20 most popular recipes published on the blog in 2018, including healthy and wholesome dishes, as well as decadent desserts. Life is all about balance!
It’s a wrap! 2018 is almost over, with hundreds of new recipes on the blog, many food series based on specific ingredients, and a few other lifestyle posts and video projects. I have been working very hard to make all this happen and my biggest reward is to see your enthusiasm when making them. I will never say it enough: the blog wouldn’t exist without you. Thank you, dear reader, for engaging with me and being part of this amazing community that is continuing to grow ever so strongly.
Before the new year begins with many more plant-based recipes and other decadent desserts to come, let’s wrap up 2018 and look back on the most popular recipes published this year.
20. Coffee Brownie Cheesecake
Coffee Brownie Cheesecake – To all coffee lovers, this dessert is a must. It’s not your average dessert; it’s definitely something you plan to bake when you have an army of guests coming over (the entire cheesecake can feed about 12 hungry mouths). So what is it made of? On top of a rich chocolate brownie, you have a thick coffee cream cheese layer and a dark chocolate ganache. Don’t let the recipe intimidate you, it’s much easier to prepare than it seems.
19. Superfood Green Energy Balls
Superfood Green Energy Balls – You know I love energy balls and you have plenty of healthy snack recipes on the blog. This one is among my very favorite ones, using raw cashews, the superfood spirulina, and a drizzle of chocolate. Prepare them ahead of time, freeze, and grab two of them once in a while when a little craving nags you.
18. French Strawberry Tart with Pastry Cream
French Strawberry Tart with Pastry Cream – This tart is a classic in France and a dessert I have been enjoying since my childhood. Part of my monthly French baking challenge that I started this year, it triggered a keen interest among all of you: the homemade crust, the pastry cream, and the fresh strawberries make it simply irresistible.
17. Chocolate Chip Vanilla Custard Brioches Suisses
Chocolate Chip Vanilla Custard Brioches Suisses – I am so proud of these ones. They have always been my favorites over chocolate croissants and it’s been a personal project for me to bake them exactly the way I remember from my childhood. They are also part of my monthly French baking challenge.
16. Vegetarian Jackfruit Pulled Pork Burger
Vegetarian Jackfruit Pulled Pork Burger – I discovered jackfruit a few years ago as a substitute for meat, and more specifically to replace pulled pork. I loved it right away. It’s all about the barbecue seasoning. For the rest, the texture is uncannily similar. Notice also the burger bun, which is by far the best I ever made.
15. One Pot Vegan Quinoa Chili
One Pot Vegan Quinoa Chili – I’m crazy about chili and put an extra effort to prepare this one in a vegan version for healthy reasons (eating more veggies mostly). To make it wholesome and nourishing, I used quinoa which appears to be a good replacement for minced meat and its texture. It’s definitely a classic in my house now, and the kind of dish to prepare ahead of time so you have plenty of it for the rest of the week.
14. Best Ever Ginger Lime Carrot Soup
Best Ever Ginger Lime Carrot Soup – Nothing can beat a good homemade soup. In this one, you will find carrots, coconut milk and ginger, to which I added lime juice that makes it extra special. Perfect for chilly days out there.
13. Fancy Salmon Avocado Eggs Benedict
Fancy Salmon Avocado Eggs Benedict – They make the perfect savory brunch or breakfast with almost no effort. Learn how to prepare poached eggs the easy way and these Eggs Benedict will hold no secret for you anymore.
12. Easy Pad Thai (vegan, gluten-free)
Easy Pad Thai (vegan, gluten-free) – Almost every single time I order Thai food, I go for a pad Thai. This vegan version is super easy to prepare with simple ingredients, which is why I cook it very often. I also love that it is a very versatile dish, which enables you to use various vegetables depending on what you have at hand. Add tofu for a vegan/vegetarian version, or meat (chicken) for a more classic version.
11. Moroccan Chickpea and Apricot Tagine (vegan, gluten-free)
Moroccan Chickpea and Apricot Tagine (vegan, gluten-free) – Use your winter vegetables in a delicious vegan tagine, bursting with sweet and savory flavors. A personal favorite of mine.
