We love knowing what you like to make and bake best, and this year there have been so many popular recipes we had to round them all up for everyone to see - here are your 50 favourite recipes on goodtoknow in 2013
We’ve had a lovely year making and creating in the goodtoknow kitchen and you lovely lot have been busy too it seems. We love knowing what you like to make and bake best, and this year there have been so many popular recipes we had to round them all up for everyone to see.
You’ve been busy baking up a storm with lots of delicious cakes coming out on top this year. From little cake pop balls to giant cupcakes, you haven’t been afraid to try new things and we love it!
On the savoury front we have seen lots of love for our classic comfort food recipes such as cottage pie, pasta bakes and hearty soups. Not only have these been popular but it looks like you have also been being good to yourself with lighter calorie versions of these recipes, making healthier dinners for the whole family.
These recipes have been tried and tested by the goodtoknow audience so they'd make the perfect addition to your Recipe Book - add anything in you like the look of and want to try.
So, if you’d like to see the recipes everyone is making this year click through now…
50. Chicken and tomato pasta bake
Sometimes all you need to cheer you up is a nice big bowl of pasta. Even better than pasta is the pasta bake! This classic version, which has been a firm favourite this year, includes juicy chicken chunks, freshness from tomatoes and the best bit - a crunchy baked cheese top.
Get the recipe: Chicken and tomato pasta bake
49. Tea loaf
We can see why this tasty bake is so popular! Quick and easy to pop in the oven but also deliciously moreish, the soft sponge, studded with juicy sweet fruit is the perfect thing to treat yourself to in the afternoon when you need a pick-me-up. What’s more, this yummy bake freezes well too, making it the perfect back-up-bake plan.
Get the recipe: Tea loaf
48. Chocolate chip cookies
Chocolate chip cookies, with a chewy texture, are the perfect biscuit in our eyes. This recipe has lots of chocolate and just the right squidgy texture making them the ideal lunchbox filler for when those little angels of yours who deserve a treat! Don’t forget to keep yourself some as a reward for all your hard work though! This classic recipe is the perfect base for experimentation too.
Get the recipe: Chocolate chip cookies
47. Chicken casserole
In the colder months, and let’s face it that’s quite a lot of the year for us lot, this chicken casserole is the kind of thing we look forward to for dinner all day. With a smooth white wine sauce, flavoured with herbs, streaky bacon and plenty of veg, this is a dinner the whole family will ask for again and again.
Get the recipe: Chicken casserole
46. Chicken, leek and Cheddar bake
This is perfect for the midweek when you're short on time but still want that home cooked dinner as it's ready in just half an hour. A delicious creamy sauce covers juicy chicken chunks and sweet leeks to make a satisfying meal. We think this dish is perfect for any time of the year - and you seem to think so too!
Get the recipe: Chicken, leek and Cheddar bake
45. White wine sauce
Our white wine sauce is one of those recipes we think everyone should be able to make. Turn fish and chicken dishes into a fancy dinner with this quick and easy addition. Rich with Dijon mustard, fresh double cream and herbs, this sauce is sure to impress your friends and family no matter what the occasion is.
Get the recipe: White wine sauce
44. Creamy haddock fish pie
We love Slimming World’s recipes because they never seem like boring old diet food. This creamy haddock fish pie is the perfect example. With rich flavours and luxurious ingredients, it simply tweaks a few of those naughty bits to make it lighter on the cals so you can enjoy guilt-free comfort food.
Get the recipe: Creamy haddock fish pie
43. Slimming World's spaghetti bolognese
This recipe is always a firm favourite with our lovely readers and we're pretty fond of it ourselves. The traditional rich tomato flavours of spaghetti Bolognese are given a slightly lighter vibe with Slimming World’s clever tweaks. Losing none of the flavour, this recipe is the ideal meal when you’re watching your weight but don’t want to double up on dinners when cooking for the family
Get the recipe: Slimming World's spaghetti bolognese
42. Paul Hollywood's cob loaf
The smell of warm bread is one of the best things about making your own loaves. That, and the eating of course! This gorgeous fluffy loaf from expert baker Paul Hollywood has a thick, crunchy crust and makes the very best kind of sandwiches. Once you’ve made this it’ll be hard to go back to the shop-bought stuff so you might as well make this a regular in your recipe rota.
