Top 15 Most Loved Recipes of 2011: Reader Favorites & Author’s Picks for Delicious Homemade Meals
Compiling this ultimate list of our most cherished recipes from 2011 has been an incredibly delightful journey. Initially, my approach was straightforward: I revisited every recipe I shared throughout the year and meticulously selected my personal favorites – those dishes I found myself preparing time and again for my family. However, I then decided to take a different, more exciting path. I delved into the analytics to discover which recipes resonated most with you, my incredible readers, uncovering your preferred culinary creations. And what a fascinating discovery it was!
To my surprise, some of my favorites perfectly aligned with yours, reaffirming their universal appeal. Yet, others were distinctly different, showcasing the diverse palates and culinary priorities of our wonderful community. This delightful divergence means you’re in for a treat! We’re offering you more than just a simple list. Below, you’ll first find the 10 most popular recipes here at An Oregon Cottage, as voted by you – my cherished readers. Following that, I’ll share the additional recipes that made my top list, but perhaps didn’t quite capture the collective imagination (along with my candid thoughts on why they hold a special place in my kitchen).
This dual perspective provides a comprehensive look at the year’s culinary highlights, offering a blend of proven crowd-pleasers and my personal, tried-and-true gems. Get ready to explore some fantastic homemade dishes that continue to bring joy and flavor to countless homes!
Your 10 Favorite Recipes: The Most Popular Picks from 2011
1. Best Homemade Ranch Dressing & Dip. This recipe topping your list came as absolutely no surprise to me. I’ve always known it was one of the standout posts from 2011, consistently receiving incredible feedback. What truly amazes me, even years later, is the sheer volume of Stumbles, Pins, and external links this recipe attracts, especially given the thousands of other ranch dressing recipes available online. It speaks volumes about its undeniable quality. I genuinely believe this is the best homemade ranch recipe out there—creamy, flavorful, and incredibly versatile as both a dressing and a dip—and I’m thrilled to know that so many of you agree!
2. Classic Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe. Now, this one was a genuine surprise! I had absolutely no inkling that this classic Caesar dressing would climb to the #2 spot for the most popular recipes of 2011. In fact, it didn’t even make my personal top 10 list that year! This is where our preferences clearly diverged. *Ahem*… you might notice a trend that my list tends to feature more cookies than yours! Regardless, this creamy, tangy, and authentic Caesar dressing has clearly captured many hearts (and taste buds). It’s a testament to the power of a truly classic, homemade staple that elevates any salad to gourmet status, proving that sometimes, the simplest, most fundamental recipes are the ones people seek out the most.
3. Homemade “Moose Munch” Honey Caramel Corn. Well, well, well. Securing the number three position, this “Moose Munch” inspired caramel corn recipe is another one that surprisingly didn’t make my initial top picks, primarily because it was a relatively new addition to the blog at the time. Evidently, it wasn’t too new for hundreds of you to discover and fall in love with it quickly! I must admit, I absolutely adore this recipe—it’s a truly indulgent and satisfying snack. The best part? This caramel corn is incredibly easy to make and it’s crafted with wholesome honey instead of traditional corn syrup, offering a deliciously rich flavor with a slightly healthier twist. Woot for homemade treats that are both simple and delightful!
4. Easy, No-Knead, No-Rise Soft Pretzels. Here we go again—another fantastic recipe that mysteriously eluded my personal top ten! What was I thinking? Perhaps it’s because I used to make these soft pretzels so frequently when my children were young that they felt less like a “new” discovery from the past year and more like a timeless family classic. But they certainly were a highlight of 2011! These pretzels are truly a game-changer: they require no complicated kneading and no long waiting periods for rising, making them exceptionally quick and easy. They are also super kid-friendly, both to make and to eat. My kids and their friends loved them so much that I was often asked to bake a batch at least monthly, if not weekly. My sincere hope is that a whole new generation of kids (and their parents!) will discover and enjoy the simple pleasure of these warm, soft, homemade pretzels.
5. Slow Cooker Spiced Whole Chicken. Ah, finally! A recipe that made both our lists! I can confidently say I knew this one would be a strong contender for popularity, and it absolutely holds a spot on my personal favorites as well, simply because my family and I absolutely LOVE this chicken. The beauty of this recipe lies in its incredible ease of preparation: you simply set it and forget it, letting your slow cooker do all the hard work. The result is a wonderfully tender, flavorful, and perfectly spiced whole chicken that practically falls off the bone. It’s a match made in heaven for busy weeknights, delivering deliciousness without the fuss. This recipe truly embodies the joy of effortless, wholesome home cooking.
6. Ultimate No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars. Of course, these fantastic granola bars made my list—they are an absolute staple in our household! I’m incredibly gratified to see that they earned a spot on your list of favorites too, demonstrating their widespread appeal. These bars are truly the ultimate solution for a quick, healthy, and satisfying snack or breakfast on the go. The “no-bake” aspect makes them incredibly convenient, and their wonderfully chewy texture, combined with endless possibilities for flavor combinations, ensures they never get boring. What’s your go-to flavor combination? Personally, I’m still head-over-heels in love with the almond and dried cranberry bar—a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. Yum!
7. Easy Whole Wheat Sourdough English Muffins. I’m genuinely delighted to see these homemade English muffins on your list of favorites! I’m still amazed by how effortlessly these come together, especially considering that just a few years prior, the idea of making English muffins at home seemed almost impossible—they were strictly a “store-bought item” in my mind, much like homemade mayonnaise, homemade hamburger buns, and homemade sandwich bread. This recipe truly demystified the process. And believe me, if I, with my preference for simple and efficient cooking, can master these pantry staples at home, then absolutely anyone can! I always seek out the easiest and most practical methods, and some of these homemade creations are even quicker to prepare than making a trip to the grocery store. Enjoy them toasted with butter, jam, or as the base for a delicious eggs benedict!
