It’s no surprise we’ve all spent a lot of time at home this year. The unexpected advantage of staying in the house for so many months was the fact that we had a lot more time to experiment in the kitchen. Even once-in-a-blue-moon cooks learned how to make tortillas from scratch!
Just one look at Google’s trending recipes will show you that we learned how to cook and bake all kinds of new things this year. Some of them are as you’d expect while the rest are…interesting. But then again, what part of 2020 wasn’t interesting, am I right?
10 Trending Recipes We Searched for in 2020
Google has a small disclaimer: these recipes aren’t necessarily the most popular recipes searched for in 2020, but rather recipes that were more consistently searched for in 2020 when compared to 2019. You’ll see what I mean.
Here are the recipes in order:
- Sourdough bread
- Whipped coffee
- Disney churro
- Dole whip
- DoubleTree cookie
- IKEA meatball
- Chaffle
- Hamburger bun
- Egg salad sandwich
- Healthy banana bread
Of course sourdough bread is up on top—bread was the star of the show this year! From frog bread to focaccia, baking was the only thing keeping us sane during the first part of quarantine. But whipped coffee was fun, too. How can you go a day without caffeine?
You can tell everyone was really missing their annual trips by looking at the searches for Dole whip, Disney churros and DoubleTree cookies. Plus, a bit of magic at home never hurt anyone.
The recipe that really jolted me the most was the…chaffle? Yes, the chaffle! It’s a cheese waffle if this is your first time hearing about it. It’s a low carb keto-friendly breakfast food, that I had to Google.
Did You Cook More This Year?
Whether you’re a beginner cook still trying build up your collection of kitchen tools, or a seasoned professional who attempted all kinds of new recipes, we salute you. Cooking almost every meal can be tough, but it’s definitely rewarding. And we need a little reward after a year like this, don’t we? Celebrate yourself this holiday season…you’ve earned it!
Our Absolute Best Desserts of 2020
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Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
We don't want to brag, but as far as vanilla ice cream recipes go, this one is the best. And with only four ingredients, it just might be the easiest, too. No ice cream maker? No problem. Just follow the directions below to learn how to make homemade ice cream by hand. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Creamy Caramel Flan
A small slice of this impressively rich, creamy, caramel flan dessert goes a long way. What a delightful finish for a special meal or holiday celebration. —Pat Forete, Miami, Florida
Rhubarb Crisp
I found this strawberry rhubarb crisp recipe on a box of Quaker Oats about 20 years ago. It's quick and easier to make than pie. It's versatile, too, because you can add strawberries in spring or apples in fall. I usually pop it into the oven shortly before we sit down to eat so it's still warm for dessert! —C.E. Adams, Charlestown, New Hampshire
Peach Cobbler
I created this peach cobbler recipe myself with a few tips from my mom and grandma. Because it's so quick and easy, this cobbler can be made in minutes to suit any occasion. I've used it for a breakfast fruit dish, dinner dessert and light snack. —Martha Betten, North Manchester, Indiana
Chocolate Chip Blondies
Folks who love the flavor of the classic cookie will enjoy that same great flavor in these chocolate chip bars. This blondie recipe can be mixed up in a jiffy, tastes wonderful, and is perfect for occasions when company drops by unexpectedly or you need a treat in a hurry. —Rhonda Knight, Hecker, Illinois
Strawberry Shortcake
I grew up helping my mom make a lot in our farmhouse kitchen; strawberry shortcakes, roasts, soups and pies. This sunny strawberry shortcake recipe brings back memories of family summers on the farm. —Janet Becker, Anacortes, Washington
Grandma’s Rice Pudding
My sisters and I always loved the recipe for rice pudding our grandma made. After she passed away, I took it upon myself to try and find the secret to her rice pudding. It took quite a bit of experimentation, but I finally got it right! And I'm glad to share this easy recipe here. —Margaret DeChant, Newberry, Michigan
Classic Chocolate Cake
If you need to learn how to make chocolate cake from scratch, this easy homemade chocolate cake recipe is a perfect place to start. It appeared on a can of Hershey's cocoa way back in 1943. I tried it, my boys liked it, and I've been making it ever since. —Betty Follas, Morgan Hill, California
First-Place Coconut Macaroons
These coconut macaroons are my husband's favorite and earned me a first-place ribbon at the county fair. I especially like the fact that this recipe makes a small enough batch for the two of us to nibble on without lots left over. —Penny Ann Habeck, Shawano, Wisconsin
Mom’s Fried Apples
Mom often made these fried apples for me while I was growing up. The recipe is very dear to me. —Margie Tappe, Prague, Oklahoma
Vanilla Meringue Cookies