Get the recipe: Paul Hollywood's cob loaf
41. Broccoli, leek and cauliflower cheese
Why have cauliflower cheese when you can have cauliflower, broccoli and leek cheese? We can’t think of a reason either! This recipe is a firm favourite thanks to the sweet leeks, fresh veg and rich and creamy sauce. Baked in the oven, it develops a delicious cheesy crust, which is the best bit! It makes a divine side to a roast dinner or spruces up a mid-week meal in a jiffy.
Get the recipe: Broccoli, leek and cauliflower cheese
40. Chocolate fingers cake
If you have a celebration coming up we think this is the best kind of cake to pull out of the bag for it, a rich chocolate bake covered in even more chocolate. Even if you’re not the most confident baker, this little beauty will still look impressive as you can cover any cracks with delicious chocolate fingers and no one will ever have to know!
Get the recipe: Chocolate fingers cake
39. Pancakes
Breakfast, lunch or dinner, pancakes are a good idea. This simple recipe is fool-proof and produces light and delicious pancakes every time. Why not add chocolate chips or fruit to the mixture to suit your mood? Or top them with classic lemon and sugar, cream and chocolate or them spread with jam to make a quick and easy dessert. You could even fill them with a savoury mix, like chicken and cream cheese, for an easy spin on dinner.
Get the recipe: Pancakes
38. Rapberry muffins
These soft and fluffy raspberry muffins, studded with sweet fruit, make a substantial snack. If you’re looking for something to pack into lunch boxes or to have in that troublesome time between breakfast and lunch, these will do the trick very nicely. We suggest making a double batch, they never last long in our experience…
Get the recipe: Raspberry muffins
37. Chicken and mushroom stroganoff
Combining woody mushrooms, tender chicken chunks and a creamy sauce, stroganoff is consistently one of our most popular recipes. Served up with rice, pasta or potatoes, it makes a delicious dish which works equally well served up as an impressive dinner for friends or as a family mid-week tea with very little fuss.
Get the recipe: Chicken and mushroom stroganoff
36. Lentil and bacon soup
We love making soup to pop in the freezer as a ready made meal for nights when time is tight. Looks like you lovely lot do too, having made this one of your most-loved recipes this year. Filling lentils, with their soft texture, are especially good when cooked with salty bacon, which makes this classic combo one of our favourite soups ever. The perfect cold-curer or healthy homemade lunch.
Get the recipe: Lentil and bacon soup
35. Chicken and prawn paella
Rich Spanish flavours make this one-pan dish a real international favourite. You obviously agree that this is a pretty delicious dinner option too as it’s one of your most-made recipes on our site. With meaty prawn, chunks of tender chicken finished with saffron and paprika, this simple recipe delivers big on flavours (and small on washing up!).
Get the recipe: Chicken and prawn paella
34. Roasted red pepper and tomato soup
Like a big bowl of sunshine, this summery soup makes a gorgeous light dinner or a substantial lunch. Sweet red peppers and slightly acidic tomatoes balance each other perfectly when cooked together with onions, garlic, herbs and rich stock. We like ours with a nice big hunk of fresh crusty bread and butter.
Get the recipe: Roasted red pepper and tomato soup
33. Chocolate muffins
With only four steps and a few ingredients, these chocolate muffins are so simple - even the kids will love helping to make them. Replacing traditional butter with oil and a little milk gives this recipe a light and fluffy texture. Chocolate chunks are the ultimate buried treasure and give these little muffins an added treat element.