10. Vegan Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Vegan Banana Oatmeal Cookies – With no effort, you can bake these healthy banana oatmeal cookies. They will be perfect for breakfast on-the-go or a quick snack. High in fiber, they are entirely vegan and can be tweaked, depending on the ingredients you like in your cookies: mini chocolate chips, walnuts, etc.
9. Easy Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles (vegan)
Easy Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles (vegan) – Super quick and easy to prepare, these spicy peanut butter noodles are another personal favorite for lazy days. Add protein of your choice and more vegetables to make it wholesome and nourishing.
8. Easy French Pains aux Raisins
Easy French Pains aux Raisins – Another recipe which is part of my monthly French baking challenge (it seems you liked the idea a lot!). With this easy version, these pains aux raisins become a delicious treat to add to your breakfast basket on the weekend.
7. French Brioche à Tête
French Brioche à Tête – If you are craving the authentic French brioche à tête, go read this post where I explain all the tips and tricks I use, based on my personal experience and previous failed attempts (the only way we really learn). Note that it is important to use a stand mixer for this specific recipe that requires a long and delicate kneading process.
6. Cranberry Quinoa Stuffed Roasted Butternut Squash
Cranberry Quinoa Stuffed Roasted Butternut Squash – A perfect vegetarian dish that will bring you comfort in the winter. Butternut squash, quinoa, pecans and cranberries are the main ingredients of this recipe. Add a little bit of olive oil and lemon for the seasoning and the dish is basically ready!
5. Dark Chocolate Mousse (The one and only!)
Dark Chocolate Mousse (The one and only!) – Is there anything to add here? This is the only chocolate mousse recipe I ever make, and I have been sticking to the recipe for many years. With just 4 or 5 simple ingredients, no dairy, and dark chocolate, you obtain perfection at every single attempt.
4. Perfect Lemon Ricotta Bundt Cake
Perfect Lemon Ricotta Bundt Cake – Probably the best cake I prepared this year, at least if, like me, you like a moist texture and a fresh lemony flavor. Prepared with wholesome ingredients only, this cake recipe is a lifetime keeper.
3. Easy Classic No-Knead Bread
Easy Classic No-Knead Bread – One of the biggest challenges this year was to encourage you to prepare homemade bread. This no-knead version is a foolproof recipe that you can adapt in 4 other ways: with wholesome wheat, with seeds, with rosemary and olives, and with walnuts & figs. Try it once, and you’ll see how easy it is!
2. Quick Oatmeal Banana Blender Pancakes
Quick Oatmeal Banana Blender Pancakes – For a quick, healthy and energizing breakfast, try this simple oatmeal banana pancake recipe mixed in a blender. Drizzle with maple syrup, and dig in!
1. Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies
Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies – With no surprise, the most popular recipe is the Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. Hundreds and hundreds of you have already tried their hands at this New York style recipe that is by far the best you can ever imagine. Rich and loaded with chocolate chips and walnuts, they are crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside. If there were only one single recipe to try on this blog, I would probably go for this one.
Bonus: my 2 personal favorites in 2018
1. Spicy Thai Coconut Pumpkin Curry
Spicy Thai Coconut Pumpkin Curry – With its comforting and slightly spicy flavors, this pumpkin curry with a creamy Thai coconut sauce is my everything, especially in winter. Served here with pasta and spinach, it makes a wholesome, yet sophisticated and nourishing dish.
2. Decadent Chocolate Chestnut Fondant
Decadent Chocolate Chestnut Fondant – It’s my favorite easy dessert this year. With absolutely no effort and just a few ingredients mixed together, you get an irresistible melt-in-your-mouth kind of cake. Serve with a side of vanilla custard or whipped cream.
What about you? Which recipes were your favorite ones this year? Let me know your thoughts and feel free to share your recipe requests for next year; I will be more than happy to read them.
Happy New Year to all of you!