Want to learn how to make meringues? These meringue cookies are super light and airy. They're the perfect fat-free treat. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sweet Potato Pie
This creamy sweet potato pie is subtly spiced and slices beautifully! We suggest baking up a few sweet potato pies around the holidays to give to friends and family. — North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission
Dirt Dessert
Grab your spoon! This sweet dirt pudding recipe is just so good! —Kristi Linton, Bay City, Michigan
Hot Milk Cake
This simple, old-fashioned milk cake tastes so good it will surprise you! As I remember my mom's delicious meals, this dessert was always the perfect ending. Mom always used "a dash of this and dab of that" to come up with what we thought was "the best"! —Rosemary Pryor, Pasadena, Maryland
Chocolate Cheesecake
Everyone’s a chocolate lover when it comes to this special dessert. It melts in your mouth, and it’s very smooth and fudgy. For a fun taste twist, spoon cherry or strawberry topping over each slice right before serving. —Sue Call, Beech Grove, Indiana
Old-Fashioned Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
A pleasingly moist cake, this treat is the one I requested that my mom make each year for my birthday. It's dotted with sweet carrots and a hint of cinnamon. The fluffy buttery frosting is scrumptious with chopped walnuts stirred in. One piece of this homemade carrot cake is never enough—better than all the other carrot cakes recipes I've tried!—Kim Orr, West Grove, Pennsylvania
Big Soft Ginger Cookies
These nicely spiced, big soft ginger cookies are perfect for folks who like the flavor of ginger but don't care for crunchy gingersnaps. —Barbara Gray, Boise, Idaho
French Silk Pie
I first made French silk pie when I was in high school. Years later, I tinkered with the recipe until I was happy with it. Now it’s one of my husband's favorites. —Lisa Francis, Elba, Alabama
Basic Cookie Dough
Skip the store-bought cookie dough and learn how to make cookies from scratch—it's easy! Thanks to this basic cookie dough recipe, you can turn everyday ingredients into five sensational sweets. Bake some right away, then pop the extra dough in the freezer for later. —Gloria McBride, Payson, Utah
Peach Pie
I acquired this delicious peach pie filling recipe some 40 years ago, when my husband and I first moved to southern Iowa and had peach trees growing in our backyard. It's been a family favorite since then and always brings back memories of both summer and those happy early years. — June Mueller, Sioux City, Iowa
Pumpkin Bars
Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting are the ultimate fall treat. But my family likes them so much, they ask me to make them all year long! —Brenda Keller, Andalusia, Alabama
Homemade Chocolate Pudding
This delightful pudding is always a treat and easy to whip up using common pantry ingredients. I usually top the pudding with M&M's. My husband likes whipped topping on his and our daughter loves to dip fresh strawberries in hers. —Carrina Cooper, McAlpin, Florida
Easy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
This easy oatmeal cookie recipe is great with a glass of cold milk! With their peanutty flavor, these scrumptious cookies hit the spot. Plus, they couldn't be easier to make! —Marilyn Blankschien, Clintonville, Wisconsin
Best Angel Food Cake
For our daughter's wedding, a friend made this lovely, angel food cake from a recipe she's used for decades. It really is one of the best angel food cake recipes I've found. Serve slices plain or dress them up with fresh fruit. —Marilyn Niemeyer, Doon, Iowa
Leftover Rice Pudding
This rice pudding with leftover cooked rice is a delicious classic. We also like to dress it up with English toffee bits, chocolate and toasted coconut. —Laura German, North Brookfield, Massachusetts
Scottish Shortbread
Scottish settlers first came to this area over 150 years ago. My mother herself was Scottish, and—as with most of my favorite recipes—she passed this shortbread recipe on to me. I make a triple batch of it each year at Christmas, to enjoy and as gifts. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba
Easy Fresh Strawberry Pie
For my mother's birthday, I made this strawberry pie recipe instead of a cake. Since it was mid-May in Oklahoma, the berries were absolutely perfect. It was a memorable occasion for the whole family. —Josh Carter, Birmingham, Alabama
Frosted Banana Bars
These banana bars are always a hit. I also like to provide them for coffee hour after church. They're so moist and delicious that wherever I take them, they don't last long. —Karen Dryak, Niobrara, Nebraska
Upside-Down Peach Cake
Folks have been flipping over this peach upside-down cake for generations. This dessert is very popular with my family and guests. —Terri Kirschner, Carlisle, Indiana
Winning Apple Crisp
I live in apple country, and a delicious crisp is one good way to use them that doesn't take a lot of time. —Gertrude Bartnick, Portage, Wisconsin
Sugar Cookies
