Our Readers’ Top 12 Favorite Desserts of 2014: A Sweet Journey Through Beloved Recipes
Welcome, fellow dessert enthusiasts! A while ago, we shared a delightful collection showcasing our 12 Food Favorites of 2014, a compilation of the most-clicked recipes each month, hand-picked by you, our incredible readers. However, as any true connoisseur knows, desserts occupy a special, often untouchable, category of their own. Their allure is unique, their cravings undeniable, and their joy, simply unparalleled.
It would have been a disservice to merely tuck them into a broader food collection. Desserts demand their own spotlight, their own celebration. And so, with immense pleasure and a dash of sweet anticipation, we present to you today your **12 favorite desserts of 2014**! This exclusive collection reflects the treats that captured your hearts and taste buds throughout the year, each one a testament to the power of a perfectly crafted sweet. Prepare to embark on a mouth-watering journey down memory lane, as we revisit the most beloved confections that graced our tables and delighted our senses. Just a friendly warning: you might want to grab a napkin, because these drool-worthy desserts are truly irresistible!
Each image below is a clickable gateway to the full recipe, so you can relive the magic or discover a new favorite to bake today!
A Year of Sweet Delights: Our Top 12 Reader-Chosen Desserts from 2014
January: French Silk Pie – A Timeless Classic
Kicking off the year with a bang, January saw the French Silk Pie claim its rightful place as a top reader favorite. This isn’t just any French Silk Pie; it’s the culmination of years of culinary exploration, blending the finest components from various recipes into one harmonious, utterly decadent creation. Known for its impossibly smooth, rich chocolate filling nestled in a flaky, buttery crust, and often crowned with a generous swirl of whipped cream and chocolate shavings, this pie is pure indulgence. It’s the kind of dessert that brings everyone to the table, perfect for cozy winter evenings or making any ordinary day feel like a special occasion. Its timeless appeal lies in its sophisticated simplicity and the sheer bliss it delivers with every bite, making it our family’s and your readers’ absolute go-to pie.
February: Coconut Cream Poke Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting – Tropical Bliss
February brought a taste of the tropics to a milestone celebration! This Coconut Cream Poke Cake, lovingly prepared for a dear friend’s 50th birthday, became an instant sensation. What makes a poke cake so special is how it soaks up incredible flavor and moisture; in this case, a sweet coconut cream mixture seeps into every pore of the fluffy cake, ensuring a moist and flavorful bite every time. But the true star, the element that makes this dessert truly unforgettable, is the Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting. It’s light, airy, intensely coconutty, and dangerously delicious on its own. This cake is more than just a dessert; it’s an experience, transporting you to a sunny beach with its vibrant flavors and irresistible creaminess, perfect for any festive gathering.
March: Strawberry Sour Cream Crumb Pie Bars – A Taste of Spring
As winter’s chill began to fade, March had us yearning for the fresh, vibrant flavors of spring, and these Strawberry Sour Cream Crumb Pie Bars delivered perfectly. These bars are a delightful combination of sweet strawberries, tangy sour cream, and a comforting crumb topping, all layered over a buttery pie crust. The sour cream adds a wonderful richness and a subtle tartness that beautifully complements the sweetness of the strawberries, creating a balanced and incredibly satisfying treat. They’re incredibly versatile too; since their debut, we’ve enjoyed them many times, experimenting with various fruit flavors to suit the season. Easy to make and even easier to serve, these bars are ideal for potlucks, picnics, or simply as a delightful family dessert that heralds the arrival of warmer days.
April: Lemon Raspberry Bundt Cake – Zesty and Elegant
April presented a delightful dilemma for our readers, with a close contest between two beloved treats. While our Strawberry Lemonade Cake garnered significant affection, it was ultimately the exquisite Lemon Raspberry Bundt Cake that won by just a narrow margin. This bundt cake is a true showstopper, both visually appealing with its elegant fluted shape and incredibly delicious. The vibrant tang of fresh lemon zest and juice perfectly balances the sweet-tart burst of ripe raspberries, creating a flavor profile that is both refreshing and deeply satisfying. Its tender crumb and beautiful presentation make it an ideal choice for springtime celebrations, afternoon tea, or simply a sophisticated dessert to brighten any day. It’s a testament to how simple, fresh ingredients can create something truly extraordinary.
May: Banana Cream Jelly Roll – A Nostalgic Family Favorite
May, a month often associated with Mother’s Day, inspired a deeply personal and wonderfully nostalgic post about family, especially my mom and paternal grandmother. It was in this spirit that the Banana Cream Jelly Roll made its triumphant return to our kitchen and quickly became a reader favorite. This dessert is a true blast from the past, a beloved treat from my own childhood. Imagine a light, airy sponge cake delicately rolled around a rich, creamy banana filling – it’s a harmonious blend of textures and flavors that evokes comfort and cherished memories. My family absolutely adored it when I recreated this classic, and it’s clear our readers felt the same warmth. It’s a gentle reminder that sometimes, the simplest, most traditional desserts are the ones that hold the most special place in our hearts.
June: Copy Cat Baskin Robbins Daiquiri Ice – The Ultimate Summer Refresher
June, my birth month, naturally called for a celebration, and what better way to celebrate than by recreating one of my all-time favorite frozen treats: Copy Cat Baskin Robbins Daiquiri Ice! This vibrant, tangy, and incredibly refreshing dessert is the perfect antidote to summer heat. It captures the iconic zesty lime and rum-like flavor (without the alcohol, making it family-friendly!) in a delightfully icy confection. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and its ability to transport you straight to a vacation state of mind. It’s an ideal dessert for barbecues, poolside gatherings, or simply when you crave something bright and cooling. Our readers clearly shared my enthusiasm for this nostalgic and invigorating summer staple, making it a standout favorite.
