute the corn flakes on top for crushed Cheetos. So simple but it’s a game changer.

CHEETOS CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES – The flavor that Cheetos adds to these chocolate chip cookies is subtle enough to win over the non-believers while still adding something that sets them apart from a traditional cookie.

CHEETOS COOKIES – Normally cheddar cheese in a sugar cookie would not appeal to me, but after trying one at a bakery I had to recreate them at home.

CHEETOS DEVILED EGGS – This might be the best version of Deviled Eggs ever. Who knew they could be improved with cheese?

CHEETOS MACARONI & CHEESE – The creamiest, cheddar mac and cheese topped with Cheetos instead of breadcrumbs. And another of my favorite Cheetos recipes.

CHEETOS MARSHMALLOW CRISPY TREATS – Those puffed rice crispy treats we all know and love? Well I used Cheetos instead of the puffed rice cereal and the result was surpriisngly delicious.

CHEETOS PIE – Are you familiar with Doritos Pie? This is the exact same thing but made with Cheetos!

CHEETOS STREET CORN – Your favorite Mexican street food but coated in extra cheesy Cheetos!

CHEETOS THREE CHEESE CHEESEBALL – Cheese on cheese inception with this cheesy cheseball. But then dip more Cheetos or cheesy chips!

CHEETOS WALKING TACOS – Here is yet another classic dish normally made with other chips but made far superior with Cheetos!

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHEETOS – I am not really sure these need a recipe as the title alone pretty much tells you what to do, but if you are into the salty and sweet combo then these are for you.

CHOPPED BBQ RANCH SALAD WITH CHEETOS – Take a BBQ Ranch salad, and top with Cheetos like croutons. It’s so easy and genius,

SPICY CHEETOS CRUSTED CHICKEN – This is such a no-brainer. Instead of breadcrumbs, coat your chicken breasts in crushed Cheetos. Add you favorites sides or serve over a salad.

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Another year of deliciousness has passed by and it’s time to look back at the best of 2022. Did your favorites make the list?

Even though I only shared 70 new posts this year, I am willing to bet I updated almost as many old ones in 2022. As that has been an ongoing project the last couple of years, I have considered documenting any old recipes that gain traction in subsequent years but honestly it’s harder to track because I have to sift out the ones that are always popular from the ones that were actually updated. And I’m lazy so I stick to the metrics solely for 2022.

In the past, the posts with the highest traffic tended to be heavy on the sweets. However, the last 2 years I must have stepped up my game because now savory recipes reign. As a result, since most of my favorite savory recipes were also captured in the most trafficked, my list has now become sweets heavy! It’s all about balance – ha. Interestingly, the majority of the top 10 were posted in the last third of the year. Although to be fair all of the Italian dinner ones were made in April but I slacked in posting them in a reasonable amount of time.

BEST OF 2022

10. Nine Course Italian Dinner (9/14/22) – After hosting this dinner twice, I was happy to see it sneak into this list (rest assured it would have been on mine otherwise). This menu was a labor of love, and idea I have dreamed up during COVID-lockdown and was thrilled to finally make it a reality. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that recipes included on that menu also made the list.

9. Italian Braised Beef with Parmesan Polenta (9/12/22) – Exhibit A: this was one of the main dishes on my Nine Course Italian Dinner Menu. Not only is it a stunner to serve, but it tastes incredible. Definitely a meal to make when you want to impress, even if not served as part of the other 9 courses!

8. Spiral Snail Cookies (9/22/22) – This was the proudest nerd moment of my recipe blogging career. Amazon Prime Video legit found my Seven Hobbit Meals post when researching for bloggers to help promote Rings of Power. Just a simple cinnamon sugar cookie dough rolled up to look like a snail – a harfoot delicacy.

7. Cheetos Walking Tacos (3/5/22) – Step aside Doritos, because I think all walking tacos should be made with Cheetos from now on, and clearly you agree! Or you were at least intrigued enough to view this recipe a lot. Either way, this was a fun one to make solely because of my Cheetos obsession.

6. Peanut Butter & Jelly Whiskey Sour (8/25/22) – When life hands your peanut butter whiskey, make a PBJ whiskey sour! This was actually better than I expected it to be and proved itself further by making it onto the top 10 of 2022.

5. No-Bake S’mores Root Beer Float Dessert Lasagna (6/17/22) – At this point, I have made countless no-bake dessert lasagnas but this one quickly became a favorite. Hard to beat the combination of root beer and s’mores!

4. Cranberry Chicken Salad (11/16/22) – I am honestly shocked that this made the list. Not because I didn’t enjoy it, but it was just so simple. Furthermore, it was only posted a little over a month ago which means it covered some serious ground to make it all the way to the #4 spot in such a short period of time.