This sugar cookie dates back to a Swedish woman born in 1877! Her daughter, Esther Davis, shared the recipe with me and she came up with all the exact measurements, since the original cookies were mixed by feel and taste. These are my favorite cookies and I hope they'll become yours as well. —Helen Wallis, Vancouver, Washington
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Mom always made this special chocolate mayonnaise cake for my birthday meal. It is very moist and has a nice light chocolate taste, and the flavorful frosting is the perfect topping. —Deborah Amrine, Grand Haven, Michigan
Biscuit Strawberry Shortcake
This biscuit strawberry shortcake is the perfect ending to any meal. Homemade biscuits and fresh berries shine in this classic dessert. —Stephanie Moon, Boise, Idaho
Moist Chocolate Cake
This chocolate cake recipe with coffee reminds me of my grandmother because it was one of her specialties. It always brings back fond memories. The cake is light and airy with a delicious chocolate taste. This recipe is a keeper! —Patricia Kreitz, Richland, Pennsylvania
Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
These soft banana cookies have a cake-like texture and lots of flavor that everyone seems to love. It's one of the best banana cookie recipes I've found. —Vicki Raatz, Waterloo, Wisconsin
Sour Cream Pound Cake
Because I'm our town's postmaster, I can bake only in my spare time. When I do, I especially like this sour cream pound cake recipe. This one tastes great as is, or tucked under ice cream and chocolate syrup like a hot fudge sundae! —Karen Conrad, East Troy, Wisconsin
Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
I like using pretty mini muffin liners and topping these homemade peanut butter cups with colored sprinkles to coordinate with the holiday we're celebrating. People can't believe how simple it is to make this irresistible candy with gooey peanut butter centers. This is how to make homemade peanut butter cups. —LaVonne Hegland, St. Michael, Minnesota
Mom’s Custard Pie
Just a single bite of this traditional custard pie takes me back to the days when Mom would fix this pie for Dad, Grandfather and me. Mom also regularly prepared pies for large gatherings. This dessert was often requested. —Barbara Hyatt, Folsom, California
Tennessee Peach Pudding
This out-of-this-world is one of our favorite, easy peach recipes. I was raised in Oklahoma, and we used Elberta peaches right off our trees when we made this outstanding cobbler. —Virginia Crowell, Lyons, Oregon
Grandma’s Red Velvet Cake
In our family no one thinks it’s Christmas without this Red Velvet Cake recipe. I baked the first one for Christmas in 1963 when I found the recipe in the newspaper and my Mother kept the tradition going into the ’80s. It’s different than other Red Velvet Cakes I’ve tasted over the years, since this one tastes only mildly chocolate and the icing is as light as snow. —Kathryn H. Davison, Charlotte, North Carolina
Strawberry Pretzel Dessert
This make-ahead strawberry pretzel salad will disappear quickly. —Aldene Belch, Flint, Michigan
Funnel Cakes
This funnel cake recipe is simpler to make than doughnuts, and it's just as good. Funnel cakes have been a favorite of ours since we came across them living in the Ozarks. —Mary Faith Yoder, Unity, Wisconsin
Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert
The desserts of my dreams have both chocolate and peanut butter. So, when I came up with this rich chocolate peanut butter dessert, it quickly became my all-time favorite. It's a cinch to whip together because it doesn't require any baking. My family loves this chocolate peanut butter cup lasagna! —Debbie Price, LaRue, Ohio
Favorite Banana Cream Pie
This homemade banana cream pie recipe is my mom’s specialty, and this dreamy dessert has a wonderful banana flavor. It looks so pretty, and it cuts easily, too. —Jodi Grable, Springfield, Missouri
Lemon Chiffon Cake
This moist, airy lemon chiffon cake was my dad's favorite. Mom revamped the original recipe to include lemons. I'm not much of a baker, but whenever I make this dessert my family is thrilled! —Trisha Kammers, Clarkston, Washington
Chewy Oatmeal Cookies
I packed chocolate chips, raisins, nuts and cinnamon into my oatmeal cookie recipe. These soft cookies are easy to make. Best of all, our kids love them! —Janis Plageman, Lynden, Washington
Incredible Coconut Cake
I found this coconut cake recipe in a newspaper many years ago and modified it to suit my taste. This is my all-time favorite cake, and my family and friends absolutely love it. —Lynne Bassler, Indiana, Pennsylvania
Favorite Pumpkin Cake Roll
This pumpkin roll recipe is great to keep in the freezer for a quick dessert for my family or unexpected guests, to take to a gathering or to give as a yummy gift. The recipe is in such demand, I use a 29-ounce can of pumpkin to make four cake rolls at a time. —Erica Berchtold, Freeport, Illinois
Blue-Ribbon Butter Cake
I found this buttercake recipe in an old cookbook I bought at a garage sale and couldn’t wait to try it. I knew it had been someone’s favorite because of the well-worn page. —Joan Gertz, Palmetto, FloridaThe post The Top 10 Recipes Trending on Google in 2020 appeared first on Taste of Home.
Melany Love