Top 21 Trending Recipes of 2021: Most-Loved Dishes You Tried

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With the New Year approaching, it’s time to look back and count down the most-loved recipes of the year. We shared many new dishes in 2021, and readers jumped in to bake and enjoy them. A few longtime favorites also resurfaced in this year’s list. Below you’ll find the 21 Most Popular Recipes of 2021.

three doughnuts stacked with a bite taken out of one, flowers, milk, and more doughnuts behind

Counting down our top posts is always one of my favorite moments of the year. It’s fun and full of surprises—especially when a post that didn’t perform well originally suddenly goes viral after being reshared. I’m so grateful for each of you who read, bake, share, comment, and rate the recipes here. You’ve helped make this our biggest year yet by supporting the Bakers Table community.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We appreciate every photo, message, and review. Enjoy the list below—and see if you can guess which recipe took the top spot in 2021.

The Most Popular Recipes of 2021

almond joys on parchment with almonds and chocolate chips

21. Homemade Almond Joys

These Homemade Dark Chocolate Almond Joys are simple to make and satisfyingly sweet. Each candy is coated in dark chocolate, finished with an extra drizzle and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. It’s a refined take on a classic, with small touches that elevate every bite.

overhead shot of lemon rolls in pie pan with a napkin, forks, lemons, flowers, lemon curd, and plates

20. Small Batch Lemon Sweet Rolls with Lemon Glaze

Buttery dough swirled with homemade lemon curd and topped with a simple two-ingredient lemon glaze. These small batch rolls taste like summer and melt in your mouth—an ideal bright breakfast or brunch treat.

iced gingerbread cookies on gold cooling rack with napkin, greenery, lights, and piping bag

19. Homemade Gingerbread Cookies

These gingerbread cookies have a crisp exterior and a soft, melt-in-your-mouth center. With an extra boost of ginger and brown sugar, they balance sweet and spice perfectly, with warm molasses notes—ideal for holiday baking.

pulled back shot of roasted pecans in old cake pan with parchment paper, a bowl of salt, vintage spoon , flowers, book pages, and other pecans around

18. Salted Butter Roasted Pecans

Just two ingredients—pecans and salted butter—roasted to bring out buttery, nutty, slightly sweet flavors. These roasted pecans make an excellent snack any day of the week.

overhead shot cookies with star anise and two cinnamon sticks

17. Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

Soft and chewy with warming spices—ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and allspice—these molasses cookies are a fall favorite. Brown sugar deepens the flavor, making each bite cozy and satisfying.

close up of cake with slice missing out of it on white cake stand

16. Tiramisu Layer Cake

This tiramisu-inspired layer cake features vanilla-infused white cake soaked with coffee and coffee liqueur, a mascarpone cream filling, a dusting of cocoa powder, and a finish of Chantilly cream. It captures all the classic tiramisu flavors in cake form.

angled image of piped chantilly cream in small glass on top of white plate with spoon beside and two strawberries behind.

15. How To Make Chantilly Cream

Chantilly Cream is a versatile topping for pies, ice cream, crepes, cakes, and cheesecakes. This simple three-ingredient recipe teaches you how to achieve the perfect texture and flavor every time.

14. Homemade Glazed Vanilla Doughnuts

Light, fluffy doughnuts fried to golden perfection and glazed with a sweet vanilla icing. Best served warm, they’re a delightful treat that transforms any morning into something special.

overhead shot of sweet potato casserole with roasted marshmallows on a grey napkin with some on a plate and glass of bourbon

13. Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole with Roasted Marshmallows

Simple and comforting: boiled sweet potatoes flavored with bourbon, nutmeg, vanilla, and brown sugar, topped with roasted marshmallows for a sweet finish. This casserole is easy to prepare and perfect alongside a hearty dinner.

candied pecans in white mug with fairy lights, cinnamon sticks, and more pecans scattered around

12. Cinnamon Sugar Candied Pecans

Stovetop candied pecans made with sugar, cinnamon, a splash of vanilla, and a pinch of salt. The vanilla enhances the sweetness and rounds out the flavor, making them irresistibly snackable.

slice of pecan pie with fork on white plate with pecan pie behind

11. Easy Southern Pecan Pie

This classic pecan pie combines a flaky crust with a rich custard filling of brown sugar, eggs, corn syrup, butter, vanilla, and lots of pecans. Baked until golden and set, it’s a Southern staple for dessert tables.