8. Mini Almond-Joy Brownies. You, my dear readers, have once again outdone me by selecting another fantastic recipe from my “5 Days of Christmas Cookies” series! Who knew these would resonate so strongly? While these Mini Almond-Joy Brownies are undeniably delicious on their own—packed with the delightful flavors of coconut, almond, and chocolate—the most significant discovery for me during their creation was unearthing what I now consider to be the BEST brownie recipe I’ve found to date. And let me tell you, I’ve experimented with countless brownie recipes over the years! This foundational brownie recipe is truly a gift that keeps on giving, offering a rich, fudgy texture and intense chocolate flavor that serves as a perfect canvas for various toppings and mix-ins. It’s a game-changer for any chocolate lover!
9. Homemade Ketchup With Honey. This recipe represents a beloved update to one of our essential “Pantry Basics”—a classic homemade ketchup, but with a significant improvement. I revamped this staple by making it entirely with honey instead of the traditional brown and white sugars, offering a more natural sweetness profile. If the idea of honey in your ketchup feels a bit too adventurous for your palate, rest assured that the original, super easy recipe is still available and remains vastly superior to any store-bought alternative. The beauty of making your own ketchup is the ability to control the ingredients and adjust the sweetness to your family’s preference. So, you have the wonderful flexibility to choose which version your family likes best—both promise a fresh, flavorful condiment that will elevate your meals!
10. Incredible Ice Cream Without A Machine. Here’s another absolute winner that made both our lists—and for very good reason! This recipe was arguably the most revolutionary new discovery in our kitchen last year, completely transforming how we think about making frozen desserts. We absolutely love, love, love this ice cream! I still can. not. believe. how. unbelievably. easy. it. is. The ability to create rich, creamy, homemade ice cream without the need for a specialized ice cream maker is nothing short of magical. It truly opened up a world of possibilities for spontaneous dessert creation. In fact, due to its simplicity, incredible texture, and delicious flavor, this was hands down my #1 favorite recipe from 2011!
Five More of My Favorites: Hidden Gems You Might Have Missed
Now, let’s dive into the recipes that hold a special place in my heart and my kitchen, but didn’t quite make it onto your collective list of top picks. There are five delicious gems that I genuinely believe deserve a spotlight:
Soft and Chewy Whole Grain Peanut Butter Cookies. It seems my affection for a good cookie runs deeper than the general reader consensus, as there are two cookie recipes on my personal list and none on yours. Hmmm! Nevertheless, these peanut butter cookies were a truly delightful surprise for me. The challenge was always finding a peanut butter cookie recipe that delivered a genuinely soft and chewy texture, rather than a crumbly, dry one. This whole-grain version perfectly achieves that balance, offering a rich, nutty flavor with an incredibly satisfying chew. I simply had to add them to my favorites—they’re a wholesome treat that satisfies any cookie craving!
The Best, Chewy, Whole Grain Chocolate Chip Cookie. Ever. I’m not exaggerating; I truly stand by this claim! While this magnificent cookie might not have made it onto your top recipes list for An Oregon Cottage this year, I sincerely hope you will give them a try. They are everything a chocolate chip cookie should be: wonderfully chewy, packed with rich chocolate, and made even better with the goodness of whole grains. Every single person who has tasted these cookies absolutely loves them, raving about their perfect texture and classic flavor. So, I’m confident you will, too! Please let me know if you think I’ve oversold them—though I doubt it!
Individual Berry Crisps. This recipe is a game-changer for dessert presentation and enjoyment. Even if you were to never use ramekins for any other dish, investing in a few would be entirely worthwhile just for these crisps (and thankfully, they’re quite inexpensive!). The beauty of serving individual portions in ramekins is twofold: it completely eliminates any worries about soggy crusts, ensuring every bite is perfectly crisp, and it elevates the presentation, making each dessert feel special and elegant. This is, hands-down, the absolute best way to enjoy a warm, bubbling fruit crisp—personal, perfectly cooked, and always delightful.
Easy Grilled Vegetables. This recipe absolutely had to make my personal list, simply because we ate them an incredible number of times last summer. One hundred times, perhaps? Okay, perhaps I’m exaggerating slightly, but it felt like at least every other day, for sure! Grilling vegetables is not only incredibly simple but also transforms them into tender, smoky, and intensely flavorful side dishes. It was a truly fabulous and efficient way to utilize the abundant handfuls of fresh garden veggies as they ripened throughout the season. And what dedicated gardener doesn’t appreciate a delicious method for enjoying their hard-earned harvest? This recipe epitomizes fresh, seasonal, and fuss-free cooking.
Cauliflower Cheese Soup. Alright, I completely understand why this delightful soup didn’t quite make it onto the “most popular” list. Cauliflower, in its raw or plainly cooked form, is probably always going to be a divisive vegetable for some people. However, it made my personal list for a compelling reason: not only do I absolutely love it, but this rich and creamy soup is genuinely loved by people who typically despise cauliflower—it’s truly a miracle worker! The cauliflower blends seamlessly into a velvety, cheesy base, offering an incredible depth of flavor without any discernible “cauliflower taste.” It’s so good, you’ll never realize you’re consuming a significant amount of healthy vegetables. And who could possibly complain about a delicious, comforting soup that cleverly hides a nutritional powerhouse?
Whew! Fifteen incredible recipes later, we’ve successfully rounded up our “Top Ten” from your perspective, plus five additional personal favorites from my kitchen. It’s been a wonderful retrospective on a year filled with delicious homemade creations. Tell me what you think in the comments below—do you wholeheartedly agree with the official reader-voted list, or do my personal additions resonate more with your own culinary preferences?
–Jami