3. Ashland-Wooster Drive-In – Ashland, OH (10/15/22) – Not a recipe, but my road-trip adventures hunting down root beer continue to be popular (last year was my Ohio root beer day trip post). If you are ever driving on i-71 between Cleveland and Columbus and need a pit stop, I suggest checking this place out.

2. Double Nickel Salad (8/23/22) – This was another recipe that surprised me – really, a salad not only made the list but is #2? Don’t get me wrong, it is one of my favorite recipes of all time so it deserves the spotlight and clearly I am not alone with this opinion.

1. Birria Flatbread (7/27/22) – This for sure was also been high on my list – so freaking good! Just imagine the popular birria meat in birria tacos, but served open-face on flatbread. My only regret was only making this because I ran out of tortillas and needed to use up the remaining birria meat. And then it was gone and I wanted more! Needless to say, this one will make it on the menu again.

MY FAVORITES OF 2022

10. No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Biscuit Cake (Erdnussbutter Kalter Hund) (9/24/22) – This recipe was so simple yet so delicious. Cutting into it and seeing all those layers was also incredibly satisfying, and was also impressive for others to behold.

9. Lemon Strawberry Shortcake Cake (7/18/22) – I have loved this recipe for years, prior to when I started this blog, but this was the first time I strayed and modified it which is a real shocker considering the fact that I modify almost every recipe that I love.

8. Mojito Cupcakes (6/10/22) – They may have a short name, but these cupcakes are packed with flavor and were the favorites of many with whom I shared them. There’s just something about real fresh lime and mint.

7. Maple Brown Sugar Cookies with Candied Sage (9/9/22) – Talk about packing a punch, that candied sage on top sets these over the edge. While these cookies are perfectly delicious on their own, if you take a little extra time to make the candied sage they are a gorgeous garnish.

6. Gluten-Free Lemon Almond Cake (5/23/22) – I first made an orange version of this cake using a recipe I got from a local meal service. I was so happy the full recipe was included because so often you get a meal from a service like that but don’t have the means to recreate it if you so desire. This time I made it with lemon as part of my Italian Dinner and it was the perfect treat with which to end the meal.

5. Crystallized Ginger Scones with Sake Poached Asian Pears (3/21/22) – The fact that I got this recipe right on the first try was amazing. Not that it was technically all that difficult or different from things I had made before, but I had never cooked with sake or Asian pears before and to go head-first into it with a complex flavor combination and not want to change anything in the end was a real win. In short, I felt chef-y.

4. Rye Bourbon Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies (2/12/22) – For the amount of chocolate chip cookie variations I have on this website, I’m amazed that I’ve only recently started dabbling with other flours. The rye flour in these compliments the bourbon and dark chocolate beautifully.

3. Rosemary Watermelon Lemonade (5/27/22) – Sweet glory I plan to make this every summer from now on. It was tart, and sweet, and slightly savory all at the same time – like Kool-Aid but better! You could spike it if you prefer a true adult version but honestly I enjoyed it best as is.

2. Peach Raspberry Mascarpone Tart with Coconut-Pistachio Crust (8/1/22) – There are so many delicious things in this one dessert. From the sweet and salty crust, topped with a sweet and creamy filling, there’s nothing I don’t love about this tart – other than the fact that I don’t have more of it right now.

1. Sheet Pan Italian Sausage with Gnocchi, Peppers, & Onions (2/8/22) – The lone savory recipe on my own list is well deserving of the #1 spot because it immediately became my go-to weeknight meal. Part of the secret if using really good, flavorful pasta sauce, so don’t go skimping on that ingredient.

See the top recipes from other years:

1. Best of 2024
2. Best of 2023
3. Best of 2021
4. Best of 2020
5. Best of 2019
6. Best of 2018
7. Best of 2017
8. Best of 2016
9. Best of 2015
10. Best of 2014
11. Best of 2013
12. Best of 2012
13. Best of 2011

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

Halfway between Cleveland and Columbus you will find this community staple, Ashland-Wooster Drive-In, serving classic favorites and homemade root beer.

In 1957, Barb and Bob Fordyce opened an A&W Root Beer Stand and remained an A&W through subsequent owners Joann and Bud Bemiller (and family) from 1969-1984. But the following year 1985, the A&W franchise was dropped and Ashland-Wooster Drive-In was born.

Shortly before I visited (in July 2021), Steve Bemiller sold the business to Mindi White and Frank Keener. Thankfully, no changes have yet been made to this community staple in Ashland, OH as the new owners are just excited to continue providing excellent food the people have come to love.

They are located just of i71 exit 186, halfway between Columbus and Cleveland, which makes it the perfect pit stop on one of our most frequented routes when driving out of town. When we visited, we were actually on our way to Rochester, NY for the weekend and left before grabbing dinner. So I scoured my save Google maps list of root beer stands and spotted this one on our route.