Get the recipe: Chocolate muffins
32. Scones
Scones are a tasty bake that are quick and easy but always produce a fantastic result. Spread with butter or topped with indulgent cream and jam, they make a lovely afternoon snack to have with that hot cuppa while you put your feet up. This recipe also works well with milk that has gone slightly past its best so is a great way to use up that bottle that might have otherwise gone in the bin - it'd be a waste after all!
Get the recipe: Scones
31. Chocolate brownies
Rich and chocolatey - these brownies are our idea of heaven! We think taking them out of the oven slightly before they look ready produces the very best fudgy texture and will keep them moist for longer - if they last longer than an afternoon that is! Because the recipe is so rich you can cut these beauties into little squares and make them stretch round a big crowd easily too.
Get the recipe: Brownies
30. Chicken and chorizo pasta
Smoky chorizo and tender chunks of chicken breast turn predictable pasta into an impressive meal. Using chunky pasta shapes will trap all the lovely sauce making your meal even more flavoursome. Why not serve it with a big salad for a balanced supper?
Get the recipe: Chicken and chorizo pasta
29. Sweetcorn fritters
Sometimes we find ourselves feeling a little like Old Mother Hubbard, faced with an empty fridge. This recipe is a tasty solution to that sad situation using mainly store cupboard staples. Kids love these crisp and sweet fritters just as much as adults and what’s more you can sneakily hide just about any veg that you fancy in them.
Get the recipe: Sweetcorn Fritters
28. Cottage pie
The Hairy Bikers know a thing or two about comfort food and have given classic cottage pie a little love to make it even more delicious than the standard version, and it’s lower in fat too! Using leeks to bulk out the potato topping and swapping standard mince for the lean version gives this recipe no less flavour but saves on those naughty calories.
Get the recipe: Cottage pie
27. Hairy Bikers' chicken curry
One of Britain’s favourite dishes, the humble curry, is made easy with this recipe from the boy’s Mums Know Best’ series. Using a blend of spices instead of a shop-bought curry paste gives this chicken curry an authentic depth of flavour and a lovely warmth. Serve up with fluffy rice for a dinner with a difference.
Get the recipe: Hairy Bikers' chicken curry
26. Malteser cheesecake
Maltesers are delicious by themselves but even better when presented like this in a gorgeous dessert. Creamy cheesecake with the crunch of honeycomb and rich chocolate makes this a real naughty but nice pudding, perfect for any special occasion.
Get the recipe: Malteser cheesecake
25. Blueberry muffins
If cakes have fruit in them we think that may as well qualify them as healthy? Get your health kick the best start with these blueberry muffins. Soft sweet sponge with purple bursts of squashy fruit combine to make these little muffins things of joy - there’s no wonder they’re a firm favourite of 2013.
Get the recipe: Blueberry muffins
24. Lamb steaks with mint sauce
The classic marriage of lamb with mint is a tried and tested favourite all year round. Equally good barbecued in the summer as they are grilled in the colder months, these lovely juicy steaks make a satisfying meal with very little effort. Serve simply with boiled potatoes and some steamed veg.
Get the recipe: Lamb steaks with mint sauce
23. Chocolate sponge cake
We love a good chocolate cake and this light sponge is one of our favourites. It makes a really good, rich and chocolaty base to any kind of cake decorating. So let your imagination run wild and decorate it for any big birthday or celebration you need to prepare for.
Get the recipe: Chocolate sponge cake
22. Slimming World low-fat tomato soup
Tomato soup is much tastier when made at home and this recipe is easy too, so there are no excuses not to make yourself a healthy meal. With a classic base of celery, carrots, onions and garlic, this soup is packed full of fresh veggies and delicious flavours.
Get the recipe: Slimming World low-fat tomato soup
21. Slimming World's burger and chips
Burgers and chips that are low in fat too? Yes really, we know it sounds too good to be true but you can have it all with this clever recipe from Slimming World. A juicy beef burger topped with crisp lettuce, a sweet tomato salsa and served with crunchy potato chips makes this feel more like a treat than diet food and we love it!
