Top 10 Bakepedia Recipes of 2013

There are mere hours left until we ring in a brand new year, and we look forward to seeing what 2014 brings to the Bakepedia community, but there’s still time to reflect on the last few months! We launched in mid-August and have since enjoyed a great following with some very loyal fans who keep coming back for more. If you’re just joining us, here’s a roundup of our top recipes of 2013 to get you caught up on all the excitement, and for our regulars to reminisce about all the fun they’ve had baking with us this year!

10. Buckeyes – The ladies of Liddabit Sweets, Liz Gutman and Jen King, shared a recipe for one of their most popular candies that you can find at their flagship store in New York City’s Chelsea Market. These Buckeyes feature peanut-butter filling rolled into balls and dipped into chocolate, and the recipe yields plenty, so prepare yourself for an oncoming addiction or start getting used to being everyone’s favorite neighbor. (Image: Rachel Been.)

9. Chocolate Ganache – Ganache is a simple staple that all bakers should have in their repertoire. You’ve loved this recipe for its versatility, being able to transform from a chocolate sauce or glaze to thick and creamy frosting or delectable truffles depending on the temperature. We use this and variations in many desserts, including cheesecake brownies, Champagne cake, cupcakes, flourless chocolate cake and more. Click here for more recipes using ganache. (Image: Dédé Wilson.)

8. Easy Chocolate Cake – One of our very first cakes was also one of your favorites. It’s a foolproof chocolate cake recipe that requires no electric mixer and also has the benefit of being vegan for all to enjoy. Make sure to check out the comments section here, there are a lot of great questions about ingredients and adjustments for different pan sizes. (Image: Dédé Wilson.)

7. Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust in Jars – Shaina Olmanson’s use of mini Mason jars appealed to our Pinterest addiction (as well as our community’s, this one went viral on Tumblr!), but it was the use of our favorite seasonal ingredient within a delicious cheesecake recipe that really stole the show. (Image: Shaina Olmanson.)

6. Almond Buttercrunch Toffee – The toffee in this recipe has a deep flavor from the brown sugar and is layered with dark chocolate and toasted-almond topping. It may look a little daunting, but we trust that if you read the recipe all the way through before beginning and you take your time, you’ll be rewarded with a sinfully satisfying treat. (Image: Dédé Wilson.)

5. English Muffins – The Model Bakery in California became a national name thanks to this recipe, which was featured on Food Network’s The Best Thing I Ever Ate and now appears in its new cookbook. Read the comments for some important notes from co-author Rick Rodgers, and check out the Bakepedia tag on Instagram to see how one fan documented each step of the English muffin-making process. (Image: Frankie Frankeny.)

4. Blackout Cake – This is a chocolate-lover’s dream; black cocoa gives the cake an Oreo-cookie flavor and it is layered with a chocolate pudding that keeps the dessert rich and moist for days – if it lasts that long, it sure doesn’t in our house. The recipe is easy to follow for bakers of every level, and if you were a fan of Ebinger’s original Blackout Cake in the ’70s, you’ll be taken back to the bakery’s golden era in New York. (Image: Dédé Wilson.)

3. Raspberry Rose Ombré Cake – We were actually quite surprised this wasn’t number one on the list, as it has inspired so many of our fans to try making one of their own, even beginners! Project cakes like this look overwhelming, but as long as you have confidence in yourself and follow the directions, we know you can pull it off (and we want to see photos of the results, too!). To pipe the rosettes, Dédé used what she regards as the best star tip ever, the Wilton 1M. (Image: Dédé Wilson.)

2. Italian Meringue Buttercream Frosting – This recipe is another important staple of a baker’s repertoire, a versatile frosting that can be transformed with myriad colors and flavors, and can even be used in place of fondant for wedding cakes to mimic its smooth, flawless finish. There is a helpful video to guide you through the process, as well as many great tips within the comments. P.S. The espresso variation is the buttercream flavor that we used in the Easy Chocolate Cake recipe above. (Image: Dédé Wilson.)

1. Coconut Pineapple Cake – If you like piña coladas… then this is the cake that you’ve been looking for. The cake itself is made with coconut milk in the batter, then filled with crushed pineapple, frosted with vanilla buttercream and covered with shredded coconut. You made this recipe the most popular of the year by sharing it on Facebook, drooling over it on Pinterest and most importantly, baking it for all your friends to enjoy. (Image: Dédé Wilson.)

Did your favorite make the list? Which recipe was your number one?