Upon arriving, the first thing I saw was their sign suggesting their roast beef. Normally I get a cheeseburger and fries when I visit root beer stands but figured I would live a little – I pretty much never get a roast beef sandwich unless I’m at Arby’s. What can I say? There’s just something about drive-in food that always hits the right spot. It’s nothing fancy, but sometimes a classic simple meal is all I need. Besides, you cannot beat the prices.

As for their homemade root beer, it had a low amount of carbonation, was creamy and very vanilla flavored, but not a complex flavor – it’s a baseline solid root beer (which lands at a respectable 3/5). Will definitely stop again en route to our next destination, if needed!

Small town USA has the best diners and Porky’s Drive In found in Mansfield, OH is no exception. Head there for classic burgers, fries, and homemade root beer in a retro atmosphere.

As much as I am resisting fall (because it’s still in the 80s every day), October isn’t that far away which means there will soon be ads circulating for the best haunted house in Ohio – Blood Prison at the Ohio State Reformatory. If you live in the area and that’s something you plan on attending, let me also tell you about a little diner nearby that’s also worth visiting – Porky’s Drive In.

Since 1949 people have been coming to Porky’s for fresh-cut fries, burgers, homemade milkshakes, and their own root beer. They have even caught the attention of the producers of America’s Best Restaurants who are visiting their restaurant in two days time (from the date this was posted)!

While you wait for the episode to air, I’ll give you a little sneak peek to when I visited last fall.

Found along Ashland Road in Mansfield, Ohio, inside you will find the 1950s charm is still going strong. And yes they are other American classics on the menu beyond just burgers and fries, such as fried chicken, hot dogs, grilled cheese, and more.

Like this salad with a generous amount of cheese on top – ha!

We obviously were there for the burgers, fries, and most importantly the root beer. I always appreciate a root beer joint that understands that root beer should not be served with ice. Don’t dilute the magic! Instead their house made root beer was served in as frosted mug the way it was meant to be.

And it was pretty darn tasty as well! I would describe it as creamy with a little zest to it, vanilla, and medium flavor. I tend to prefer more bold root beer but it was a close 4 out of 5 on my scale (keeping in mind that a 3 is an everyday god root beer in my book).

Check out my other Root Beer adventures:

• Ashland-Wooster Drive-In (Ashland, OH)
• Frostop Root Beer Drive-In (Huntington, WV)
• Ohio Root Beer Day Trip (Cincinnati/Dayton area)
• Ohio Root Beer Day Trip, Round 2 (Dayton area)

Five years ago: Monthly Meal Plan: September

Eight years ago: No-Churn Fluffernutter Ice Cream

Ten years ago: Pizza Quinoa Casserole

2021 was a delicious year but which recipes were the best of 2021? Here’s the top 10 based upon your most loves and 10 more of mine that also deserve some attention.

Here we are, less than a day from 2022 and I’m still over here referring to 2019 and last year. I know I am not alone in this as it was a constant point of discussion as the year winded down. But despite 2019 seeming like it was less than a year ago and another year in semi-quarantine, somehow a lot has happened in 2021.

Unfortunately, not all of it was good either. Let’s recap the bad and then focus on the good after that:

THE BAD

• In March, my dad shockingly had triple bypass surgery but recovered quickly and is doing great. I say shockingly because he had zero pre-existing conditions and no warning signs. Heck he’s more active than most people in his age range.
• In April we suffered the unexpected, painful loss of my mother. That was excruciatingly terrible. Thank goodness for great family and friends that helped me through that.
• In August, we had to help our cat Tigger cross the rainbow bridge. I never thought we would cry so much over a pet, but Bob especially went through a lot with him and you know… we were primed with emotion. And it was the same week as the one year anniversary of his best friend’s passing in 2020.
• A few days later our wonderful, elderly neighbor passed away.

So yea, that’s all I have to say about all that…

THE GOOD

• We added another nephew to our collection! Legit have all nephews (6 and counting). Even my closest cousins have boys (which would put us at 9).
• We tended to our garden as usual, took virtual cooking classes, and attended more virtual meetings/conferences for work than we can count.
• Went on a few root beer day trips, were honored guests at three weddings, went on a spontaneous trip with friends to Belize, and were lucky enough to have a few visits from friends and family. 
• Our neighborhood continued HHs on Fridays, forming a spaced out circle of lawn chairs in a neighbors driveway. We also continued hosting food trucks which were sometimes the highlight of the week.
• My grandmother turned 104 on December 12th! Although she has declined as of late and may not be with us much longer.
• Spent Christmas in Sedona with some family members we had not seen in 2 years.
• My hair is now teal :-P.
• We adopted 2 kittens! Like 3 days ago so their names are still TBD. Attempting to fill the void of all our losses.

And of course, all the food!