Get the recipe: Slimming World's burger and chips
20. Rocky road bars
When you’re a bit short of time to do some baking, rocky road is the perfect alternative. With no cooking involved but plenty of chocolate and a perfect texture which balances a bit of wobble from marshmallows and a crunch from biscuits, this quick sweet-fix is the ideal thing to make with your little people. Why not get them to make it as gifts for their teachers? Simply wrap in greaseproof paper squares and tie up in little parcels with ribbon.
Get the recipe: Rocky Road bars
19. Mary Berry's iced fairy cakes
The queen of the British bake, Mary Berry knows a thing or two about a good cake and these basic but beautiful fairy buns are one of her classic recipes. Simply topped with a runny icing and a few sweets, they make a pretty addition to any table. Because of the easy to follow recipe, these are the perfect starter recipe to get your mini chefs interested in cooking, they’ll no doubt be interested in the eating too!
Get the recipe: Mary Berry's iced fairy cakes
18. Ice cream cone cupcakes
Cupcakes that look like little ice creams were always going to be a winner for us. Light, fluffy and buttery cupcakes are hidden beneath a neat swirl of soft and sweet buttercream, all pulled together by an ice cream cone and a flake, adorable! Kids love this playful take on a classic recipe and get a lovely surprise when they realise it’s cake too!
Get the recipe: Ice cream cone cupcakes
17. Chocolate cupcakes
This recipe has been a firm favourite throughout the year and was sent in by one of our lovely readers, Libbie. She used a Hummingbird Bakery recipe and adapted it to her tastes. The results? A deliciously moist chocolate sponge with a rich frosting - a combination which makes us very happy.
Get the recipe: Chocolate cupcakes
16. Slimming World's chicken and potato curry
Two of our favourite things, chicken and potatoes, are combined in this deliciously warming curry by Slimming World. With a balanced portion of protein and carbohydrates, this is a filling meal without too many of those naughty, unnecessary calories. We also like it because it’s a one-pot wonder, saving on the washing up - hurray!
Get the recipe: Slimming World's spicy chicken, spinach and potato curry
15. Hairy Bikers' apple and blackberry crumble
The Hairy Bikers love a good pud - and we’re glad they do because we do too! This recipe for a classic apple and blackberry crumble has a juicy fruit base and a lovely light and crunchy topping - the perfect combination for a moreish dessert. Served with ice cream, custard or cream, we can’t see anyone not liking this little beauty.
Get the recipe: Hairy Bikers' apple and blackberry crumble
14. Creamy vanilla fudge
We love making and giving food gifts and this vanilla fudge makes a lovely present for friends and family. With a soft, sweet favour and smooth texture, this fudge is so tasty, we can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t like a little pack of it as a gift. Simply package it up in a clear plastic bag and attach a gift tag.
Get the recipe: Creamy vanilla fudge
13. Giant cupcake
Not only do you lovely goodtoknow-ers love a little cupcake, you also love cupcakes on a giant scale, as this recipe has been one of our most popular this year. This clever cake is really easy to do once you have the right tin and looks really impressive. What’s more, you can decorate it any way you like making it a lovely creative project if you’re feeling adventurous.
Get the recipe: Giant cupcake
12. How to make cake pops
It turns out cake pops weren’t just a fleeting fancy, they’ve managed to stick around for quite some time now thanks to their cute appearance. Little cake shapes help together with extra icing and dunked in a candy coating are the perfect canvas for whatever shape you fancy making. From frogs to Santas, we’ve seen it all and this recipe allows you to master the basics before adding your own spin.
Get the recipe: How to make cake pops
11. Red velvet cupcakes
This culinary import from across the pond has stuck around for a while now too and it’s not hard to see why. With a cocoa rich sponge, coloured deep red and a super soft cream cheese frosting, these cakes are the perfect party centrepiece. What’s more, you can easily adapt the recipe to make a larger, tiered cake or even those lovely little cake pops we’re all so fond of.
