Another year, come and gone!  I can’t believe we’ve (finally) reached the end of 2018.  It’s been quite a doozy: new baby, new job, new house.  Looking forward to a calm and relaxing 2019!

I always love doing these little year-end recaps as a great way to remember my own favorite recipes from the year — and also to figure out what you guys love, too!  It’s the perfect way to think about what kind of new recipes to create and share for the brand new year ahead.

Food blogging took a bit of a backseat this year.  Between adding a baby and starting a new job, the time I have to spend on this dwindled quite a bit in the second half of the year.  Honestly though… I really miss it.  Maintaining this little space has always made ME feel like me, and I start to feel unsettled and disjointed when I haven’t baked or photographed something in a few weeks.  Here’s to trying to carve out more time in 2019 for the things I love!

This year I shared 74 new posts, down a bit from the year before.  But I’ve also been spending more time writing a little “kitchen chemistry” section for my new posts (which you guys love!), so I’ll pat myself on the back and say that while the quantity of posts is decreasing, the quality is just constantly getting better. 😉 

Here’s a list of my personal new favorites in 2018, my most viewed new posts this year, and a list of the most-viewed all posts this year.

{Time Travel!}

• 2017 Most Popular Recipes
• 2016 Most Popular Recipes
• 2015 Most Popular Recipes
• 2014 Most Popular Recipes
• 2013 Most Popular Recipes
• 2012 Most Popular Recipes
• 2011 Most Popular Recipes

PERSONAL FAVORITES OF 2018:

These were my favorite recipes to share, even if they weren’t the most viewed. In case you can’t tell, I’m still crushing hard on bundt cakes — 2017 may have been my year of bundt cakes, but they were still going strong through this year.  And spoiler alert: there are more in the queue for 2019!

9) Cinnamon Sugar Peach Bundt Cake / 8) Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies / 7) Coconut Bundt Cake / 6) Sheet Pan Mini-Meatloaves / 5) The Best Marble Bundt Cake / 4) Caramel Pear Pie with Oatmeal Cookie Crumble / 3) Brownies with Salted Tahini Buttercream / 2) Gooey S’mores Bars / 1) Lemon Pie

 

Most Viewed New Posts in 2018:

These were the most viewed new posts from 2018.  Interestingly, only one overlap from my personal favorites — the chocolate pinwheel cookies.  Of course, because it takes a little time for posts to build up traction, most of these are from the first half of the year. 

But I guess it goes to show that my personal tastes are a little different than the rest of the herd.  (And apparently, the herd really likes Instant Pot recipes — duly noted!)

9) Cranberry Orange Streusel Muffins / 8) Flourless Chocolate Tahini Cake / 7) Easy Instant Pot Beef Stew / 6) Jewish Apple Cake / 5) Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies / 4) Instant Pot Orange Chicken / 3) Orange Creamsicle Bundt Cake / 2) Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies / 1) M&M Pretzel Kisses

 

Most Pageviews in 2018:

And last, but not least, what I find the most interesting: the most popular overall posts by pageviews on Bunsen Burner Bakery in 2018.  All except one of these are from prior years, and many of them are repeats from last year’s Top 10 list.  Who knew my entertaining desserts-based food blog would become such a go-to for lactation cookies?!

10) Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Bundt Cake

Dense chocolate cake covered in peanut butter and milk chocolate ganache, topped with chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups.

9) M&M Pretzel Kisses

A pretzel, a Hershey’s kiss, and a fun colored M&M — so easy, but these make ahead bite-sized sweet and salty M&M pretzel kisses are super addicting!

8) Italian Herb Tomato Bread

An easy savory quick bread combining fresh tomatoes, Italian herbs, garlic, and cheese. 

7) No Fail Pie Crust

Pie lovers, rejoice!  A recipe for the ultimate NO FAIL pie crust — plus extra tips on how to make a perfect crust, every time!

6) Moroccan Honey Glazed Eggplant

Meltingly soft Moroccan honey glazed eggplant, covered with a sweet and spicy honey and harissa sauce.  Vegetarian and gluten free!

5) Tim Tam No Bake Cheesecake

Tim Tam No Bake Cheesecake is the perfect quick and easy holiday entertaining dessert.  Crunchy, chocolatey Tim Tams paired with a light, smooth no bake cheesecake filling, and a pure chocolate crust. 

4) Spiral Vegetable Tart

Thinly sliced summer vegetables are the visual star of this spiral vegetable tart.  With a layer of homemade sundried tomato pesto and a flaky pie crust, this tart is as delicious as it is beautiful.

3) Banana Bread Muffins

One bowl, mix by hand, muffins reminiscent of your favorite banana bread.  A little dense, nice and simple, and full of chocolate chips.

2) Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Verde

Fire roasted tomatillos and cherry tomatoes pair beautifully with spicy jalapeno, onion, and garlic in this non-traditional salsa verde.  A little sweet, a little tangy, a little spicy – all delicious.  

And drumroll please… the single most popular post on Bunsen Burner Bakery in 2018 was…

1) Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies

Bake up a special treat for the new mom in your life.  Skip the lactation cookies that are all cookie and no lactation – these are the galactagogue-filled treats you need.