– The Top 10 –

shoepeg corn and green bean casserole with two gold spoons and thyme

10. Shoepeg Corn and Green Bean Casserole

A southern-style casserole made without canned soup, using fresh vegetables and a buttery Ritz cracker topping. Creamy, cheesy, and perfectly seasoned—this is a Thanksgiving side worth making.

stacked coffee truffles on lined pan with coffee beans and more truffles behind

9. Dark Chocolate Coffee Truffles

Seven-ingredient truffles with a rich coffee-flavored filling coated in dark chocolate. Decadent, creamy, and perfectly balanced—these truffles are a delicious bite-sized pick-me-up.

pumpkin roll on wire rack with small piece of parchment, flowers, on top, more flowers around, and two white pumpkins

8. Spiced Pumpkin Roll with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Filling

Light, tender, and generously spiced, this pumpkin roll is filled with a creamy white chocolate cream cheese filling. It’s a festive dessert that’s both beautiful and flavorful.

nine slices of apple pie coffee cake on parchment with streusel, a knife, and flowers

7. Apple Pie Coffee Cake with Cinnamon Pecan Streusel

This coffee cake features a homemade apple pie filling and a cinnamon pecan streusel topping. Soft, buttery, and full of fall flavors, it’s a comforting bake for cool mornings.

twelve pumpkin pie bars on parchment paper with whole spices, plates, and milk glass

6. Pumpkin Pie Bars with Shortbread Cookie Crust

These creamy pumpkin bars sit on an easy shortbread crust and are topped with Chantilly cream and a dusting of pumpkin spice—perfect for fall gatherings or a seasonal dessert tray.

nut cake with a slice taken out of it on a white plate with fairy lights, greenery, and glasses

5. Southern Holiday Nut Cake

A dense, molasses-tinged cake studded with raisins and pecans and brightened with a splash of bourbon. Rich, textured, and ideal for holiday dessert tables.

six hamburger buns on parchment paper with two stacked behind and a knife

4. Sourdough Hamburger Buns

Soft, airy sourdough buns brushed with olive oil and baked to golden perfection. These buns elevate any burger or sandwich and are best served at room temperature.

apple cinnamon cake on a white plate with caramel being drizzled onto it

3. Spiced Apple Bundt Cake with Caramel Drizzle

An approachable bundt cake loaded with spiced apple flavor and finished with a caramel drizzle. Simple to make yet full of show-stopping fall flavor.

cornbread dressing with a slice sitting in the pan and two plates of dressing

2. Southern Cornbread Dressing

Buttery cornbread and buttermilk biscuits combine with chicken stock, sautéed onions and celery, and eggs to create an incredibly flavorful dressing. This southern classic converts even skeptics into fans and is a standout holiday side.

bundt cake on wire cooling rack with flowers, a slice in front, slice behind, and candied lemon slices

Lemon and Sour Cream Pound Cake with Lemon Glaze

Our number one recipe of the year: Lemon and Sour Cream Pound Cake with Lemon Glaze. Bright lemon flavor and tender crumb come together in a cake that’s rich but light, perfectly balanced, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious—an elegant choice for citrus season.

citrus tart with three slices laying next to it, a cake knife, white napkin, glass, and bowl of citrus slices

Bonus: Winter Citrus Tart

We couldn’t resist sharing a bonus—this winter citrus tart was also a standout this year. Simple, elegant, and bright, it brings together winter citrus flavors in a refreshing, memorable tart.

If you made any of the 21 Most Popular Recipes of 2021, please share a comment and let us know how it turned out. We love seeing your photos and hearing your feedback—tag us on social media when you try a recipe; your pictures always make our day.