Get the recipe: Red velvet cupcakes
10. Stewed apples
As the basis to a lot of delicious puds, stewed apples are a great thing to keep in the fridge. We like them all sorts of ways, in crumbles and pies, on top of breakfast muesli or served up with roast pork - we just can’t get enough of this sweet and fruity mixture.
Get the recipe: Stewed apples
9. The Hairy Bikers' steak and ale pie
Chunky pieces of beef and earthy ale combine in this pie by the cheeky Hairy Biker boys to make the very best kind of hearty British dinner. We know you love this one and have tried and tested it ourselves so we can safely say this really is a rather yummy recipe. With easy to follow steps, you’ll have an impressive pie on the table in no time.
Get the recipe: The Hairy Bikers' steak and ale pie
8. Butterfly buns
Butterfly buns are almost a rite of passage for children learning to bake, we know we’ve made a fair few batches in our time. With a couple of simple steps you can transform plain buns into beautiful butterflies. Spruced up with a little icing, and no doubt lots of sprinkles, they look really impressive and your kids will love making these.
Get the recipe: Butterfly buns
7. Mary Berry's classic Christmas cake
You can’t beat a good old fashioned recipe sometimes, as Mary Berry proves with her classic Christmas cake. Packed full of juicy fruit and fragrant spices, this cake is best made in advance and left in an airtight tin, wrapped in greaseproof paper, where its flavours and texture will mature. The perfect bake to cover in a Christmassy icing scene in time for the festive season.
Get the recipe: Mary Berry's classic Victorian Christmas cake
6. Basic cupcakes
These might not be the most exciting looking bakes but a baking project needs to start somewhere. With a lovely light spongy texture, they can be decorated in any way you fancy. Why not turn them into butterfly buns or use them as a base for one of our clever cupcake decoration techniques?
Get the recipe: Basic cupcakes
5. Spanish-style chicken bake
We love a good one-pan dinner and this Spanish-inspired chicken dish, cooked with peppers, onions and potatoes by the Hairy Bikers is a firm favourite. At just 370 calories per portion, it saves on the calories while still delivering on those big flavours that we’ve come to expect from the boys. Since it’s so delicious and low in calories, we often find ourselves tempted into seconds.
Get the recipe: Spanish style chicken bake
4. Mary Berry's chocolate birthday cake
This a recipe for all you chocoholics out there, we understand how it feels - and apparently so does Mary Berry. With a rich chocolate sponge and thick fudge icing, what’s not to like? This bake makes the perfect birthday cake, simply decorated with sprinkles or chocolate curls. Even if it isn’t someone’s birthday, we don’t need an excuse to enjoy a big old slice of chocolate cake and neither should you!
Get the recipe: Mary Berry's chocolate birthday cake
3. Victoria sandwich
Sometime it can be a little tricky perfecting a traditional recipe that everyone expects to be done in a certain way. Not the case now, thanks to our clever little video showing exactly how to go about making the perfect Victoria sponge. Feather light and gorgeously buttery, the results are so delicious, we often find it hard to wait till our cake is cold to have a little nibble.
Get the recipe: Victoria Sandwich
2. The Hummingbird Bakery vanilla cupcakes
The Hummingbird Bakery’s super soft cake mix is one of our all-time favourite recipes thanks to its airy texture and subtle vanilla flavour. Topped with the bakery's famous buttercream, these little lovely cakes are the ideal thing to make in bulk for parties and will make sure everyone leaves with a smile!
Get the recipe: The Hummingbird Bakery vanilla cupcakes
1. Mary Berry's lemon drizzle cake
With a light and zingy flavour this lemon drizzle cake from Mary Berry is the perfect bake for a mid-morning snack with your cuppa. Being not too rich, it’ll just see you through till lunchtime and also freezes well, meaning you can make it in advance and defrost when you fancy a little treat.
Get the recipe: Mary Berry's lemon drizzle cake
Where to next?The Great British Bake Off recipes