July: Chewy Glazed Lemon Cookies – Sunshine in Every Bite
The height of summer in July brought with it an abundance of fresh lemons, courtesy of my sister’s backyard in sunny San Diego. Inspired by this citrus bounty, I whipped up these truly remarkable Chewy Glazed Lemon Cookies, and they quickly became a sensation. These cookies live up to their name in every way: they boast a wonderfully satisfying chewiness, and their lemon flavor is twofold – infused directly into the cookie dough itself and then brightened further by a luscious lemon glaze. Each bite is a burst of sunshine, offering a perfect balance of sweet and tart. They embody the essence of summer, making you long for warm days and fresh, zesty flavors. Our readers clearly agreed, embracing these vibrant, perfectly textured cookies as a seasonal highlight.
August: Chocolate Chip Cheesecake – Pure Decadence
Va-Va-Voom! August was all about unapologetic indulgence with this spectacular Chocolate Chip Cheesecake. It’s no surprise that our readers went absolutely wild for this one! Combining the creamy, luxurious texture of a classic cheesecake with the beloved sweetness of chocolate chips, this dessert is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. What truly sets it apart and elevates it to extraordinary status is its slightly sweet, tangy sour cream topping. This unexpected addition provides a beautiful counterpoint to the richness of the cheesecake, adding a layer of sophisticated flavor and a silky finish. Perfect for special occasions or simply when you crave something truly decadent, this cheesecake proves that some combinations are simply irresistible and universally adored.
September: Commander’s Palace Bread Pudding Soufflé with Whiskey Sauce – Southern Elegance
As autumn approached, September brought a dessert of profound elegance and warmth to celebrate a special birthday: the Commander’s Palace Bread Pudding Soufflé with Whiskey Sauce. This isn’t just a dessert; it’s a culinary masterpiece inspired by one of New Orleans’ most iconic restaurants. It perfectly marries the comforting richness of bread pudding with the airy lightness of a soufflé, creating a dessert that is both hearty and refined. The warm, golden soufflé rises majestically, promising a delicate texture, while the crowning glory is an exquisite, velvety whiskey sauce that provides a sophisticated depth of flavor. This dessert is truly a showstopper, ideal for celebratory dinners and memorable gatherings, captivating every guest with its unique charm and unforgettable taste.
October: Apple Monkey Bread – The Taste of Autumn Comfort
With cool temperatures setting in and the vibrant colors of fall painting the landscape, October naturally turned our thoughts to comforting, warm sweet breads. Our Apple Monkey Bread emerged as a clear favorite, perfectly embodying the cozy spirit of the season. This delightful pull-apart bread features tender pieces of dough coated in a rich, buttery cinnamon-sugar sauce, generously studded with chunks of sweet, caramelized apples. It’s simple, heartwarming, and utterly delicious – truly like having dessert for breakfast, or a comforting treat any time of day. The combination of classic fall flavors, the soft texture, and the fun of pulling apart each piece makes it an irresistible family favorite and a perfect addition to any autumn gathering or a lazy weekend morning.
November: Brownie Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cake – An Epic Celebration
November brought a very special occasion: my son’s 20th birthday, a milestone that demanded an epic dessert. And epic it was! The Brownie Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cake delivered a true “wow factor” that our readers absolutely loved. This impressive creation combines layers of rich, fudgy brownies with creamy chocolate chip ice cream, resulting in a decadent, multi-textured dessert that’s perfect for grand celebrations. It’s an irresistible blend of warm and cold, soft and firm, sweet and intensely chocolatey. Far beyond a simple cake, it’s a statement piece, designed to impress and delight every guest. This cake is a testament to how creative combinations of beloved elements can elevate a celebration to unforgettable heights.
December: Chocolate Pudding Cookies – Holiday Baking Made Easy
To round out a year filled with deliciousness, December simply had to feature a festive Christmas cookie. And what better way to simplify holiday baking and fill those cookie trays than with these incredibly easy and utterly delightful Chocolate Pudding Cookies? The secret to their irresistibly soft, chewy texture lies in the addition of instant pudding mix, which creates a melt-in-your-mouth experience. What makes them truly special for the holidays is their fantastic versatility. You can effortlessly switch up the M&M’s colors to match any festive theme or experiment with different pudding flavors – from vanilla to butterscotch – to create your own signature cookie. They’re a stress-free way to add homemade charm to your holiday spread, making them a well-deserved reader favorite for the busiest time of the year.
Looking Forward to More Sweet Adventures!
As we reflect on this incredible collection of your favorite desserts from 2014, we’re filled with immense gratitude and excitement for the culinary journey ahead. This past year was a testament to the shared joy of baking and discovering new flavors, all made possible by your enthusiastic clicks and feedback. We absolutely cannot wait to see what wonderful new recipes and culinary experiences you and I will share in the coming years!
In an ever-evolving digital landscape, especially with social media algorithms constantly changing, it’s easy to miss out on the latest deliciousness. While we absolutely cherish your presence on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Bloglovin’, Google +and Instagram, the most reliable way to ensure you never miss a single recipe, a new favorite, or a sweet inspiration is to join our email community. Think of it as your personal delivery service for delightful recipes, straight to your inbox – no spam, just pure, unadulterated culinary goodness!
Signing up is wonderfully simple. Just locate the “Subscribe Via Email” box, typically found in the top right-hand corner of this page. Enter your email address, confirm your subscription via the email we send, and you’ll be officially part of our sweet circle! Your continued support and engagement mean the world to us. This journey wouldn’t be nearly as delightful without you, and we are so incredibly grateful for every single one of you who chooses to spend time with us here.
Wishing you a truly HAPPY and sweet New Year, my friends! We look forward to sharing many more delicious moments with you.