Top 21 Most-Loved Recipes of 2021: Trending Dishes You’ll Want to Try

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With the New Year approaching, it’s time to look back at the recipes you loved most. We published many new dishes this year, and several long-time favorites also made the list. Below are The 21 Most Popular Recipes of 2021. These are the recipes you clicked, baked, and shared the most — many are cozy holiday classics, and a few surprises made a big splash.

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

This recap is one of my favorite annual traditions on the blog. It’s always fun to see which recipes connect the most. One of this year’s top posts actually underperformed when first published but went viral after a recent reshare — proof that great recipes find their audience. We’re so grateful for your support and for making this year our biggest yet.

From everyone here at Baker’s Table, thank you. Your baking, sharing, commenting, and ratings make this possible. We appreciate each member of our growing Bakers Table family.

Enjoy the holiday break, and see if you can guess which recipe finished at number one.

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, sweet, and rich. Each candy is finished with an extra drizzle of chocolate and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for balance. Inspired by the classic treat, this version adds a few special touches for a more decadent result.

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 finished with an easy two-ingredient lemon glaze. These small-batch rolls taste like summer and melt in your mouth — a bright, tender 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 are easy to make and perfectly spiced, with a crisp exterior and soft, melt-in-your-mouth interior. Brown sugar and a generous blend of spices — including extra ginger and molasses — give them a warm, seasonal flavor 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

Two-ingredient roasted pecans: pecans and salted butter. Roasting brings out their buttery, nutty flavor with a hint of sweet and salty contrast. These are an addictive snack for any day or a great addition to salads and desserts.

overhead shot cookies with star anise and two cinnamon sticks

17. Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

These chewy molasses cookies are packed with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and allspice. Brown sugar and molasses deliver deep, warming flavor and soft texture — a favorite for cooler weather and holiday cookie swaps.

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

16. Tiramisu Layer Cake

A vanilla-infused layer cake soaked with coffee and liqueur, filled with mascarpone cream, dusted with cocoa, and crowned with Chantilly cream. It combines the classic tiramisu flavors in an elegant cake form — rich, moist, and indulgent.

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. With just three ingredients, this guide shows how to make light, stable whipped cream every time — perfect for finishing desserts with a classic, silky touch.

14. Homemade Glazed Vanilla Doughnuts

Light, fluffy fried doughnuts with a classic vanilla glaze. These homemade doughnuts are soft and tender, served warm for the best texture and flavor — an indulgent weekend treat that tastes like your favorite bakery version.

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

This one-pot casserole combines boiled sweet potatoes with bourbon, nutmeg, vanilla, and brown sugar, then finishes with roasted marshmallows for a sweet and comforting side dish that’s easy to prepare and perfect for holiday dinners.

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

12. Cinnamon Sugar Candied Pecans

Stovetop candied pecans coated in sugar, cinnamon, a splash of vanilla, and a pinch of salt. The vanilla brightens the flavors and keeps these pecans irresistibly good — ideal for snacking or topping desserts and salads.

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

11. Easy Southern Pecan Pie

A classic Southern pecan pie with a flaky crust and a rich custard filling made from brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, eggs, vanilla, and plenty of pecans. Baked until golden and just set, it’s a timeless dessert for gatherings.

– 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 shoepeg corn and green bean casserole topped with buttery Ritz crackers. Made without canned soup, this fresh vegetable casserole is creamy, cheesy, and perfectly seasoned — an essential Thanksgiving side.

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. Creamy and intensely chocolatey with a coffee kick, they make an elegant homemade treat — finish with chocolate curls or a single coffee bean for presentation.

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

A tender, spiced pumpkin cake rolled around a luscious white chocolate cream cheese filling. Light, fluffy, and full of pumpkin flavor, this roll is ideal for holiday dessert tables and seasonal gatherings.

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

7. Apple Pie Coffee Cake with Cinnamon Pecan Streusel

A soft, buttery coffee cake layered with homemade apple pie filling and topped with cinnamon pecan streusel. It’s a comforting fall bake made from simple pantry ingredients and perfect with a cup of coffee.

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

6. Pumpkin Pie Bars with Shortbread Cookie Crust

Creamy pumpkin bars on an easy shortbread cookie crust, topped with Chantilly cream and a dusting of pumpkin pie spice. Rich, pumpkin-forward, and perfectly portioned for sharing.

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-infused nut cake loaded with raisins and chopped pecans and finished with a splash of bourbon. This rich, flavorful cake is a traditional holiday favorite with layered textures and deep, comforting flavors.

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

4. Sourdough Hamburger Buns

Light, soft sourdough buns brushed with olive oil and baked to golden perfection. These are perfect for burgers, sandwiches, or any meal that benefits from a tender, flavorful bun.

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

3. Spiced Apple Bundt Cake with Caramel Drizzle

A simple yet show-stopping bundt cake featuring spiced apples and a caramel drizzle. It’s an easy fall dessert that looks impressive but requires minimal effort.

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

2. Southern Cornbread Dressing

A crowd-pleasing holiday side made from buttery cornbread, buttermilk biscuits, chicken stock, sautéed onions and celery, and eggs. This dressing transforms simple ingredients into a flavorful casserole even skeptics will love.

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

1. Lemon and Sour Cream Pound Cake with Lemon Glaze

Our top recipe of the year is a bright, tender pound cake made with lemon and sour cream, finished with a lemon glaze. It’s bursting with citrus flavor, perfectly sweet, and melts in your mouth — a standout for any season that calls for a fresh, citrusy dessert.

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

Bonus: Winter Citrus Tart

As a bonus, our Winter Citrus Tart also ranked highly. It’s a simple, elegant tart showcasing bright winter citrus flavors — light, pretty, and incredibly delicious.

If you tried any of these 21 Most Popular Recipes of 2021, please leave a comment and tell us how it turned out. We love seeing your photos and hearing your feedback. If you share your bakes on social media, don’t forget to tag us — your pictures always make our day.