Another year has passed, and I’m reflecting on a period of changes and fresh decisions. One of the best choices I made was to bring renewed focus to my blog. Spending more time on recipe development and presentation has been incredibly rewarding, and I’ve enjoyed sharing new ideas and flavors with you.
Below are the ten most viewed recipes on the blog from 2016 — a mix of classic cookies, comforting sweets, spice blends and three irresistible popcorn variations. Each entry includes a short note on texture, flavor and how I like to serve them.
10. Cantuccini – Italian Biscotti Recipe
This Cantuccini, or Italian biscotti recipe, is straightforward and forgiving, producing crisp almond cookies with a lighter bite than very hard traditional versions. They’re perfect for dunking in coffee, tea or a dessert wine, and they make a lovely homemade gift once cooled and stored in an airtight tin. I’m happy to see a classic like this land in the top 10.
9. Engadiner Nusstorte – Swiss Nut Tart
The Engadiner Nusstorte is a rich Swiss walnut tart made with a tender shortcrust pastry and a glossy, caramel-like walnut filling. Its combination of buttery crust and chewy, nutty center makes it ideal for special occasions and holiday gatherings. It keeps well and can be sliced thin for serving, so it’s a dessert that’s as practical as it is delicious.
8. Fresh Cinnamon and Ginger Buttercream
This buttercream blends warm cinnamon and bright ginger with a hint of lemon for balance. It’s especially lovely paired with pumpkin pecan cupcakes or used as a filling for layered cakes. Smooth and aromatic, it’s versatile enough for piping decorations or spreading between layers — and I was pleasantly surprised by how many of you loved it.
7. Irresistible Pumpkin Spice Popcorn (Speculaas Popcorn)
Pumpkin Spice Popcorn, also styled here as Speculaas Popcorn, is a cozy snack for fall and winter. The seasoning mix delivers warm, spiced notes that coat each kernel for a sweet-and-spicy crunch. Quick to make and highly shareable, this popcorn is one of three popcorn recipes that made it into the top 10 this year — clearly popcorn season remains a reader favorite.
6. Speculaas Spice Mix (Speculaaskruiden)
Speculaas Spice Mix, or Speculaaskruiden, is a fragrant blend commonly used in Dutch baking. The mix brings warmth and complexity to cookies, cakes and spiced drinks, and it’s useful to have on hand when you want that classic holiday aroma at home. I’m glad to see this traditional spice blend resonated with so many of you.
5. Kadaif: A Sweet & Crispy Dessert (Kadayif)
Kadaif squares are a textural delight: crisp, buttery strands on top with a soft, syrup-soaked base and crunchy walnuts in between. They often taste even better the next day after the syrup has fully penetrated the pastry. If you enjoy layered sweets with contrasting textures and a pronounced nutty sweetness, these are for you.
4. Chocolate Salty Balls
Playful and indulgent, this Chocolate Salty Balls recipe was inspired by South Park’s Chef song and adapted into a bakeable treat. Sweet, salty and chocolaty, these bites are meant to be enjoyed with a sense of humor — and they certainly generated a lot of laughs when I posted them. Great for parties or as a cheeky homemade snack.
3. Sweet Honey Popcorn
Sweet Honey Popcorn is simple to make and nearly impossible to stop eating. The honey coating adds a gentle sweetness and a hint of chew, while the popcorn stays light and airy. This was one of my earliest popcorn recipes on the blog, and I’m delighted it’s still a favorite among readers.
2. Addictive Cinnamon and Sugar Popcorn
This cinnamon-and-sugar popcorn hits the perfect balance of warmth and sweetness. It’s crunchy, aromatic and truly addictive — a quick batch comes together in minutes and disappears even faster. It’s easy to tweak the sweetness level to taste, making it a reliable snack for movie nights or casual gatherings.
1. How to Make Deliciously Addictive Cornflour Cookies
Topping the list are Surinamese Cornflour Cookies, a childhood favorite of mine. These cookies are wonderfully simple: tender, melt-in-your-mouth little treats that are fun to make with kids and perfect for packing into a cookie tin. Seeing one of my personal favorites become your favorite too makes me very happy.
Thank you for reading and for trying these recipes. Your enthusiasm and feedback keep me inspired to develop more treats and useful guides. If you have a favorite from the list (or a request for something new), I’d love to hear about it in the comments on the blog.