BEST OF 2021

10. Hoisin Glazed Salmon and Brussels Sprouts – After my dad’s triple bypass surgery, I was prompted to force myself to find ways to like salmon. This easy sheet pan hoisin glazed salmon and brussels sprouts is great for weeknight dinners or even weekend visits with friends or family.

9. Lunar Bramble Cocktail – Floral, citrus gin pairs with fruity black currant liqueur and allspice dram in this lunar bramble cocktail. Fingers crossed we a cheers-ing to a better year.

8. Ohio Nachos – What are Ohio Nachos? Crunchy kettle chips topped with alfredo sauce, blue, cheese, and chives. Hello craveable. Not surprised these made your list.

7. Pumpkin Goat Cheese Ravioli with Pecan and Sage Brown Butter Sauce – I don’t know if I enjoyed making these more or eating them. Who am I kidding – eating them! These flavorful homemade pumpkin goat cheese ravioli are perfect when paired with pecans, crispy sage, and brown butter sauce.

6. Ohio Root Beer Day Trip – My love of root beer took a new level this year. I had this trip planned pre-pandemic and finally made it happen. Loved how many of you virtually took a ride with me to SW Ohio to root beer stands, one of my favorite grocery stores, and breweries. I actually posted a second trip, another in WV, and have a couple more backlogged that I need to share soon!

5. Olive Oil Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies – These olive oil dark chocolate chip cookies are everything you love about a big chewy cookie with the added benefit of using olive oil instead of butter! Make them will butter flavored olive oil for a real treat.

4. Crunchwrap Supreme Burgers – What’s better than a homemade crunch wrap? Crunch wrap supreme burgers! A taco seasoned burger patty is folded up with all your favorite fillings.

3. Sweet Macaroni Salad – Sweet macaroni salad sounded gross to me at first, but it is must have for any backyard BBQ or cookout. Figured it had to be in my mom’s recipe box for a reason.

2. Lord of the Rings Menu – The Seven Hobbit Meals – Ever wondered what it’s like to be a hobbit? The key is seven meals a day and I’ve got you prepared with a line up for an entire day!

1. Magic Chocolate Walnut Fudge – It melts my heart that the number one most popular recipe on my blog this year was one I found in my mom’s recipe box. Also helps that you only need four ingredients and you’ll have the best fudge without fail!

MY FAVORITES OF 2021

10. Whipped Feta with Honey – I’m not normally one to embrace internet trends, but whipped feta is so stinking good and simple. Loved this version topped with real honey and pistachios.

9. Raspberry Thyme Dark Chocolate Chip Brown Butter Cookies – These raspberry thyme dark chocolate chip brown butter cookies may have a lot going on but the flavors compliment each other beautifully. Even better cause I used raspberries and thyme from our garden.

8. Grape & Gorgonzola Pizza – Take white pizza to the next level with this grape & gorgonzola pizza. Complimented by a little rosemary and honey this pizza is a must for anyone who likes to get a little adventurous with their pizza toppings.

7. Cheetos Cheddar Arancini – These cheddar arancini and not only made with cheddar cheese in the risotto, but they are also stuffed with a cube of cheese and coated in crushed Cheetos! Cheese me.

6. S’mores Buckeyes – Every year I come up with at least one new buckeye variety and this year was s’mores buckeyes. With marshmallows and graham crackers inside and out, these buckeyes are a peanut butter and s’mores lovers dreams.

5. Sourdough Focaccia Pizza – 2021 was the year of the focaccia. It took a couple of tries to get it just right and it paid off because this fluffy sourdough focaccia pizza crust was excellent topped with pizza sauce, melty cheese, cup and char pepperoni, fresh basil, and a drizzle of hot honey.

4. Chai Snickerdoodle Peach Cobbler – This chai snickerdoodle peach cobbler is topped with chai spiced snickerdoodle cookie dough. Basically chai and peach are my newest favorite summer pairing.

3. Apricot Pork Chops – Another from my mom’s recipe box. All you need is four ingredients and an hour to have these amazingly flavorful apricot pork chops on your table. Instant favorite that we will make again and again.

2. Lemongrass Coconut White Chocolate Chip Cookies – Take your taste buds on an exotic tropical journey with these lemongrass coconut white chocolate chip cookies. It’s the flavor combination you’ve been missing.

1. Vegan Spicy Chicken Sandwich – Who knew vegan spicy chicken could be so damn delicious? Made with homemade, seitan even as a meat eater I adored this sandwich. Better yet it tastes just like my favorite chicken sandwich in town which sadly is no longer in business.

See the top recipes from other years:

1. Best of 2024
2. Best of 2023
3. Best of 2022
4. Best of 2020
5. Best of 2019
6. Best of 2018
7. Best of 2017
8. Best of 2016
9. Best of 2015
10. Best of 2014
11. Best of 2013
12. Best of 2012
13. Best of 2011

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