1. Sunbutter Granola Bars
This no-bake sunbutter granola bar recipe takes a well deserved spot at the top of the list of my top 10 recipes in the last year. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup and made with the most delicious hints of vanilla and sea salt these bars take the cake. Packed with nutrients and vitamins, the sunbutter and pumpkin seeds make these bars a powerhouse of a snack. Sunbutter also happens to be the best option for nut free snacks and desserts! Did I mention this recipe takes under 10 minutes to make and can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 months? It’s truly my favorite creation of all time and one that I recommend to anyone & everyone!
2. Banana & Almond Butter Overnight Oats
Up until this recipe, I hated overnight oats. I did not love the cold, wet texture and taste of greek yogurt/milks/etc. Nonetheless, I kept trying and I am SO thankful I did because this recipe has become my go-to for work, travel, and any of my meal-prep needs. The ingredients include vanilla almond milk, rolled oats, almond butter, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon. These ingredients give them the perfect flavor, texture, and everything you ever need from overnight oats. I top mine with chopped pecans and sliced banana and could easily eat them everyday of my life. Sadly there’s no recipe up on my blog yet, but you can find it here on Instagram. Shortly enough, it’ll make it on the top 10 recipes that are also all on my blog (haha).
3. Soft, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
After discovering I had a sulfite allergy, one of my first goals was develop a chocolate chip cookie recipe. There’s just something about a warm, soft, chocolatey cookie that is fresh out of the oven. They bring comfort and joy to my life and that was all I could think about during a tumultuous change in diet. After many fails, I *accidentally* created the softest, chewy chocolate chip cookies that are way too easy to make. These are my personal favorite because the vanilla, sea salt, and maple syrup create an unbelievable flavor mix for a cookie!
4. Easy & Healthy Green Smoothie
This time last year, I could never imagine that I would be drinking a green smoothie. Let alone loving it. It took some time, but when I finally added spinach to my smoothies, I was amazed. The spinach is impossible to taste and doesn’t take away from the sweet flavors of mango and banana in this recipe. Made with Greek yogurt and almond butter, this smoothie also happens protein packed and keeps me full for hours. I went from trying different smoothies everyday to only ever wanting this one. It’s best paired with sprouted sunflower seeds on top and a little extra almond butter on the spoon!
5. 5 Ingredient Chicken Sausage Orzo with Spinach and Tomatoes
Ah yes, another recipe on the list that is made with spinach! I’m starting to see a pattern ;). This easy dinner recipe can be made in 20 minutes or less and has such a perfect combination of protein and vegetables. Seasoned “Italian-style,” it tastes like a professionally made dinner you’d order at a fancy restaurant. This is one recipe I use as both a “lazy dinner” and also one when I’m feeling a little fancy. Versatile, refreshing, and still light on the stomach, I give this dish a 10/10 every time. Oh and I’m a firm believer that orzo is an underrated form of pasta. Anyone agree?
6. Pumpkin Muffins with Sweet Vanilla Homemade Icing
There’s always room for a recipe that brings me back in time on this top 10 recipes list. This recipe was developed out of pure nostalgia for my dad’s favorite snack to pack in school lunches for my siblings and I. He would be SO excited every time he made pumpkin muffins and always topped them with vanilla icing. I had a longing for those muffins this past fall and knew that if I was going to enjoy anything close to my dad’s old snack, I had to make my own recipe. And I must say, these came out unbelievable. I have received more compliments about this baked good than any other recipe I’ve shared with my friends and family. They’re incredibly easy to make and are really fun to make mini-sized. The intertwining pumpkin and cinnamon spices and sweet, sugary icing create an irresistible flavor that you’ll never be able to get enough of. Best part is that they’re not only good only in the fall, these can be a year round dessert!
7. Homemade Tortillas
Did you know you can’t find any store bought tortillas that don’t contain some sort of preservative? I didn’t…until I had to try to find one. Since I love tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and so many delicious meals that involve tortillas, I had to make them homemade! And ironically, these tortillas are the best tortillas I’ve ever had. They taste even fresher than the fresh ones made in restaurants and are surprisingly easy to make. Whether or not you have a sulfite sensitivity, you will never regret giving homemade tortillas a try. And you may never turn back to store bought if you do!
8. Homemade Pecan & Pumpkin Seed Granola
This recipe creates a delicious cinnamon-y, candied granola that I could eat all in one sitting. It’s another fall themed recipe that can be made year round and is perfect as a topping on smoothies or oat bowls. The granola bakes for 12-ish minutes to create a sheet of flavorful clusters that are just way too tasty. Out of all the granola recipes I’ve had the chance to create in the past year, this one made the list for its sweet and crunchy texture.
9. Homemade Apple Pie with a Buttery, Flaky Crust
Fall of 2020 was the first time I realized I absolutely adore pie. It was never my choice of dessert on thanksgiving, but I has wanted to try to make homemade pie for a very long time. When one of my amazing fellow recipe developers on Instagram (Brooke from Itsbrookiescookies) shared her homemade apple pie recipe, it looked too good not to try. And let me tell you, THIS APPLE PIE WAS THE BEST THING I’VE EVER TASTED. I cannot preach it enough. It might not even be my own creation, but with Brooke’s consent, it deserves a spot on this top 10 recipes list! It is sweet, but not overly sugary and made with a homemade buttery crust that is irresistible. If there’s one recipe you need to save for every Thanksgiving/holiday to come, it is this apple pie recipe.
10. Avocado Yogurt Chicken Salad
Last, but definitely not the least is my all time favorite lunch recipe. It’s almost too good to be true because it’s simple to make but exceptionally flavorful, filling, and fantastic! Made with avocado, Greek yogurt, and chicken, it’s packed with protein while still being so light and refreshing! I personally love to use spices including garlic salt, onion powder and cayenne pepper to flavor it, but it’s versatile and can be made to anyone’s taste/dietary needs. If you asked me, the two best ways to enjoy this chicken salad is on homemade bread with arugula or scooped up with tortilla chips.
